PHOENIX – Arizona State men’s basketball has hit a new low. Losers of six out of its last eight games, ASU (12-9) needs a jumpstart. It gets it in the form of Kansas State (10-11), winners of their last games against tough competition.

Kansas State Wildcats’ guard Brendan Hausen (11) and forward Coleman Hawkins (33) celebrates after winning 61-80 over Iowa State in the Big-12 men’s basketball showdown at Hilton Coliseum on Feb 1, 2025 in Ames, Iowa.

The Wildcats are led by an experienced group headlined offensively by senior forward David N’Guessan and junior guard Brendan Hausen, who average over 12 points per game, respectively.

N’Guessan and Hausen have been a consistent force for Kansas State. Yet, recently, senior forward Coleman Hawkins has exploded offensively and defensively. The Sac-Town native has eclipsed ten points in five of his last six games while leading the team in blocks and steals.

At 6’10, Hawkins’s athletic mobility is impressive and allows him to be a dangerous threat around the rim and beyond the 3-point line. He showcased that against Iowa State, shooting 3-3 from beyond the arc and recording four steals and one block.

Arizona State center Shawn Phillips Jr (9) dunks after an assist from teammate BJ Freeman (10) against Iowa State during a game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Jan. 25, 2025.

Kansas State’s roster is littered with experienced and versatile players that ASU will need to limit. Luckily for the Sun Devils, they match up well with the Wildcats playstyle.

During its three-game winning streak, Kansas State has shot 45% from the perimeter, averaging nine 3s a game. Despite its defensive struggles, ASU’s 30.1% is third in the opponent’s 3-point field goal percentage.

Their perimeter guard play of senior guards BJ Freeman and Adam Miller has held opponents to typically an off night from 3-point land.

While the Sun Devils shooting is streaky, Freeman and Miller are dangerous to explode. In the past four games, Miller has shot 54.5% from 3 on 22 attempts. Freeman leads the team in scoring and is dangerous from all aspects of the court.

Feb 1, 2025; Tempe, Ariz., U.S.; Arizona State Sun Devils guard Adam Miller (44) takes a shot while being guarded by Arizona Wildcats guard KJ Lewis (5) during a Big 12 menÕs basketball game at Desert Financial Arena.

ASU and Kansas State share similar struggles in categories like rebounding and turnovers, both programs in the lower echelon of the Big 12.

However, an area that the Sun Devils excel in is rim protection with the two-headed monster of freshman Jayden Quaintance and junior Shawn Phillips Jr., who has the program second in the conference with 5.1 blocks a contest.

The two Sun Devils’ 7-footer will be good bodies to throw against the red-hot Hawkins for the Wildcats.

ASU starts the final 10-game stretch of the season against a similarly constructed Kansas State squad that could be the perfect beginning of a resurgence of this Sun Devils team.