SB Nation Arizona - ASU Falls To Colorado With No Locketthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2012-01-20T08:56:15-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24849682012-01-20T08:56:15-07:002012-01-20T08:56:15-07:00ASU Hoops Fall To Colorado, 69.54
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<p>Boulder, CO (Sports Network) – <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123371/andre-roberson">Andre Roberson</a> finished with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/colorado-buffaloes">Colorado Buffaloes</a> to a 69-54 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils in a Pac-12 Conference tilt at the Coors Events Center.</p>
<p>Spencer Dinwiddie added 12 points as well in the win for Colorado (12-6, 4-2 Pac-12), while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52413/austin-dufault">Austin Dufault</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145227/askia-booker">Askia Booker</a> netted 11 points apiece. The Buffaloes snapped a two-game skid with the decision, but have notched victories in three of their last five contests.</p>
<p>Chris Colvin scored 15 points to pace Arizona State (6-12, 2-4), while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123168/carrick-felix">Carrick Felix</a> notched 13 points in a losing effort. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145030/jonathan-gilling">Jonathan Gilling</a> chipped in 12 points as well for the Sun Devils, who have lost three of four.</p>
<p>The Sun Devils were stifled to the tune of 33.3 percent shooting from the field over the opening 20 minutes, allowing Colorado to take a commanding 31-15 lead into the break.</p>
<p>The Buffaloes then hit 48.0 percent from the floor and 13-of-16 at the charity stripe during the second stanza to capture the 15-point victory.</p>
<p>The Sun Devils were guilty of a game-high 14 turnovers during the contest, accounting for 25 Colorado points.</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.houseofsparky.com/2012/1/19/2720145/asu-vs-colorado-sun-devils-crumble-on-the-road-69-54">ASU Vs. Colorado: Sun Devils Crumble On The Road 69-54 - House Of Sparky</a><br>Guard Chris Colvin, who filled in for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100856/trent-lockett">Trent Lockett</a> (out with a sprained ankle) at the point position, led the way with 15 points and two assists. Carrick Felix and Jonathan Gilling pitched in with 13 and 12 points, respectively, to shoulder most of ASU's point output. Outside of those three, all other ASU players combined had only 14 points.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-st-sun-devils/2012/1/20/2720961/asu-hoops-fall-to-colorado-69-54Seth Pollack2012-01-19T10:01:24-07:002012-01-19T10:01:24-07:00Arizona State Vs. Colorado Preview: Rocky Mountain Rebounding
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<p>With the Sun Devils set to take on the Buffaloes Thursday night at 6:30, here's what ASU fans can expect before the tip off in Boulder.</p> <p>It has been a rocky (bad pun #2 alert) past few weeks for Arizona State Basketball. But if you were to look directly at the stats, you might think otherwise. Over the last four games the Devils are averaging 55% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. And while that has only translated into a 2-2 record over that span, for a team that started the season 4-9, that's undoubtedly a step in the right direction.</p>
<p>Still, this team isn't out of the woods yet. With the bench shortening due to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100856/trent-lockett" class="sbn-auto-link">Trent Lockett's</a> ankle injury and the altitude rising, it will be interesting to see how the Sun Devils handle this fundamentally-frustrating <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/colorado-buffaloes" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Buffaloes</a> squad. The Buffs (11-6) aren't exactly a team that scares you on paper but are instead one of those rosters that maximize their talents by executing almost everything to near perfection (minus that sloppy Stanford game). They're lead by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123371/andre-roberson" class="sbn-auto-link">Andre Roberson</a>, the lean, mean rebounding machine sophomore who has already put up 17, 14, and 12 board nights against Pac-12 foes.</p>
<p>Beyond that, it's difficult to see where the rest of Colorado's conference leading 26.6 defensive rebounds a game come from with no one else chipping in an average of more than five boards a game. But don't be fooled; while Roberson will wrangle in a majority of them, the Buffs guards (<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/28442/carlon-brown" class="sbn-auto-link">Carlon Brown</a> and Spencer Dinwiddie) show a natural knack for anticipating missed baskets and are known to more than take advantage of some teams if they fall asleep on the glass (And if you're a regularly viewer of Sun Devil basketball, then you know that is something they a prone to do at times).</p>
<p>The Buffs can also drain it from three, shooting a slightly better clip than the Devils do (38.4% compared to 38.3%). One player Arizona State has to keep an eye on in this category is 6'9"Justin Dufault. Dufault, who many Colorado fans have been disappointed with over his past two years, has really turned on his scoring as of late, averaging 15.8 points over his last four games and shooting 62.5% (5 of 8) from downtown over his last two (both road losses).</p>
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<p><b>Key Matchup: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123171/kyle-cain" class="sbn-auto-link">Kyle Cain</a> Vs. Roberson- </b>Coming off his best game of the year against Oregon State (16 points and eight rebounds) it seems Cain has responded well from the suspension dished out by Sendek. But here comes arguably his biggest test of the season. With ASU down its second leading rebounder due to Lockett's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tOoCIyb_oDw">massively swollen ankle</a>, Cain's toughness down low will determine if the Devils can pull out this one.</p>
<p><b>What to watch for: The Chris Colvin Show- </b>Colvin has had ample opportunity to be the conductor of this offense but has instead fell flat on his face, piling up the turnovers (38) and suspensions (2) in the process. But just like Cain, Colvin also had an inspiring bounce back performance against Oregon State (six point and six assists in 13 minutes). Now with Lockett down, Sendek is left with only Colvin and 5'9" walk-on freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/147080/max-heller" class="sbn-auto-link">Max Heller</a> at the point guard position. Can Colvin grab the reins finally and give Arizona State the backup PG they've so desperately lacked or will Heller surpass him on the depth chart once and for all?</p>
<p><b>Media Coverage: </b>Unfortunately, this one wont be on the telly but you can catch the action on KTAR Sports 620's play-by-play as always.</p>
<p><b>Final Prediction: </b>Arizona State 59 - Colorado 69</p>
<p>I know it's going to sound like taking the easy way out, but I think this one could be different if Lockett was available. The offense has made notable strides with him as the new ball handler, averaging 55% shooting from the field and 50% from three over the last four games. Maybe this is just the Sun Devil in me, but I really don't think his leadership skills and selflessness are getting enough attention in the main stream media but I digress. The team has already showed excellent adversity in their win against USC missing three key players so it wouldn't be surprising to see it happen again. But when playing the Buffs you need rebounding and toughness, and the Devils will be without a good majority of their's with Lockett watching from the bench.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2012/1/19/2717695/arizona-state-asu-sun-devils-colorado-buffaloes-pac-12-basketballCody Ulm