Twister Sister Returns: Addy Brown's Shocking Comeback That No One Saw Coming

The Sun Devils are led by Gabby Elliot and McKinna Brackens, scoring 17.3 and 15 points per game respectively. While the team ranks thirteenth in the conference in scoring during conference play, their sixth ranked defense is what has kept them in contention for a tournament spot as they have allowed just 63.9 points per game. That defense ranks third in conference play in turnovers forced per game, while ranking seventh in steals.

Regardless of the final result of the season, Arizona State fans have to be pleased with the turnaround the program has made under first year head coach Molly Miller. After coaching for five seasons at Grand Canyon, she took over a squad that went 10-22 overall and an abysmal 3-15 in conference play. Home attendance has increased by 16% in just one year, so keep a lookout for this program in future years to continue their rise.

So in a matchup that has much higher stakes than previously anticipated, what is the path to victory for Iowa State?

The lessons learned without Addy Brown are still valuable. While the team was still very good with Addy Brown in the lineup, I would argue that the previous high-low offense was too linear and they were bound to find themselves in trouble. While the first couple games without Addy Brown included some steep learning curves, the offense has more off ball movement, and I feel like they have developed a system that produces more open three attempts. Put Addy Brown into that system, and I believe they can achieve new heights.
Keep control of the ball. Arizona State is third in the conference in turnovers forced, and Iowa State can still fall victim to losing the ball as they had 12 turnovers in the first half against Kansas State. We also learned that they can adapt and choose the spots more carefully, as they only allowed four turnovers in the final 20 minutes which ultimately kept them ahead as their first half hot hands cooled off.
Hit the paint hard. Arizona State ranks second in conference play for opponent three point percentage, but they will lack the size needed to keep Audi Crooks at bay without help. With Addy Brown also being dominant in the paint and Jada William’s ability to drive to the hoop, Iowa State has the ability to establish a full blitz close to the hoop.