Social Media Reacts To Arizona State's Rivalry Game Vs. Arizona

TEMPE -- The Arizona State Sun Devils (10-7, 1-3 Big 12) fell to nan number 1 classed Arizona Wildcats connected Wednesday nighttime successful Tucson successful what was a spirited title successful an 89-82 loss.

The Sun Devils came into nan crippled disconnected of an 87-84 triumph complete Kansas state, while Arizona continued their undefeated effort to statesman nan play pinch a ascendant triumph complete TCU connected Saturday.

Arizona State connected SI breaks down cardinal societal media topics from during nan crippled below.

Key Arizona State Player Returns

Arizona State inferior defender Bryce Ford make a triumphant return to nan lineup aft 2 games of being absent owed to an wounded that had lingered for astir a period pursuing suffering it connected a December 9 triumph complete Northern Arizona.

Ford made his effect felt successful this game, arsenic he deed a three-point look successful nan last infinitesimal of nan half to springiness nan Sun Devils a 39-36 lead, and besides threw down an emphatic dunk successful nan 2nd half.

Game Gets disconnected to Chippy Start

The crippled sewage disconnected to an moreover start, pinch Arizona State rallying down cautious shot movement, fierce defense, and timely shot-making during nan first 10 minutes of nan opening half.

Things escalated astatine nan 9:44 people of nan half erstwhile Arizona State F Allen Mukeba fouled Arizona freshman Koa Peat erstwhile driving to nan hoop. This created an speech successful which some sides started yelling astatine 1 different - this resulted successful a method foul connected some Mukeba and Arizona's Brayden Burries.

Peat playing against Arizona State for nan first clip aft committing to play for Arizona past March - this capped disconnected a years-long recruiting conflict that reportedly went down to nan ligament for some schools. This surely played a overmuch bigger domiciled storyline-wise than galore connected nan extracurricular would assume.

Massamba Diop Continues to Rise to Stardom

Diop is taking nan federation by large wind - he has been 1 of nan champion bigs successful nan full federation complete nan past month-plus, not conscionable successful nan Big 12.

Diop extended his double-digit scoring streak to 8 games pinch 16 points, and looked incredibly collected against an Arizona squad that has dominated astir each competitor this season.

Diop's fluid movement, beardown rim protection presence, soft shooting touch, and expertise to link an discourtesy has caught nan attraction of an expansive corporate of hoops fans, including nan NBA scouting world.

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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