ASU basketball no match for No. 20 Creighton
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu...loses-creighton-wooden-legacy-tournament.html
The personality Arizona State displayed in the first three weeks of the season disappeared in the first game of the Wooden Legacy basketball tournament.
Creighton, ranked 20th nationally, dominated early and gave the Sun Devils their first loss, an 88-60 rout Thursday night in front of 1,865 at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gym.
"We were outplayed in every facet of the game," said ASU coach Herb Sendek, whose team next plays the College of Charleston Friday at 10 p.m. The Cougars (2-4) lost their first tournament game to San Diego State, 72-52.
Three characteristics that marked the Sun Devils' first six games -- offensive potency, defense against the 3-point shot and the play of 7-foot-2 center Jordan Bachynski -- vanished against the Bluejays (5-0).
After Jermaine Marshall's 3-point shot gave ASU its only lead 38 seconds into the game, the Sun Devils missed nine of their next 12 shots, as Creighton built a 24-9 advantage with 12:08 to play in the first half.
"We didn't follow the game plan of moving the basketball," said ASU guard Jahii Carson, who scored a team-high 15 points. "We knew they were going to load the paint and make it tight for us to drive and penetrate. That was due to our lack of ball movement, our lack of hard cuts and the lack of our inside-out game."
Creighton's Austin Chatman played a major defensive role.
"I thought Austin did a great job on Jahii, once he gave (the ball) up, of really making him work to get it back," Bluejays coach Greg McDermott said. "I think the culmination of that over 40 minutes wears into a guy."
ASU shot just 37.9 percent from the game, 26.9 percent from 3-point range. Before Thanksgiving, the Sun Devils made 40.9 percent of their 3-point shots.
Bachynski, who had recorded double figures in points and rebounds every game this season, played only seven minutes in the first half after committing two early fouls. The senior blocked three shots but finished with just four points and two rebounds in 18 minutes.