TEMPE -- The Arizona State Sun Devils stay successful pursuit of an NCAA tourney quality for nan first clip since nan 2022-23 season, arsenic they participate nan bosom of Big 12 play successful nan days and weeks ahead.
Head coach Bobby Hurley entered nan play pinch his backmost against nan wall, doing an admirable occupation successful nan process - but location is small separator for correction successful convention play.
Arizona State connected SI names nan 3 players that are group up to beryllium astir important to nan Sun Devils reaching nan heights that they desire to.
Jan 3, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils defender Anthony Johnson (2) against nan Colorado Buffaloes astatine Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Moe Odum
The Sun Devils are apt to spell arsenic acold arsenic Odum takes them during nan remainder of nan season.
It became clearer that nan elder defender raises nan ceiling of nan squad arsenic nan four-game losing streak coincided pinch nan erstwhile Pepperdine defender facing a acold shooting stretch.
Odum's 16.4 PPG and 6.4 APG gait nan team, having go nan clear motor of nan discourtesy during nan process - he must return things into his ain hands successful respective cardinal games moving forward.
Massamba Diop
Diop has quickly risen up nan ranks successful his freshman play arsenic a multi-faceted halfway that has master expereince nether his loop successful Spain.
The 20-year aged stands astatine complete 7 feet tall, is incredibly mobile, and possesses guard-like skills that person caught nan attraction of NBA scouts successful nan process.
Diop's 14.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 1.9 BPG person taken complete nan programme by storm, particularly arsenic acold arsenic being perceived arsenic an equalizer successful Big 12 games that are winnable.
Massamba Diop (35) and Santiago Trouet (1) of nan Arizona State Sun Devils talk betwixt play during a crippled against Kansas State astatine Desert Financial Arena connected Jan. 10, 2026, successful Tempe. | Megan Mendoza/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Marcus Adams Jr.
Adams came into nan 2025-26 play pinch sky-high hopes, aft averaging 16.1 PPG past play astatine Cal-State Northridge.
The guardant suffered a little assemblage wounded during nan ramp-up to nan season, which made it much challenging to easiness into nan rotation heading into nan November 4 play opener.
Adams appeared to yet move a area opening pinch a December 6 showing against Oklahoma, wherever nan sophomore scored 11 points. This continued up until December 17 against UCLA - nan 6'8" helping changeable 1-8 from three-point scope successful nan games starring into nan January 7 crippled against Brigham Young, successful which he sat retired of owed to injury.
Hurley alluded to nan hopes that Adams would beryllium capable to return wrong nan adjacent 10 days pursuing Saturday's triumph complete Kansas State - there's small uncertainty that they request Adams to return successful afloat force.
Read much connected why nan Arizona State men's hoops squad will transcend expectations successful nan 2025-26 season here, and connected why nan agleam early of nan shot programme isn’t dimmed by nan nonaccomplishment to Arizona here.
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