Arizona State basketball ready for quick turnaround against TCU in March Madness

Michelle Gardner, Arizona Republic
·4 min read

The Arizona State Sun Devils face the TCU Horned Frogs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.

Here's what to know before the West Region game in Denver.

No. 6 TCU (21-12) vs No. 11 Arizona State (23-12)

Time: 7:05 p.m.

Site: Ball Arena, Denver

TV/radio: truTV/Arizona Sports 98.7 FM

At stake: The winner advances to second-round play on Sunday against the winner of Grand Canyon (24-11) and Gonzaga (28-5), which will be played at 4:35 p.m.

About ASU: The Sun Devils advanced with a 98-73 thrashing of Nevada on Wednesday in Dayton in a First Four play-in. It was ASU's best performance of the season as it shot 63.6% (25-for-55) with 21 assists and only seven turnovers. It marked the highest shooting percentage in a game in coach Bobby Hurley's eight-year tenure. D.J. Horne led the offensive onslaught with 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field. Desmond Cambridge Jr. added 17 while brother Devan added 15. ASU got 33 points from its bench. ASU was the fifth-place finisher in the Pac-12 in the regular season.

More:Arizona State vs. TCU basketball picks, predictions, odds: Who wins March Madness game?

About TCU: The Horned Frogs have defeated five nationally ranked foes, most notably Kansas 83-60 on Jan. 21 at Kansas. They made it to the Big 12 tournament semifinal before losing to Texas 66-60. Senior guard Damion Baugh (12.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.8 apg) and junior guard Mike Miles (17.3 ppg) were second-team All-Big 12 selections while senior forward Emanuel Miller (12.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg) was an honorable mention selection. Rounding out the starting lineup are senior forward Chuck O'Bannon (7.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and junior forward Xavier Cork (4.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg). TCU was the fifth-place finisher in the stellar Big 12.

Of note: This will be the fifth game in 10 days for the Sun Devils and the eighth consecutive road game . . . Freshman G Austin Nunez (concussion) has missed the last seven games but might be able to go in this one. Jamiya Neal has filled in admirably in his absence . . . ASU's six wins on a neutral court are tied for third in the nation . . . The Sun Devils are 14-1 when Devan Cambridge scores in double figures. The lone setback was a 77-72 road setback at USC that closed the regular season.

Arizona State Sun Devils guard Devan Cambridge (35) celebrates a play in the first half against the Nevada Wolf Pack at UD Arena in Dayton on March 15, 2023.
Arizona State Sun Devils guard Devan Cambridge (35) celebrates a play in the first half against the Nevada Wolf Pack at UD Arena in Dayton on March 15, 2023.

They said it:  "Especially compared to the Pac-12 tournament, the games were back to back. And now we have that one day, and I think that's all we need. We just need that one day, and we're definitely going to maximize that time off and get ready for the next one."

- ASU's Desmond Cambridge Jr on the quick turnaround from one game to another

"It's your goal as a coach to get your team ready for big moments and ready for big games. We've been on the road every week for almost a month now. So you're concerned about just making sure they had the appropriate energy. I thought we handled them well coming into this to make sure that we were prepared and the guys got their reps, but with them having a full tank of gas. They had it early. Their activity on defense was outstanding, and then offensively they were moving the ball and sharing the ball and executing. For us to finish with 21 assists and seven turnovers is what you hope for as a coach, that your team is playing that unselfishly."

- ASU coach Bobby Hurley on his team's recent win and moving forward in the tournament

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State ready for quick turnaround against TCU in March Madness