Arizona State Basketball tipped off their season last night with a win over Idaho State. At first glance when you see the final score you think “yikes!” and rightfully so.
Arizona State only managed to score 55 points in the win, shooting the ball only 36% from the floor all together. From beyond the arc, 29% and only 67% from the free throw line.
First reaction is how awful this output is, any opponent outside of the likes of Idaho State probably win this game by double digits.
Then the basketball genes in me told me to look at it from the other side and tell that story.
Arizona State’s defense was stiff lasts night, holding Idaho State to only 48 total points, not allowing them to score over 30 in either half.
Idaho State shot the ball about as poorly as humanly possible, only 25% from the floor. A whooping 14% from three point range and a decent 77% from the free throw line.
Now in the first week or two of the season, both NBA and College Basketball you see teams struggle to score. Most of this is not being in game shape and coming short on jumpers all second half.
Arizona State Basketball
However you want to slice it, Arizona State will have to raise the bar offensively over the next 2-3 months if they want to see any success come March.
I am not convinced that this defense is as good as it looked last night when it faces the likes on conference play.
Not only is the Big 12 conference full of juggernauts having maybe the deepest and strongest conference in basketball this season. This conference is full of defense first head coaches and teams.
Only being able to put up 55 points and only winning by 7 against a team that shot the ball 25% is alarming to say the least.
The last thing Bobby Hurley wants is to look up at the end of January and be one of the bottom teams in the conference.
Rowan Donaghey, Sports Reporter and Betting Analyst for Stare Down Sports. You can follow him on the X via @RowanDonaghey
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