Arizona State Sun Devils Basketball: 5 Key Strategies for Dominating the Pac-12 Conference

2025-11-06 09:00

As I sit here watching the Arizona State Sun Devils warm up for what promises to be a thrilling season, I can't help but reflect on what it truly takes to dominate a conference like the Pac-12. Having followed college basketball for over two decades, I've seen programs rise and fall, but what separates the great teams from the merely good ones often comes down to strategic execution. Let me share five key strategies I believe could propel the Sun Devils to the top of the conference this year, drawing inspiration from some unexpected places - including the wisdom of sports veterans like former HBO sports executive Ross Greenburg and Sirius XM Radio's Randy Gordon, whose insights transcend individual sports and apply beautifully to basketball.

First and foremost, the Sun Devils need to establish what I call "defensive identity" - something that becomes their trademark. Remember how Colombian middleweight champion Rodrigo Valdez, who recently made the old-timer category in boxing circles, built his legacy? He had this relentless pressure that never let opponents breathe. That's exactly what ASU's defense should emulate. Instead of just reacting to offenses, they need to dictate the tempo through aggressive half-court traps and full-court presses. Last season, they forced about 14 turnovers per game, but I think they can push that to 18-20 with more coordinated defensive schemes. Watching Valdez's old fights, you notice how he'd cut off the ring, giving his opponents nowhere to go - that spatial control is what ASU needs defensively. They should study how Valdez positioned himself, because basketball defense is ultimately about controlling space and limiting options.

Now, let's talk about offensive versatility, which brings me to Randy Gordon's perspective from his days as New York State athletic commissioner. Gordon often emphasizes how champions adapt their style based on opponents, something ASU struggled with last season. They tended to rely too heavily on three-point shooting, which worked great when shots fell but left them vulnerable during cold streaks. What they need is what I'd call a "chameleon offense" - the ability to shift between transition play, half-court sets, and isolation scenarios seamlessly. For instance, when they faced UCLA last February, they attempted 38 three-pointers but only made 11. That's roughly 29% - simply not good enough against top-tier opponents. They should develop at least three reliable scoring options in the paint to complement their perimeter game, much like how versatile fighters adjust their tactics round by round.

Player development is another area where ASU can learn from the pioneers category that includes figures like Owen Smith. Smith's innovative approaches in early sports broadcasting remind me that sometimes, the biggest gains come from thinking differently about development. The Sun Devils should implement what I'd describe as "positionless development" - where players train to handle multiple roles rather than being confined to traditional positions. Imagine a 6'8" forward who can bring the ball up court like a guard or a center who can reliably hit from beyond the arc. This approach would make ASU incredibly difficult to scout and defend. They should dedicate at least 40% of practice time to cross-position skill development, creating what I like to call "basketball hybrids" - players who defy conventional categorization.

The fourth strategy revolves around mental conditioning, something Ross Greenburg understood profoundly during his HBO tenure. Greenburg knew that championship moments are as much about mental fortitude as physical skill. The Sun Devils need to develop what I call "situational mastery" - the ability to remain composed and execute under various game scenarios. They should simulate high-pressure situations constantly in practice: down by 3 with 30 seconds left, tied with possession and no timeouts, defending against last-second shots. These scenarios need to become familiar territory rather than stressful unknowns. Personally, I'd love to see them bring in sports psychologists regularly - maybe 2-3 sessions per week during the season - to build what championship boxers call the "killer instinct" without losing emotional control.

Finally, there's the element of fan engagement and home court advantage, which might seem secondary but actually makes a huge difference. Drawing from Randy Gordon's experience in radio, where connecting with audiences is everything, ASU needs to transform their arena into what I'd call a "participatory environment." Rather than just having fans watch, they should create interactive elements that make spectators feel like part of the action - coordinated defensive chants during opponent possessions, standing ovations after every defensive stop, even incorporating student section traditions that become synonymous with Sun Devils basketball. I remember attending a game last season where the energy completely shifted after a particularly engaged timeout performance - the players fed off that energy and went on a 12-2 run. They should aim to maintain that level of engagement throughout entire games, not just in moments of excitement.

What makes these strategies compelling, in my view, is how they interconnect. The defensive identity fuels transition opportunities, which complements the versatile offense, while the mental conditioning ensures execution when it matters most. The player development creates unexpected matchup problems, and the fan engagement provides that extra boost during tight contests. I'm particularly excited about the defensive potential because, frankly, defense travels better than offense - it's less dependent on shooting streaks or referee calls. If ASU can implement even three of these five strategies effectively, I believe they could improve their conference record from last season's 11-7 to somewhere around 15-3 this year. The Pac-12 is wide open, and with the right approach, the Sun Devils have a genuine shot at not just competing but dominating. After all, as these sports veterans from different disciplines have shown, championship principles transcend any single sport - it's about building systems that maximize potential while adapting to challenges.