A PAC-12 contender faces a mid-major coming off its best season in program history in Thursday night action. Arizona State tries to move to 2-0 on the season as it hosts a second non-conference home game.
It’s opponent, UC Riverside, tries to survive a tough start to the season and move to .500 after losing its opener at San Diego State.
Let’s break down the NCAAB odds and find the best value for this match at the top online sportsbooks.
UC Riverside Highlanders vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Thursday, November 11, 2021 – 08:30 PM EST at Desert Financial Arena
Following up on Breakthrough Year
Riverside is coming off of the best season in program history. The Highlanders finished third in the Big West last year—their highest finish ever—and went 14-8. They won a game in the conference tournament for the first time in more than 10 years and finished at No. 106 in the KenPom rankings, their first time ever finishing in the top 200.
Coach Mike Magpayo, who took over midseason on an interim basis last year before earning the permanent job, won the Joe B. Hall Award as the top first-year head coach in the country.
Riverside also adds two potential game-breaking talents. Center Callum McRae returns to the team after sitting out last season. The 7-foot-1, 295-pound junior scored 13 points with four rebounds in the opener.
The team also adds J.P. Moorman, a 6-foot-7 graduate transfer from Temple who had 15 and 9 in an exhibition win earlier this month. Moorman put up nine points, five rebounds and four assists against San Diego State as the Highlanders gave the Aztecs a scare, cutting the margin to four points in the final six minutes before losing by 13.
“Our guys fully expected to come in here and win,” Magpayo said. “That’s where we are as a program.” They’ll take the floor against ASU feeling the same way.
COVID Issues
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley dealt with COVID-19 absences and interruptions all last season, as the Sun Devils went 11-14, 7-10 in the Pac-12. He reshaped the roster in the offseason in the hopes of making a run at returning to the NCAA Tournament, but Hurley and ASU will likely be without a number of those newcomers for the game against Riverside.
Prior to the opener—a 16-point win over Portland State—four Arizona State players were ruled out due to COVID protocols. They included Jay Heath, a graduate transfer who arrived from Boston College after scoring 14.5 ppg for the Eagles last year. Freshman Justin Rochelin, a three-star who chose ASU over Florida, was also out, as was junior center Jalen Graham, an 8.1 ppg scorer last season, and walk-on Jordan Williams. All four are also expected to miss Thursday’s game.
Hurley has a host of other newcomers to pick up the slack, however. Ohio State transfer Luther Muhammad scored 10 points in the opener, and his former OSU teammate Alonzo Gaffney added 15 on 7-of-9 shooting.
Arriving from a separate location in Ohio, Toledo grad transfer Marreon Jackson led the way with five assists. Both Jackson and Muhammad struggled with their shot in the opener, but they are also expected to provide outside shooting this season for the Sun Devils.
“I don’t think there’s going to be too many nights where Luther and Marreon go 1-of-11 from 3,” Hurley said. “I mean that’s not what I’ve been watching through the whole summer and the fall.”
Returning veterans Kimani Lawrence and Marcus Bagley will also provide punch. The forward duo combined for 31 points and 16 boards in the opener.
The Pick
This is not an early-season cupcake for Arizona State. Riverside has the potential to be a Cinderella team in March and could be a strong mid-major program all year long. The Highlanders gave SDSU all they wanted in the opener, and a depleted ASU team could be ripe for an upset.
NCAAB Pick: UC Riverside +9.5 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
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