Saturday night brings the Sun Devils to town
vs Arizona State (7-15, 3-9) | Sat., Feb. 12 | 7 pm | Beasley Coliseum
Live Stats | StatBroadcast
Watch | ESPNU (Roxy Bernstein & Adrian Branch)
Listen | WSU Learfield Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)
OPENING FIVE
> The Cougs are in search of their first season sweep of the Sun Devils since 2017 after beating ASU in Tempe, 51-29, to start Pac-12 play. The 29 points were the lowest total allowed by the Cougs all-time in Pac play. WSU has won the last two in Pullman with the last meeting coming in 2020 in a 67-65 win.
> Michael Flowers, the captain, has been the Cougs best player leading the team in scoring in four straight games. In the last four he is shooting 47.2% (25-53) from the floor and 53.8% (14-26) from deep while averaging 18.8 ppg and 3.5 apg.
> Efe Abogidi has been asserting himself on both ends of the court as he regains his form from a preseason injury. In the last four games he has averaged 11.0 ppg to go with 8.3 rpg, 2.3 bpg, and 2.0 spg.
> The Cougs defense continues to be among the elite ranking 22nd in defensive rating at 92.4 per 100. WSU has allowed opponents to shoot and effective FG% of just 45.7% (26th in the country).
> WSU's NET dropped to 43 from its all-time high of 36 entering the week. In the KenPom rating the Cougs check in at 37, the best rating since ranking 10th under Tony Bennett in 2008.
GAME INFORMATION - vs ARIZONA STATE
WSU is in search of its first season sweep of ASU since 2017. Back in December, the Cougs took the win in the Pac-12 opener behind the best defensive performance in program history as WSU held ASU to just 29 points, the lowest scoring total for a Coug conference opponent in the Pac era dating back to 1968. In the game WSU held ASU to a 21.1 field goal pct., the lowest FG pct. allowed since holding Oregon to 20.8 (2/12/08). In addition to the defensive efforts the Cougs' offense did enough led by Noah Williams who returned from injury to score 14 points while Dishon Jackson picked up his first career double-double with 10&10.
The win was #200 for coach Kyle Smith in his head coaching career.
NEXT UP
The first rescheduled game for the Cougs hits on Monday at Oregon as the two teams square off for the first time on the year. Both sides are fighting for a spot in the top third of the conference standings and a bye in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament. The Cougs have won the last two against the Ducks including a 74-71 win at Matthew Knight Arena last season, the teams first win at the venue in program history and first win in Eugene since 2009.
LAST TIME OUT - vs ARIZONA
ARIZ 72 - WSU 60 | Feb. 10, 2022 | Pullman, Calif.
The Cougs saw their five-game winning streak come to an end as #4 Arizona nabbed a 72-60 win in Pullman in the one and only meeting between the two teams in regular season action. The Cougs clawed back from a 13-point halftime deficit to within two possessions but a big run by the Wildcats midway through the second half put the game away. In the loss, Michael Flowers led the scoring with 16 points for the Cougs, his fourth straight game with a team-best on the scoreboard.
FLOWERS IN COMPLETE CONTROL
Known for his scoring after posting 21.0 ppg at South Alabama last season, senior year transfer Michael Flowers has proven he is much more than a hired gun for the Cougs as the fifth-year guard has done a little bit of everything for the Cougs. Flowers opened his WSU career by posting 9 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists in the season opener. The 11 rebounds were the most for a Coug in an opener since Robert Franks nabbed 11 in the 2018-19 tip-off game while it was also the most rebounds for a Coug guard since Isaac Bonton posted 12 against Incarnate Word Dec. 21, 2019.
Impressively Flowers has averaged a team-best 13.8 points to go with 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
He has scored in double-figures in a team-best 16 games and 101 times in his illustrious career.
He is 1st in the Pac in 3pt shooting at 2.7 per game on 39.1% shooting. He has a True Shooting% of 57.8%.
Flowers has hit at least one three-pointer in 28 straight games dating back to his time at South Alabama.
He has posted an offensive rating of 123.2 (72nd among all players)
Of eligible FT shooters Flowers is 2nd in the Pac-12 at 86.9% (53-61).
In the last four he is shooting 47.2% (25-53) from the floor and 53.8% (14-26) from deep while averaging 18.8 ppg and 3.5 apg.
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