The game didn't live up to the hype. No matter.
Sure, a win would have been huge for ASU, but the loss is not detrimental - in the standings. The only way Saturday's 92-72 loss to the archrival Wildcats is detrimental is if the Wells Fargo Arena seats aren't filled March 6 and 8. That's when ASU returns to Tempe for the final two homes games of the season.
The Sun Devils will be fighting for a berth in the NCAA tournament when Oregon and Oregon State pay a visit to Tempe and a voracious crowd similar to Saturday's can only help and encourage the team.
"ASU plays very hard and entertaining basketball and I would hope that they continue to draw the kind of crowd they did tonight, because the kids deserve that for the kind of effort they put in."
Who said this? None other than UA coach Lute Olson following his team's victory. If Olson believes the Sun Devils deserve a packed house, there must be something there.
Rob Evans has his team poised to make a berth, and a respectable seed, in the annual Mach Madness tournament.
As Olson said, this season's Sun Devils do play hard and entertaining basketball - which was evident for all to see in Saturday's first half.
The crowd, donned in gold and screaming at every Jamal Hill three-pointer, was as loud, boisterous and into the game as any crowd has been in many seasons.
There is no reason that the same crowd - both in number and excitement - should not be present March 6 against the Ducks.
The students should be the first to line up for a ticket. This is your team and these are your peers. Outside of about 150 die-hard Sun Devil fans, the student support has been lacking this season. The only area with empty seats on Saturday was the top of the student section.
Those who were in attendance and stayed throughout caught Evans' attention.
"It was really great to see those students, I saw all the fans, but the students stayed till the end," Evan said. "It's really great to see them stay until the horn blows. I appreciate that, I appreciate that a lot from those students, very loyal."
The Sun Devils deserve a repeat performance March 6. Get your tickets now.
Reach the reporter at christopher.gabel@asu.edu.
