Facing a ranked opponent on the road is never easy in college basketball.
Try doing it without your coach. Or without several key players.
Such were the circumstances facing Arizona State (6-11, 2-5 Pac-12) as they squared off in Los Angeles against the USC Trojans (17-2, 7-2) in a game where the final score betrayed just how well the Sun Devils began the game.
Without head coach Bobby Hurley and rotational guard Jay Heath, (both suspended by the Pac-12 after a confrontation with officials after the team’s loss to Stanford on Saturday) as well as Kimani Lawrence (illness), the Sun Devils burst out to a 22-10 lead to open the contest.