With 2 starters suspended, Arizona State comes up short in Big 12 test at Oklahoma State

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STILLWATER, Okla. — It’s been a tough season for the Arizona State Sun Devils. And just when you think it can’t get any worse, it has.

The Sun Devils trekked here for a Super Bowl Sunday showdown against Oklahoma State, a team that entered the contest with the same Big 12 record (3-8) as the Sun Devils, and were dealt an 86-73 setback at Gallagher-Iba Arena

Coach Bobby Hurley normally has a rotation of eight players but was so shorthanded that his son Bobby, who has played seven minutes in three previous games this season and played only 20 all of last season, saw 15 minutes.

Trevor Best, the 17-year-old who could still be in high school, played four minutes while walk-on Connor Braun got in the game only long enough to break a sweat before leaving with a shoulder injury.

The reason for the lineup chaos was the loss of starting guards Adam Miller and B.J. Freeman who had to sit. Both drew Flagrant 2 fouls in the previous two games, which warranted ejections from those contests. Freeman’s came in the loss to rival Arizona, while Miller’s came in the loss to Kansas State.

Miller’s suspension was NCAA-mandated because it came under the category of “fighting” because he slapped an opposing player. Freeman’s did not fall under that category but his suspension came from Hurley for what the school is calling “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Miller made the trip but was not on the bench with the team. Freeman did not make the trip. Hurley said both will be back for Wednesday’s game at No. 13 Texas Tech.

Another blow came midway through the first half when freshman phenom Jayden Quaintance, who has six double-doubles on the season, aggravated an ankle injury that sidelined him for one game. He left in the first half after playing just nine minutes.

ASU has had its starting lineup intact for only five of its 12 conference games. Joson Sanon was injured in the Big 12 opener against BYU and missed five games.

“It’s frustrating, we have guys out for non-injury stuff, and that’s on us, but…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2-starters-suspended-arizona-state-223656202.html

Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

Publish date : 2025-02-09 22:36:00

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