CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Arizona State didn’t travel 2,000 miles just to lose in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season.
After fifth-seeded ASU smothered 12th-seeded Central Florida 60-45 in Watsco Center Friday, several Sun Devils spoke of “breaking the curse” and getting to at least the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015.
ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne has guided the Sun Devils (21-10) since 1996 and has taken them to 14 Big Dances, including a record-six straight, with their best finishes coming in the Elite 8 in 2007 and ’09.