Why The Houston Cougars Are On Upset-alert Vs Arizona State

After dominating nan West Virginia Mountaineers by a people of 77-48 connected Tuesday, nan Houston Cougars are looking to enactment undefeated successful Big 12 convention play pinch a triumph complete nan Arizona State Sun Devils.

The Sun Devils, who person struggled during convention play, are looking to correct immoderate of their wrongs pinch an upset-win complete nan Cougars. Before matching up against their chap Big 12 programs, Arizona State had been competitory successful astir each 1 of its out-of-conference games.

Earlier this week, caput coach Bobby Hurley's squad yet seemed to show what they were tin of connected nan court. The Sun Devils not only led nan No. 1-ranked Arizona astatine halftime, but they besides had nan Wildcats connected nan ropes for a ample information of nan 2nd half. It took a precocious resurgence connected discourtesy from Arizona to yet put distant a scrappy Arizona State team.

A Dynamic Duo connected Offense for nan Sun Devils

As is nan lawsuit pinch each squad successful nan country, location are keys to slowing down nan Sun Devils. This season, Arizona State's accumulation connected discourtesy has been led by elder defender Maurice Odum and freshman halfway Massamba Diop. Odum has been a focal constituent successful nan Sun Devils' expertise to people pinch astir 17 points per game, while Diop has been a unit successful nan overgarment pinch 14.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

If nan Cougars are going to move to 17-1, stopping Arizona State's move duo comes first. While Houston needs to beryllium alert of elder defender Anthony Johnson, he only tallied 4 points successful what turned retired to beryllium a shootout against nan Wildcats. If nan Cougars tin find a measurement to unopen down conscionable 1 of nan much accordant scorers for nan Sun Devils, it should propel them to their 11th-straight win.

Motivation Meets Consistency successful Houston

It's safe to opportunity that Arizona State will beryllium quiet for a triumph connected Sunday. Combine their slow commencement to convention play pinch nan truth that they conscionable mislaid to their in-state rival, and you get a large wind of information headed straight for Houston. While it doesn't needfully show up connected nan stat sheet, I'm a existent believer successful upsets erstwhile location are different motivators astatine play.

The Cougars, connected nan different hand, person knowledgeable an highly different play up to this point. While caput coach Kelvin Sampson's squad mightiness not beryllium starring immoderate of nan awesome statistical categories successful assemblage basketball, Houston's defense seems to execute astatine a precocious level each week. In fact, pinch freshmen Chris Cenac Jr. and Kingston Flemings getting much acquisition against Big 12 competition, they look to beryllium getting amended arsenic nan play goes on.

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