Kansas Faces Arizona State in Crucial Big 12 Showdown

The Kansas Jayhawks (10-3, 1-1 Big 12) are set to host the Arizona State Sun Devils (10-3, 1-1 Big 12) in a pivotal Big 12 Conference matchup at Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT. Both teams are coming off their first conference wins of the season, with Kansas defeating UCF on the road and Arizona State securing a victory at home against Colorado.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN2, with Jon Sciambi on play-by-play, Jay Williams as analyst, and Andy Jacobson and Anthony DeMarco handling production and direction. Kansas, ranked No. 11 nationally, aims to build momentum after a dominant 99-48 win over UCF, the largest road victory in school history against a Division I opponent.

Arizona State, led by head coach Bobby Hurley, brings a mix of veteran talent and standout freshmen, including five-star recruit Joson Sanon, who is averaging 13.5 points per game. However, Sanon’s availability remains uncertain due to an ankle injury. The Sun Devils also feature freshman forward Jayden Quaintance, who leads the Big 12 in blocks per game (3.2).

Kansas guard Shakeel Moore, who started his first game as a Jayhawk against UCF, emphasized the team’s readiness to defend their home court. “We know we dropped West Virginia, first game of conference, and we know we can’t let that happen in front of our fans,” Moore said. “We’re super ready to go.”

The Jayhawks will rely on their defensive rebounding prowess, ranking No. 10 nationally, to counter Arizona State’s struggles on the offensive glass. Kansas head coach Bill Self praised the Sun Devils’ physicality but highlighted his team’s ability to control the boards as a key factor in the matchup.

This game marks the first meeting between Kansas and Arizona State since the 2018-19 season, with the Sun Devils holding a slight 6-5 edge in the all-time series. Both teams are looking to solidify their positions in the competitive Big 12 standings early in the season.