👋 GOOD MORNING

Happy Monday! I sure hope you enjoyed the weekend, especially considering the forecast for this week (No, I am decidedly NOT ready for 90 degrees just yet). I felt fortunate to take in an ASU baseball game yesterday with family and friends, and I must say, I think manager Willie Bloomquist and his staff have something special brewing at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. ASU hit five home runs in yesterday’s win, and matched a school record with 10 stolen bases on Friday, all en route to a 6-1 start to the season.

I’ll have more on them in the coming weeks, but if you’re a Sun Devil fan (or even just a baseball fan), I highly encourage you to go check out a game. It was great, affordable fun for the entire family.

On to the show!

Wildcats’ Critical Big 12 Game Mired By Controversy

There was nothing pretty about the end of the game between the Wildcats and Cougars on Saturday.

Nursing a one-point lead with just under three seconds left, Trey Townsend was whistled for a questionable foul, sending Richie Saunders to the line for two free throws — shots he promptly made en route to BYU’s 96-95 win at McKale Center. The foul should never have been called (one thing this Iowa State alum has gotten used to in the Big 12, to be honest), and the Wildcats never got another shot off.

Fans and Players Make Things Worse

The awful call was just the start. Arizona’s Caleb Love and BYU’s Mawot Mag met at center court in a heated exchange — a confrontation that had been bubbling up for much of the game. Wildcats fans then directed an explicit chant toward Cougars players, staff and fans an action that ​later drew an apology​ from the UA athletic department. The hotly-contested ending had immediate ramifications in the Big 12 standings, as Arizona tumbled to third place behind No. 9 Texas Tech (12-4 conference record) and No. 5 Houston (15-1), both of which won Saturday.

• Arizona has stunningly dropped three out of its last four games after rolling off six straight wins.
• The Wildcats host Utah on Wednesday before a showdown at No. 8 Iowa State on Saturday.
• UA is currently projected as an NCAA Tournament 3 seed by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi.

My Take: The Wildcats cannot let this loss derail their season. There are just three games left in the regular season before Tommy Lloyd and his team can turn their attention to tournament season, first aiming to win a Big 12 Conference Title before moving on to the Big Dance later in the month. Arizona has an opportunity to finish strong and pick up momentum heading into the postseason, and given what we typically see in March, the Wildcats will need a full head of steam.

Take a Deeper Dive: Saul and Damon break down how the ​Wildcats were robbed of a win​ by the refs on their home court.

Sun Devils Snap Losing Streak in the Face of Adversity

The ASU men’s basketball team stunned the college basketball world after dismissing B.J. Freeman, its leading scorer, prior to Sunday’s tilt against Kansas State. The result? Arizona State snapped a six-game losing streak with a 66-54 win over the lesser-known Wildcats.

• The Sun Devils improved to 13-14 overall and 4-12 in the Big 12, but remain 15th in the 16-team league.
• Freshman phenom Jayden Quaintance led Arizona State with 18 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes.
• ASU hosts BYU on Wednesday before playing back-to-back road games at Utah and Arizona.

Musings From Around (and Sometimes Beyond) The Valley

Rock Bottom: The Suns may have hit rock bottom, falling 127-109 to the 18-39 Toronto Raptors on Sunday, just one day after appearing to right the ship with a 121-117 win over the Bulls. Phoenix has lost eight of its last 10 games, and will face a much tougher test at 37-20 Memphis on Tuesday.

Oh, So Close: The ASU men’s hockey team was seven minutes away from sweeping No. 3 Western Michigan on Saturday, but ultimately fell in overtime to one of the top programs in the country. The Sun Devils showed yet again they belong in the nation’s top conference, giving the NCHC leaders all they could handle, including their only conference regulation loss in Friday’s 5-3 victory. Editor’s note: Look out for more from Saturday’s game later this week at gophnx.com!

Movin on Up: Sun Devils baseball improved to 6-1 on the season after taking two of three from Oral Roberts University, while the Wildcats have gotten back over the .500 hump with four straight wins. Arizona has its work cut out for it next week at the Astros Foundation College Classic, matching up against No. 1 Texas A&M, No. 18 Mississippi State and No. 4 Tennessee. ASU, meanwhile, hits the road for the first time this season with a two-game set in Los Angeles against UCLA this week.

🧢 Tip of the Hat

Gotta credit Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd for his honesty and accountability following Saturday’s emotional loss.