GCU vs. ASU Basketball: Who Will Win?

The much-anticipated GCU vs. ASU basketball game is just around the corner. Who will come out on top?

Introduction

The college Basketball season is in Full Swing and two of the biggest rivals in the state of Arizona are set to clash on the court. GCU (Grand Canyon University) and ASU (Arizona State University) are two of the top teams in the state and both are looking to make a run at the NCAA tournament

This will be the first meeting between these two teams since GCU made the jump to Division I prior to the 2013-14 season. Since then, GCU has established itself as one of the best mid-major programs in the country. The Lopes have won 20 or more games in each of the last five seasons, including a school-record 30 wins last year. GCU has also made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament becoming just the second Arizona school to do so at the Division I level (ASU being the other).

ASU, meanwhile, is coming off a down year in which they went just 15-17 overall and 6-12 in conference play However, they did show some signs of life late in the season and they return a number of Key Players from last year’s squad. They also add a talented recruiting class that should help them contend for an NCAA tournament berth this season.

So, who will win when these two teams meet on December 21st? It’s tough to say, but we’ll give you a few things to consider before making your pick…

GCU’s strengths

In the final four games of the season, GCU has an average scoring margin of +24.5, while ASU has an average scoring margin of +6.5.

GCU also has a significant rebounding advantage, averaging 41.3 rebounds per game compared to ASU’s 34.0 rebounds per game

GCU’s shooting percentages have also been higher than ASU’s in both field goal percentage (48.1% vs. 45.8%) and three-point percentage (38.9% vs. 35.9%).

ASU’s strengths

ASU’s basketball team has won 10 games in a row, including a recent victory against in-state rival Arizona. The Sun Devils are led by junior guard Remy Martin who is averaging 19.1 points per game Martin is one of the top scorers in the Pac-12 conference and is a big reason why ASU has been successful this season.

The Sun Devils are also strong on the defensive end, thanks to junior forward Kimani Lawrence. Lawrence is averaging 2.1 blocks per game and his presence in the paint has helped ASU to slow down opponents’ offenses.

With its combination of scoring punch and defensive prowess, ASU looks like a tough matchup for GCU. The Suns will need to find a way to slow down Martin and Lawrence if they want to come out on top in this showdown between two of the state’s top teams

Key matchup: GCU’s backcourt vs. ASU’s frontcourt

This year’s GCU vs. ASU basketball matchup is shaping up to be one of the best in recent years The key matchup in this game will be GCU’s backcourt of Deion James and Oscar Frayer against ASU’s frontcourt of Romello White and Kimani Lawrence.

Both teams are loaded with talent, but GCU has the edge in experience. James and Frayer are both seniors, while White and Lawrence are sophomores.

GCU is also a bit deeper than ASU, with 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game. ASU, on the other hand, has just seven players averaging that much playing time

The game will be played at GCU Arena which should give the home team a bit of an advantage. The last time these two teams met, ASU won by a score of 79-77.

Key matchup: GCU’s wings vs. ASU’s wings

In the first installment of the GCU-ASU basketball rivalry the focus will be on the matchup of GCU’s wings vs. ASU’s wings. The Lopes are led by junior Josh Braun, who is averaging 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Braun is a tough matchup for any team, as he has the ability to score from anywhere on the court. The Sun Devils will likely put freshman Jaelen House on Braun, as House has shown the ability to defend multiple positions. The other key player for GCU is redshirt sophomore Oscar Frayer, who is averaging 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Frayer is an excellent defender and can also score in a variety of ways. ASU will need to be aware of Frayer on both ends of the court. The Sun Devils have a Number of players who could see time guarding Frayer, including seniors Shannon Evans and Tra Holder.

Key matchup: GCU’s bigs vs. ASU’s bigs

ASU will have their hands full with GCU’s bigs, who have been a force to be reckoned with all season. GCU has outrebounded their opponents in all but one game this season, and they will look to continue that trend against ASU.

This will be a key matchup to watch, as ASU’s bigs will have their work cut out for them trying to contain GCU’s frontcourt. GCU’s size advantage could be a difference maker in this game, so ASU will need to be physical and use their quickness to try and offset GCU’s size advantage.

Bench play

One big factor that will play a role in this game is bench play. The Lopes have six players averaging double digit minutes coming off the bench whereas the Sun Devils only have three. Furthermore, those three ASU players coming off the bench only average 6.7, 5.5, and 4.4 points per game On the other hand, GCU’s bench contributors are averaging 10.3, 11.5, and 13.2 points per game In addition to their scoring production, these GCU bench players also average a combined 8.5 rebounds per game which is significant because ASU only has a +1 rebounding margin over their opponents while GCU boasts a +7 rebounding margin. Consequently, it seems as though GCU’s superior depth could be an X-factor in this game and give them an edge over ASU.

Intangibles

In college basketball it is often said that the “intangibles” are what separate the good teams from the great ones. These are the things that cannot be measured by statistics or seen on a score sheet It is the team’s heart, its will to win, and its composure under pressure that make the difference in close games. When looking at the Grand Canyon University Antelopes and Arizona State University Sun Devils it is clear that both teams have what it takes to win on the court. But which team has the intangible edge?

The GCU Antelopes are a relatively new team, having only been in Division I since 2013. They are led by Head Coach Dan Majerle, who is in his sixth season with the team. Majerle is a former NBA player and has coached GCU to two NCAA tournament appearances in 2017 and 2018. The Antelopes have made great strides in a short amount of time and appear to be a team on the rise.

The ASU Sun Devils are one of the most storied programs in college basketball history. They have won five NCAA Championships and have appeared in 23 Final Fours. They are currently coached by Bobby Hurley who is in his fourth season with ASU. Hurley has coached ASU to one NCAA tournament appearance, in 2014. The Sun Devils have struggled over the past few years, but they appear to be turning things around under Hurley’s leadership.

So, which team has the intangible edge? While both teams have experienced coaches and players with a will to win, GCU has an advantage when it comes to recent success. The Antelopes have made two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last three years, while ASU has not made an appearance since 2014.GCU also has home-court advantage in this matchup, as the game will be played at GCU Arena. Given all of these factors, it would seem that GCU has a slight edge when it comes to intangibles.

Prediction

The Grand Canyon University Lopes will take on the Arizona State University Sun Devils in a matchup of two of the best teams in the state.

The Lopes are coming off a season in which they finished second in the conference and made it to the NCAA Tournament They return all five starters from that team, including star guard Deandre Ayton who is projected to be a lottery pick in next year’s NBA draft

The Sun Devils are coming off a season in which they won the conference and made it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament They return four of their five starters from that team, including guard Tra Holder, who was named first-team all-conference last season.

These two teams have met twice before, with each team winning one game. The Lopes won the most recent meeting, 77-72, last season.

This should be a close game but I give the edge to the Lopes because of their experience and because they’re Playing at home. I predict that the final score will be 79-76, in favor of the Lopes.

Conclusion

Both Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University have had great basketball seasons. GCU has been ranked in the top 25 for much of the season, while ASU has been consistently near the top of the Pac-12 Conference. However, when these two teams meet on the court, there is only one winner. In the last ten match-ups, GCU has won seven times. Additionally, GCU has won four of the last five match-ups at GCU’s home court Judging by these trends, it is likely that GCU will win again when they face off against ASU.