Arizona State Basketball: Top 5 non-conference games for 2018-19

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Remy Martin #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils brings the ball up the court ahead of Dominique Collier #15 of the Colorado Buffaloes during a first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes won 97-85. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 16: The Vanderbilt Commodores band performs in the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

4. Vanderbilt (R), December 17

It speaks to the strength of Arizona State’s schedule that a road game at a potential NCAA Tournament team is only the fourth best game. Vanderbilt is looking to climb out of the SEC basement and their stellar recruiting class gives them a realistic shot at doing so, despite losing their top three scorers. Darius Garland and Simi Shittu are the headliners and can both realistically be one and done prospects.

Sophomore guard Saben Lee is Vanderbilt’s leading returning scorer and he pairs nicely with Garland to form a dynamic backcourt. I have the Commodores just barely missing the NCAA Tournament, but this is almost guaranteed to be a Quadrant 1 contest.

3. Mississippi State (N), November 19

Arizona State will face one of its biggest challenges in the first round of the MGM Classic where they will square off against Mississippi State. Mississippi State is a potential top 15 team since they return all of their key contributors from last season including star guard Quinndary Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon averaged 14.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, and 3.3 apg as a junior last season.

His younger brother, Nick Weatherspoon, and leading assist man Lamar Peters join the elder Weatherspoon to create a formidable backcourt. Senior big man Aric Holman can stretch the defense and can score in the paint making him an extremely difficult cover. This early season game could set the Sun Devils on the right track.

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