Arizona leapfrogs ASU in AP Poll after hosting Oregon schools
Jan 15, 2018, 10:16 AM
The Arizona State Sun Devils began the year 12-0 and reached their peak ranked No. 3 in the country.
Their first loss of the season, to the rival Arizona Wildcats on Dec. 30, began a 2-3 start to Pac-12 play. On Monday after both teams hosted the Oregon schools, it was ASU that got leapfrogged.
The Associated Press Poll ranked Arizona (14-4) 14th in the nation, up three spots from its No. 17 standing a week ago and ahead of the Sun Devils for the first time since late November. Arizona State tumbled from No. 11 to No. 16 in the rankings after splitting the week against the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers.
On Thursday, the Ducks’ athleticism took the Sun Devils out of their preferred up-tempo style in a 76-72 loss at Wells Fargo Arena. While ASU rebounded with a 77-75 win over the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday, Bobby Hurley’s team took a major hit with a shoulder injury limiting leading scorer Tra Holder.
Last week, the Sun Devils fell from No. 4 to No. 11 following a road split against Utah and Colorado.
Arizona, on the other hand, continues to creep up the AP Poll.
The Wildcats turned on the burners late in wins over each of Oregon State (62-53) on Thursday and Oregon (90-83) on Saturday.
The victories come after coach Sean Miller said he has “a hard time reaching our guys,” following a loss to Colorado last weekend.
