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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
 Why ASU can still make the big dance
By Joe Kaiser

 After a crushing home loss to a middling Washington team over the weekend, many were quick to write off Arizona State's NCAA tournament chances. But a closer look at the Sun Devils' remaining schedule reveals that this bubble-dweller still has a chance to dance this March.

This is a team that has swept the season series with Colorado, beaten UCLA and Cal, and also knocked off Arkansas by 15. But it's also a squad with a pair of brutal losses to DePaul (180 RPI) and Utah (175 RPI), and one that dropped both games to UW.

So why should there still be some optimism in Tempe? Here's our own Andy Katz to explain.

Andy Katz
All is not lost for ASU
"Arizona State has opportunities many teams on the bubble don't over its final three regular-season games. The Sun Devils can play their way into or out of the NCAA tournament with games at UCLA, USC and Arizona. The Sun Devils suffered a disappointing loss at home to Washington on Saturday. For the Sun Devils to get past UCLA on Wednesday, assistant coach Eric Musselman said, they've got to contain UCLA's wing scorers Shabazz Muhammad and Jordan Adams, cut down transition baskets and establish paint scoring. To beat USC on Saturday, regardless of what occurs against the Bruins, the Sun Devils must defend the 3-point shot and play with intelligence, according to Musselman. ASU can't be pleased that it put itself in this situation, but all is not lost. The Pac-12 could get six teams into the NCAA field if the Sun Devils can show well and win (one of three? two of three?) in the final two weeks. I'm fairly confident Arizona, UCLA, Oregon, Cal and Colorado will all get into the field."