After winning just 10 games last year and going 3-15 in conference play, the ASU women's basketball program was in dire need of a fresh start.
That fresh start came in the spring when ASU hired Molly Miller to be its next head coach. The success in Miller's first campaign came early and often, with the Sun Devils winning their first 15 contests and posting a final record of 22-9 (9-9).
Though ASU has stumbled a little bit down the stretch, it finds itself right on the bubble of teams trying to squeeze into the final NCAA Tournament spots.
"The road wins that we have had have been phenomenal," Miller said following a loss to BYU. "Our wins above bubble, which they keep talking about, is a big metric that's been really good."
The Sun Devils lost three of their last four to conclude the regular season. Because of that, they likely need to win a couple of games in the Big 12 Tournament to make a strong enough impression on voters to make it to the Big Dance.
"I would say that this team is a March team because the players we have, the style we have and the wins we've had both in non-conference and some of those bubble teams that we played against in the Big 12," Miller said.
This stretch has shown Miller what can be improved upon heading into the most crucial week of the season.
"We can't take our foot off the gas," Miller said. "We looked tired out there a little bit. You've got to dig deep in these moments; it's been a long season. Everyone's tired, so everyone is banged up a little bit."
READ MORE: Women's basketball continues to battle in Big 12 gauntlet
The Sun Devils will take on No. 15 seed Arizona in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament, which starts on March 4. ASU won both matchups against its rivals this season, including an overtime thriller where the Sun Devils pulled out a big win on the road.
Now, as conference tournaments begin, a lot of these games have the potential to be win-or-go-home depending on the matchups. With many of these teams in desperation mode, the chaos has already happened down the stretch of the regular season.
"March Madness is happening at the end of February," Miller said. "Right now, anything can happen with teams."
If the Sun Devils can beat UA for a third time, they will advance to the second round and take on No. 7 seed Iowa State. These teams have faced off once this year, and the Cyclones dominated the Sun Devils 90-64 on Feb. 18.
The last couple of losses suffered by ASU have been gritty losses that have come down to the final couple of minutes. That was especially true against BYU on Feb. 25, which saw ASU have a double-digit lead at halftime but struggle in the second half to lose by five.
In the regular season finale, ASU traveled to Lubbock and lost to No. 21 Texas Tech by just seven.
"At this point in the season, her group is playing really hard," BYU head coach Lee Cummard said. "They are having success, and she is doing a fantastic job."
The Sun Devils will need to continue being a scrappy, tough defensive team if they want to advance multiple rounds in the Big 12 Tournament.
"(ASU is) a very great team," BYU sophomore guard Delaney Gibb said. "They are super physical, and they are super tough. I think both games show that they are never going to go away. They are going to continue being gritty and tough and getting after loose balls and battling in the paint."
No matter the result of the Big 12 Tournament or if the Sun Devils make the dance, the inaugural season of Miller as the head coach has been a massive success in Tempe. Sun Devil fans should be excited to see what Miller continues to build in the desert.
"Legacy isn't defined by how long you are at a place," Miller said. "It's defined by the impact you have while you are there."
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Senna James and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at mseal6@asu.edu and follow @masonseal23 on X.
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Mason Seal is a reporter in the sports department. He provides intel and paints stories about many different sports for The State Press. He is in his third semester at The State Press.
