Arizona State Basketball: 3 keys for the Sun Devils against Kansas

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Bobby Hurley (C) of the Arizona State Sun Devils is surrounded by his team after defeating the Utah State Aggies, 87-82 in championship game in the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 06: Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks shoots the ball against the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. The Sun Devils must force Kansas into jump shots

The second key for Arizona State will be their ability to force Kansas into taking jump shots. Kansas usually has an advantage when it comes to the amount of length they can put on the floor at one time allowing them to either get to the rim easily or have the ability to shoot over smaller defenders. Arizona State is one team that can match that length, with just sophomore Remy Martin being the only player in the Sun Devils’ rotation under 6-4.

To pull off the upset, freshman star Luguentz Dort and junior Rob Edwards will have to do yeoman’s work staying with the likes of Lagerald Vick, Marcus Garrett, and Quentin Grimes, forcing them into tough contested perimeter shots.

A couple of other key players for ASU when it comes to forcing Kansas into tough shots could be 6-8 freshman Taeshon Cherry and 6-7 sophomore Kimani Lawrence, who may be asked to blanket K.J. Lawson, should Bill Self elect to deploy the sophomore into the Jayhawk backcourt.

Offensively the Sun Devils can hang with Kansas, but forcing Kansas into shots they don’t want to take will be a big factor in deciding who gets a key non-conference victory.

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