Sun Devils Robbed Against USC in 2nd Straight Pac-10 Tourney
66 FINAL 63
Final Analysis:
USC was awarded the Pacific Ten conference championship by Dave Libbey. Nothing else can be said about it. USC shot fifteen more free throws, ASU did not even step to the foul line until late in the second half, and every single call down the stretch favored the Trojans. Nothing you can really say about it, ASU played their hearts out down the stretch, shooting 45% in the second half, but could not overcome absolutely horrendous officiating from the Pac-Ten's worst referee.
I don't know what I can give you for final analysis. Nothing adds up out there. Congratulations to the Pac-10 Conference for assuring that the Trojans earn a tournament bid.
Final Media Timeout: ASU 60, USC 55
ASU finally gets some free throws, after USC takes the first 15 of the game. Ty Abbott makes one of two with 4:25 left in the game. The team foul count for the game is now ASU 12, USC 7, with USC somehow shooting six and a half times as many free throws. Danny Sullivan, ASU's possible starting quarterback next season, is in attendance and was just shown on the big screen, with very little crowd response.
Clearly, no one knows who he is...Go Football
Fourth Media Timeout: ASU 57, USC 53
USC continues to hang around, and ASU continues to let them. The Devils are still shooting well, but they're allowing too many points to USC and the officiating is helping out by calling very few fouls, which plays into the hands (and hand-checks) of USC's physical defense. ASU can still win this one by trading baskets, but they'd be much better off if they could clamp down on defense and pull away sooner than later, without allowing another controversial call to decide this one. USC has gotten as close as 3 points here in the second half, and currently it's a four-point lead for the Sun Devils.
The next four minutes of this game are crucial to ASU's success. They've squandered a big cushion and are now flying by the seat of their pants. Derek Glasser won't miss unless he's fouled, and Jeff and James are still running the pick and roll to perfection. Don't Foul. For the Love of God, Don't Foul.
Third Media Timeout: ASU 53, USC 49
After it looked like ASU had stopped the bleeding, USC has picked right back up, reeling off 8 of 10 points to pull within 5. Kuksiks makes an ill-advised drive to the basket, getting rejected with the result a fast-break layup by DeRozan, with a poor foul by Ty Abbott luckily not resulting in a made three-point play. After a Dwight Lewis dunk, James temporarily slows the bleeding with his third triple of the game. Ty Abbott commits a pair of fouls in 13 seconds to give him 3 for the game, continuing his trend of getting in foul trouble when he's otherwise playing well. Luckily for the Devils, Derek Glasser just can't seem to miss a big shot. He has 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
ASU just can't seem to find their killer instinct in big games. For the third consecutive game, they've allowed a large lead to slip away and are skating on thin ice. Sooner or later, it will catch up with them.
Second Media Timeout: ASU 46, USC 35
USC has come storming out of the half, forcing 4 ASU turnovers and starting the half on a 11-2 run to close within 6 before Ty Abbott answers with a 3, giving him 11 points in the game. USC is playing a full-court press on the Devils, and it's working so far much better in the 2nd half than it did in the first. Derek Glasser hits a runner with the shot clock winding down to get the lead back to double-figures
Derek Glasser is making great strides to be the MVP of the tournament. His clutch baskets are falling right when the Devils absolutely need to stop the bleeding. What was a big time run seems like crisis averted for now.
First Media Timeout: ASU 41, USC 31
Devils come out a bit sloppy, committing a pair of backcourt turnovers leading to easy USC points. Jeff Pendergraph has another dunk for ASU's points, but Herb didn't like what he was seeing and called a quick timeout, leading to our first break of the second half.
Halftime: ASU 39, USC 24
Finally two things happen: USC is called for a foul, and James Harden is on the board. Taj Gibson is called away from the play, and on the next possession James lines up a top-of-the-arc three and nails it for a 13-point ASU lead. After a USC free throw, Herb calls a :30 to set up ASU's final offensive play of the half. After a Daniel Hackett foul on the floor, James nails another three and the clock runs out on the half, with ASU comfortably ahead.
If anything, USC certainly understands how to defend James Harden. But without Demar DeRozan and Daniel Hackett, they'd barely be on the board. The Devils have done an excellent job spreading the ball around with all five starters on the board and their three pointers are really dropping. Both Jeff and Derek are carrying over superb showings yesterday with double digits in the first half. Keep it up, Devils!
The Devils are led on the scoreboard by Glasser and Pendergraph with 10 each, followed by Ty Abbott with 8. James Harden has 6 points and 5 assists. For USC Hackett has 11 and DeRozan has 9. It was a very clean half, with only 4 turnovers and 6 fouls between the two teams.
Once again, Adam and Ben are here with you, with Adam's comments in plain text, and Ben's insights in italics.
Check back at every media timeout and at the end of the game for updates and analysis, courtesy of your friends at The Sports Lounge.
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last updated on 09.03.14 at 5:02 PM