Bracketology 2023: Arizona State, North Carolina and Gonzaga among biggest winners
Arizona State Sun Devils
The bubble has been brutal for the teams that were on it this weekend, with North Carolina being an exception. New Mexico, who had gone on a losing skid, was seconds away from getting another big win over San Diego State before a game-winning shot took it away from the Lobos. Texas Tech was in a similar situation on Saturday, losing in the final seconds at home against TCU.
Arizona State was all set to join them in the “losers” category on the road at Arizona State. They were down by double figures late in the second half and needed a big comeback to try and win the game. And that’s what happened, with the Sun Devils making it a game late, before a halfcourt heavy went in to give ASU the massive upset victory.
Arizona State didn’t have much of a resume outside of a win against Creighton. But beating Arizona gives them a true signature victory. And it couldn’t come at a better time, as they were sliding on the wrong slide of the bubble in the past month.
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It still doesn’t get any easier for the Sun Devils, who still have to go to both USC and UCLA next week and likely needs at least one to head into the Pac-12 Tournament and not have to make the finals. After beating rival Arizona at their place this weekend, this team knows they’re capable of it.