ASU Men’s Basketball Faces Baylor in Crucial Big 12 Showdown

The Arizona State University (ASU) men’s basketball team is gearing up for a high-stakes Big 12 matchup against Baylor on Saturday at Desert Financial Arena. The Sun Devils (10-4, 1-2) are looking to rebound after a tough loss to Kansas, while the Bears (10-4, 2-1) aim to regain their footing following a recent defeat to Iowa State.

ASU, currently 5-0 at home this season, faces a formidable opponent in Baylor, a team that started the season ranked No. 8 nationally but has since dropped out of the Top 25. The Bears, however, remain a powerhouse, averaging 82.9 points per game, ranking 35th in Division I. ASU, on the other hand, averages 75.4 points per game.

Injury concerns loom for the Sun Devils, as leading scorer Joson Sanon (13.5 ppg) remains sidelined with an ankle injury sustained during the BYU game. Junior guard Austin Nunez is also out for the season following foot surgery. Despite these setbacks, ASU has seen strong performances from true freshman Jayden Quaintance, who ranks fourth nationally in blocked shots with 42, and Basheer Jihad, the team’s second-leading scorer.

Baylor, meanwhile, has been bolstered by key transfers, including senior forward Norchad Omier (15.7 ppg, 10.8 rpg) from Miami and senior guard Jeremy Roach (13.2 ppg) from Duke. Freshman VJ Edgecombe, a potential NBA lottery pick, has also been a standout for the Bears.

The game, set for 7:30 p.m. MST, will be broadcast on ESPN+ and ESPN 620 AM (KTAR). ASU is hosting its annual blackout game, with the first 5,000 fans receiving a limited-edition black T-shirt. The Sun Devils will need to minimize turnovers, a recurring issue this season, to compete against a Baylor team that has struggled in true road games (0-3) but remains a threat.

Both teams have faced Gonzaga earlier in the season, with ASU losing 88-80 and Baylor falling 101-63. This matchup will be a critical test for ASU as it seeks to improve its standing in the highly competitive Big 12 conference.