Arizona State men's basketball team made a strong statement in Kansas City, kicking off the Big 12 tournament with a hard-fought victory over the Baylor Bears. The Sun Devils built a commanding lead, going up by as much as 15 points, and managed to withstand a late rally from Baylor to secure an 83-79 win.
The offensive effort was a true team performance, with all five starters hitting double figures. Pig Johnson led the charge, putting up 19 points on an efficient 7-for-14 shooting night. Arizona State's offense was clicking, shooting an impressive 57% from the field, while their defense held Baylor to just 24% from beyond the arc.
Next up, the Sun Devils face the 5th-seeded Iowa State Cyclones, who are coming off a bye. The two teams recently clashed in the regular season finale in Ames, where the Cyclones came out on top with a 21-point victory. This rematch promises to be an intriguing battle as Arizona State looks to avenge that loss.
Off the court, there's buzz surrounding head coach Bobby Hurley. Reports indicate that he and athletic director Graham Rossini will meet after the tournament to discuss his future with the program.
Hurley is in the final year of his contract, which is set to expire in June. While some rumors suggest a decision has already been made, it seems any conclusions are still up in the air.
As the Sun Devils continue their tournament journey, all eyes will be on both their performance on the court and the potential developments off it.