Image Source: Drew Schneider
Key Takeaways
- The Arizona State Sun Devils and Kansas State Wildcats are set to face off on January 10th, 2026, at the Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
- Arizona State has been struggling on defense, while Kansas State’s offense has been relatively efficient, thanks in part to the play of PJ Haggerty.
- The Sun Devils have been turning teams over with their defense, but Kansas State’s patient and controlled play could limit their scoring opportunities.
- Both teams have been disappointing this season, with Arizona State’s coach Bobby Hurley facing a hot seat and Kansas State’s Jerome Tang looking to improve his team’s defense.
- The game is a crucial one for Kansas State, which needs to win to keep its tournament hopes alive.
Introduction to the Matchup
The Arizona State Sun Devils and Kansas State Wildcats are set to face off on January 10th, 2026, at the Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils have been struggling on defense, while Kansas State’s offense has been relatively efficient, thanks in part to the play of PJ Haggerty. As the article notes, "Arizona State has been reasonably efficient on offense this season, not great, but it doesn’t stick out as a sore spot on a team covered in bruises." However, the team’s defense has been a major concern, with the article stating that "Kansas State’s defense tells the story of the season for the Wildcats. This team needs to be good defensively, and they’re not."
Team Statistics and Analysis
A look at the team statistics reveals some interesting insights. Arizona State’s offense has an adjusted efficiency rating of 115.5, which ranks 71st in the nation, while Kansas State’s defense has an adjusted efficiency rating of 104.9, which ranks 102nd. On the other hand, Kansas State’s offense has an adjusted efficiency rating of 116.9, which ranks 64th, while Arizona State’s defense has an adjusted efficiency rating of 90.9, which ranks 4th. As the article notes, "In terms of offensive efficiency, the Wildcats aren’t bad. That’s not surprising because PJ Haggerty is a reasonably efficient player, and he has the ball in his hands most of the time." The article also highlights the importance of PJ Haggerty’s play, stating that "PJ is going to have to be on top of his game for K-State even to have a shot at keeping this one close."
Defensive Strategies
The Sun Devils have been turning teams over with their defense, with Anthony Johnson’s 2.8 steal percentage ranking 384th in the country. However, Kansas State’s patient and controlled play could limit their scoring opportunities. As the article notes, "For Kansas State, it’s not that PJ Haggerty is loose with the ball; it’s that he always has the ball, and every defense is geared up to stop him." The article also emphasizes the need for Haggerty to be patient and under control, stating that "This needs to be a patient, under control PJ game because Arizona State needs help scoring. If Kansas State doesn’t help them, it’s possible the Sun Devils simply won’t be able to score enough to win the game."
Coaching and Team Dynamics
Both teams have been disappointing this season, with Arizona State’s coach Bobby Hurley facing a hot seat and Kansas State’s Jerome Tang looking to improve his team’s defense. The article notes that "Bobby Hurley’s team went 23-13 in 2023. They won a combined 27 games in the 2024 and 2025 seasons and are off to a shaky start in 2026." The article also highlights the challenges faced by Hurley, stating that "He assembled a team more resembling the French Foreign Legion than a Big 12 program. They’ve got players from Senegal, Argentina, Montenegro, and Belgium trying to adjust to college basketball while trying to win games in the Big 12, and it’s not going super great." In contrast, Kansas State’s Jerome Tang has deployed a more complementary role for his foreign players, which has helped the team’s offense.
Conclusion and Prediction
The game is a crucial one for Kansas State, which needs to win to keep its tournament hopes alive. As the article notes, "If they have any inkling of making the tournament, perhaps even any tournament, they need to go 3-1 at least, if not 4-0, over the next four games, starting tomorrow afternoon in the desert." The article concludes by stating that "I’ll take Kansas State to win this one and keep hope alive going into this four-game stretch of winnable games." With PJ Haggerty leading the charge, Kansas State has a good chance of coming out on top in this matchup.
https://www.bringonthecats.com/kansas-state-mens-basketball/28516/kansas-state-wildcat-basketball-arizona-state-preview