Arizona State meets Arizona looking for some consistency

Coming into this season, it seemed impossible for ASU basketball to have as many ups and downs as it did last year.

While it hasn’t been as profound, the Sun Devils have still been on quite the roller coaster so far this year. On Thursday, however, they will have perhaps their biggest chance to steady the ship when they take on rival Arizona in Tempe.

Like last year, the Sun Devils came out of the gate hot, winning their first eight games before dropping a close contest to then sixth-ranked Nevada. Also similar to last season, they capped off their great start with a marquee win over Kansas, who was ranked No. 1 in the country at the time.

During this stretch, ASU saw some great performances from a number of different players.

Luguentz Dort looked like a legitimate first-round draft prospect in the early goings, which included a 33-point showing against Utah State and a 24-point night against Nevada, and guys like Kimani Lawrence and Remy Martin looked to be taking significant steps forward in their sophomore seasons.

After the win over Kansas, however, the roller coaster ride truly began, as they immediately followed that game up with losses to Princeton and Utah at home. They then won their next two games before losing to Stanford, and followed that up with three straight victories before losing a late lead to USC last Saturday night.

This stretch of inconsistency has been mirrored in the performances of the team’s individual players. Dort’s shooting percentages have nosedived since his stellar start, and while Lawrence, Martin and other guys like Romello White and Rob Edwards haven’t been bad, their play has been very hit or miss.

This could all start to change on Thursday, however, as the Sun Devils play host to an Arizona team that has lost three of their last four games, including two blowouts at the hands of the two Los Angeles schools. The Wildcats might also be without starting center Chase Jeter, which would give ASU a big advantage inside and on the glass.

This game also has some big tournament implications for both teams, as they both currently sit on the bubble after their respective Los Angeles trips. A win against Arizona would provide a boost to the Sun Devils’ current resume, while a loss could prove to be a big blow to their hopes of making the dance for a second consecutive season.