Suns’ Josh Jackson: Good for Arizona State, Kansas will improve

PHOENIX – Not everyone in the Valley was excited about Arizona State’s win at then-No. 2 Kansas.

Certainly not if they had attended Kansas like Phoenix Suns rookie forward Josh Jackson.

Now the day before the game, Jackson had told reporters ASU had “no chance” at beating his alma mater. So, what was his reaction to the 95-85 outcome?

“You know, good for Arizona State. They got the good win,” he said Monday, before quickly adding, “It’ll never happen again though. At least not while I’m here. I hope not.”

Kansas plays in Tempe next December.

Jackson didn’t watch the game — he thought tip-off was scheduled for later in the day — but he did see the score and then afterward heard from several Sun Devil fans either via text or through social media.

After a 7-0 start, Kansas has lost back-to-back games. The last time that happened in the same regular season was in 2013-14.

“I don’t know what’s going on with my team right now,” Jackson said. “But one thing I do now, I would hate to be them right now. I definitely don’t want to be playing for Kansas basketball right now because I know Bill (Self) is not happy.”

Arizona State became the first nonconference team to win in Allen Fieldhouse since San Diego State on Jan. 5, 2014.

In his one season at Kansas, Jackson lost just once inside Allen Fieldhouse. The team went 14-1, losing to Iowa State.

“Even when you look at our team last year, coming into the season, the beginning, the first couple of games, we weren’t that good. We weren’t the team that we ended up being in March,” Jackson said. “They still got a lot of things to learn. They do got some experience but there are a couple of young guys on the team who still need to learn a couple of things.”

Despite the recent setbacks Kansas is still one of the better teams in college basketball. The Jayhawks are expected to once again contend for the national championship.

And when pointing to March, Jackson made one bold prediction: Kansas would advance further than ASU in the NCAA Tournament.

“Yeah, I’m putting myself out there,” he said, smiling. “I think I’m safe on that one. I hope so.”

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