Oregon State will need another improbable run here at the Pac-12 tournament to extend its season, but the more the No. 11 seed Beavers win, the more damage they can inflict on NCAA Tournament hopefuls in the conference, starting with No. 6 seed Arizona State.
The Sun Devils (20-11) won both regular-season meetings, but overcame halftime deficits in each to do so, and need multiple wins this week to earn a spot in the Big Dance. Oregon State can squash those plans if it can pull off the upset Wednesday night (8:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“We haven’t had a lot of success over the course of the season, but the one message we kept sending is ‘We need to peak at the right time,’” Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle said. “Now we’re here and we said, ‘Guys, now is the right time. Let’s just go out there (and) what the hell, we’ve got nothing to lose.’ Yet we can’t let them be fragmented, it’s got to be united effort.”
The Beavers (11-20) know from experience that the Sun Devils can flip a game quickly by capitalizing on turnovers and getting out in transition. Limiting Desmond Cambridge Jr. from behind the arc is also critical, as he’s gone a combined 7 of 12 from three-point range against OSU this season.
“The key for us is to make him work on the other end; make him defend,” Tinkle said. “Then we’ve got to be attentive to him anytime he crosses halfcourt and try to force him inside the three-point line, as difficult as that can be.”
OSU wants to play a slower pace and keep the scoring down, preferably below 70 points. ASU is almost the total opposite, even as it’s averaged 68.8 points in conference play.
Sun Devils coach Bobby Hurley said Oregon State’s young core has improved throughout the season. Containing Jordan Pope (12.6 points) will be vital if ASU is going to advance to face No. 3 USC and get the opportunity to enhances its resume on Thursday.
“We’ve been in a position to be a postseason team most of the year,” Hurley said. “So we have to seal the deal right now and make sure we’re ready to play. … I think the fact that you played them and you know that they have good players and they’re capable of winning if we’re not ready to play, I think that certainly helps. But if we’re not ready to play and be at our best, then we don’t deserve what we’ve hoping for to begin with.
“We want to attack this tournament, be the aggressor, try to make plays out there and play to win. We’re not protecting anything. People don’t have us in the (NCAA) Tournament right now, so we’ve got to make some things happen.”
— James Crepea reported from Las Vegas.