The Remarkable Run Continues

Two season ago, as a three-seed, a deep run in the NCAA Tournament was expected out of the Arizona State Sun Devils. Only the buzzsaw that was eventual national runner-up Rutgers derailed the dream of a 2007 national championship.

Today, an equally talented Sun Devils team is preparing for their 2nd appearance in a regional final in three seasons; one that has been as thrilling as it has been unexpecetd.

But don’t tell that last part to Charli Turner-Thorne.

The stories throughout this 2009 NCAA Tournament have focused on UConn trying to go 39-0 and run the table in 08-09 or Courtney Paris of Oklahoma promising to pay back her scholarship if the Sooners don’t win the national title.

That has let a 6-seed, who unceremoniously bowed out of the Pac-10 tournament in the quarterfinals, kind of fly under the radar as they worked their way through the East Regional and into Trenton.

They blew up the radar yesterday. An commanding 84-69 win over Texas A&M in the Sweet Sixteen, one in which the Devils shot an astounding 62% from the field, has the basketball world buzzing about this spunky squad from Tempe.

The way this team has been playing, you have to wonder what could really stand in Arizona State’s way as they dash to their first Final Four?

Oh yeah. That UConn team. Gulp.

It’s not as if the Devils have never faced the Huskies and Geno Auriemma before, but it has already been five years since ASU stunned UConn at WFA. Since those Devils knocked off those Huskies, Connecticut has not lost to an unranked opponent in 115 tries.

It’s the tallest of tall orders…we’re talkng Manute Bol tall…to expect Arizona State to get by Connecticut and earn a ticket to St. Louis.

But at this point, with Danielle Orsillo’s tenacity and the unquestioned leadership and talent of Briann January, there’s no reason to believe that ASU will not make this a challenge.

The Sun Devils will have to get an early handle on Tiffany Hayes, who exploded for 28 in UConn’s 3rd round win over California. It’s going to be a tall order for January, the Pac-10’s Defensive POTY, to mark Renee Montgomery for 40 minutes.

Who am I kidding? EVERYTHING is going to be difficult for ASU tomorrow night in Trenton.

But as we’ve all learned in past years from CTT and her gang, nothing is ever too difficult for her Devils to not come out swinging.

The game is at 4:00 tomorrow on ESPN or The Fan AM 1060/Sun Devil Sports Network.

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