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PHOENIX – The latest battle for supremacy of the Valley will be decided on Feb. 1st when the University of Arizona and Arizona State University battle it out on the hardwood. This year, ASU and Arizona’s Men’s basketball program have had a roller-coaster season, both heading in opposite directions.
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For the Wildcats, the first nine games saw them have their worst start since the 09-10 season at 4-5. Arizona’s head Coach Tommy Llyod rallied his group from that rough start to then winning 10 of their next 11 games, four of those wins coming against ranked teams, the latest being an OT-thriller against No. 3 Iowa State.
Jan 27, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd yells toward a referee after a call was made during the first half against Iowa State at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, the Sun Devils have floundered after their hot 8-1 start, falling to 11-8. With a 2-6 conference record, ASU has struggled to leave its impression in its inaugural season in the Big 12.
Saturday’s matchup sees ASU try to break a five-year losing streak to Arizona in Tempe. To accomplish that goal, the Sun Devils will need to rely on scoring leader senior forward BJ Freeman, who’s averaging 13 points per game.
Freeman has carried a lot of the weight for ASU’s offense, while freshman center Jayden Quaintance has made his mark on the defensive side of the ball being fourth nationally with 3.0 blocks per game.
Arizona State Sun Devils forward Jayden Quaintance (21) and Cincinnati Bearcats guard Dan Skillings Jr. (0) compete for a rebound in the second half of the NCAA basketball game at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Arizona’s fifth-year guard Caleb Love looks to maintain his perfect record against ASU. The AP preseason All-American has led the Wildcats to the second-best scoring offense in the Big 12 with him leading the program with 15.3 points per game. Love is riding a high after saving Arizona against Iowa State with a half-court buzzer-better heave to send the game into overtime where he help secure the upset win with 22 points.
Jan 27, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) reacts after making a three point basket during overtime against the Iowa States Cyclones at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
As the two programs cross paths on two different trajectories, the importance of the game is paramount for both of the in-state rivals to try to correct their seasons.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
