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ASU X-factor for today’s matchup against Arizona

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Feb 1, 2025 1:16 PM ET

PHOENIX – Less than a few hours from the much anticipated rivalry game between Arizona State men’s basketball and Arizona in Tempe. The Sun Devils come in as heavy underdogs entering desert financial arena and will need to elevate their play against a Wildcat team that is riding a high after knocking down No. 3 Iowa State.

Luckily for ASU, an X-factor that has emerged in the past few games because of the recent absence of freshman center Jayden Quaintance. Second-year Sun Devil junior center Shawn Phillips Jr. had a breakout performance in the win at Colorado that helped propel the program to back-to-back road wins for the first time this season. His recent surge will be crucial for a potential ASU upset.

Shawn Phillips last night…
-matched career high with 13 points
-season best nine boards
-season best 27:35 minutes
-FGs 14-21 past 5 games https://t.co/XcXpxRq7u2

— Doug Tammaro (@DougTammaro) January 29, 2025

The LSU transfer was able to fill in for Quaintance absence and kept ASU’s defensive attack superb. Phillips Jr. help lead a Sun Devils squad that held the Buffaloes offense to below 43% shooting from the field and 23% from beyond the Arc. The seven footer’s rim protection and hounding the glass caused Colorado to struggle down the stretch to buy a bucket, including this game saving block below.

ASU overcomes Colorado 70-68 to improve to 12-8 on the season, 3-6 in Big 12 play.

Colorado failed to convert upon various possessions down the stretch. Big block by Shawn Phillips in the final seconds.

Next up? Arizona at home.@DevilsDigest

pic.twitter.com/oqmRW7481O

— Justin LaCertosa (@LaCertosaSports) January 29, 2025

Iowa State guard Curtis Jones (5) goes up for a layup against Arizona State forward Basheer Jihad (8) and center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9) during a game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Jan. 25, 2025.

Tuesday was Phillips Jr. first start of the year but he’s just as dangerous off the bench as he had a career high with 4 blocks against No. 3 Iowa State. In only 19 minutes he was able to come off the bench and give immediate energy that helped the Sun Devils get off to an early lead against the Cyclones. While ASU wasn’t able to escape with the win, Phillips Jr. is fulfilling the prophecy that head coach Bobby Hurley believed in when he transferred from LSU last year.

"Shawn is the most gifted front-court guy that I've had."

Bobby Hurley had some high praise for LSU transfer Shawn Phillips, but he also preached patience in the young center's development. @Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/IiXfvlapfa

— Jordan Hamm (@JordyHamm) September 28, 2023

Arizona has a lot of dynamic guard play from fifth year guard Caleb Love and junior guard Jaden Bradley, but ASU’s two seven footers in a returning Quaintance and surging X-factor in Phillips Jr. could make getting to the rim a hassle for the Wildcats.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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