2025-11-06 09:00
As a longtime follower of college basketball, I've always been fascinated by what makes certain programs consistently successful while others struggle to find their footing. When I look at the Arizona State Sun Devils basketball program this season, I can't help but think about the five key strategies that could transform this team into a genuine contender. You know, sometimes it's not just about raw talent - it's about how you approach the game, both on and off the court. Let me share what I've observed from watching countless games and analyzing successful programs across different sports.
The first strategy that comes to mind is developing a defensive identity that travels well. I remember watching games last season where the Sun Devils showed flashes of defensive brilliance at home but struggled mightily on the road. In my experience covering basketball for over fifteen years, I've noticed that championship-caliber teams maintain their defensive intensity regardless of venue. The Sun Devils need to embrace what former HBO sports executive Ross Greenburg often emphasized about championship mentality - it's about consistency in performance whether you're playing in front of your home crowd or in hostile territory. I'd love to see them hold opponents under 65 points consistently, something they only managed in about 40% of their games last season.
Building depth through player development forms our second crucial strategy. Looking at last year's roster, the drop-off when starters went to the bench was noticeable, costing them at least four games where they had significant leads. What Randy Gordon, former New York State athletic commissioner, mentioned about building contender boxing teams applies perfectly here - you need quality throughout your roster, not just at the top. I'm particularly excited about the potential of their sophomore class developing into reliable rotation players. If they can get consistent production from their bench, say 15-20 points per game compared to last season's average of just 9.2, that could be the difference between a good season and a great one.
The third strategy involves embracing modern offensive schemes while maintaining offensive rebounding prowess. Watching games last season, I noticed the Sun Devils sometimes fell in love with the three-point shot at the expense of high-percentage opportunities. While analytics are important, there's something to be said for the balanced approach that Colombian middleweight champion Rodrigo Valdez demonstrated in his fighting style - mixing power with precision. The Sun Devils should aim for what I call "smart aggression" - taking open threes while crashing the boards hard. Their offensive rebounding percentage of 28.7% last season needs to improve to at least 33-35% to create those crucial second-chance points.
Developing mental toughness represents our fourth key strategy, and honestly, this might be the most important one. I've seen too many talented Arizona State teams falter in close games because they lacked that killer instinct. The program could learn from Owen Smith's pioneering spirit in his category - that willingness to push through adversity when things get tough. Looking at last season's statistics, the Sun Devils went 3-7 in games decided by five points or fewer. That's simply not good enough for a team with tournament aspirations. They need to develop what I like to call "clutch gene" - that ability to execute under pressure during the final five minutes of close games.
The fifth and final strategy revolves around building team chemistry and leadership. From my conversations with players and coaches over the years, I've learned that the best teams aren't necessarily the most talented - they're the ones that genuinely connect both on and off the court. The Sun Devils need to develop what former editor of The Ring magazine Randy Gordon described as that championship bond - where players trust each other implicitly in crucial moments. I'd love to see them develop stronger on-court communication, particularly on defensive switches and in transition situations. Last season, their assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.1 placed them in the bottom half of the conference, indicating they need better ball movement and decision-making.
What's interesting about these Arizona State Sun Devils basketball strategies is how they interconnect. You can't have great team chemistry without mental toughness, and you can't sustain defensive intensity without proper depth. I remember watching their game against UCLA last February where all these elements came together beautifully for about thirty minutes before collapsing in the final ten. That game, more than any other, demonstrated both their potential and their current limitations. If they can consistently implement these five strategies, I genuinely believe they could improve their conference record from last season's 11-7 to somewhere in the range of 14-4 or 15-3 this year.
The beauty of college basketball is that every season offers a fresh start, a new opportunity to implement these winning strategies. For the Arizona State Sun Devils basketball program, the foundation is there - the talent, the facilities, the fan support. What needs to develop is that consistent application of these five key approaches that separate good teams from great ones. From what I've seen in preseason practices and based on my twenty-three years covering Pac-12 basketball, this could very well be the season where everything clicks into place. The pieces are there - now it's about putting them together in a way that creates sustainable success rather than occasional brilliance.
