After a sloppy win over Houston Baptist, ASU faces a much bigger test on Friday evening in the Great Alaska Shootout when they play the Weber State Wildcats of the Big Sky conference.
Weber State was one win away from the NCAA Tournament in 2010, falling to Montana in the Big Sky championship last March. Weber State's best player, Damian Lillard, has averaged 23 points a game this season. While only 6'2", he will be a difficult test for a Sun Devils defense that has appeared mediocre so far in 2010-2011.
Trent Lockett continues to have the hot hand for the ASU offense, averaging 19.7 points and grabbing 8 boards per contest. Lockett is the team's top option on offense while Ty Abbott is out with a bone bruise, providing a steady presence on an extremely young team.
Since Weber State is a good team, this game should be a close one. The Wildcats may be able to pull off the upset, but a victory here would be fantastic for the Sun Devils. The winner of this contest will play the winner of Drake and St. John's, providing an exciting finish to the Great Alaska Shootout of 2010.
Prediction: ASU 75, Weber State 71