Arizona State Basketball sets starting five as Sun Devils face Baylor in Big 12 tournament opener
arizona state basketball is stepping into what the program frames as a potential final stand of the 2025-26 season on Tuesday morning (ET), opening the Big 12 tournament against Baylor in Kansas City, Missouri. The Arizona State Sun Devils enter at 16-15 overall and 7-11 in Big 12 play, drawing a Baylor team that is also 16-15 but 6-12 in conference. Head coach Bobby Hurley has now unveiled the starting lineup he will ride with as the stakes jump immediately in round one.
Arizona State Basketball starting lineup locked in for Tuesday morning (ET)
Hurley’s starting group features point guard Odum, alongside Meeusen, Grbovic, Trouet, and Diop.
The lineup call comes with clear pressure on Arizona State to respond after a rough finish to the regular season. The Sun Devils are coming off an 86-65 loss to Iowa State on Saturday, a game marked by what was described as a disappointing final 15 minutes of action. Baylor, meanwhile, arrives with momentum after closing its regular season with a 101-75 win over Utah.
Motivation and matchups: Odum, Meeusen, Grbovic, Trouet, Diop
Odum has what was described as “a little extra motivation” on Tuesday morning (ET) after being snubbed from any consideration for the All-Big 12 team. In the regular season, Odum ranked in the top 15 in scoring and top three in assists per game, and Arizona State will be leaning on him to lift the Sun Devils in a win-or-go-home setting.
Meeusen enters the opener after enduring a rough stretch offensively, but he has remained one of the best perimeter defenders in the Big 12. His role is expected to be vital against Baylor’s potent scoring attack, with emphasis on both shooting and defensive playmaking.
Up front, Grbovic has also battled offensive struggles in recent weeks, yet he is described as connecting well with this unit and having a tendency to make big shots this season. Trouet has emerged as one of the most unheralded players on Arizona State this year, and his impact is tied directly to giving the Sun Devils a chance to win the rebounding battle.
Diop is also noted as an All-Big 12 snub like Odum. The available details identify him as a freshman center, with his national ranking mentioned but not fully provided in the material.
What led to this moment in Kansas City
Tuesday’s Big 12 tournament matchup follows Baylor’s 73-68 win over Arizona State in Waco on February 21. The opener is framed as a meeting of two teams with the ability to make a surprise run this week, but it begins with an immediate elimination game atmosphere.
With both programs entering at 16-15, and Arizona State coming off a lopsided loss while Baylor is fresh off a high-scoring win, the contrast in recent form adds urgency to the first-round start.
What’s next after the lineup reveal
The focus now turns from decisions to execution on Tuesday morning (ET) in Kansas City. If the Sun Devils can get a lift from Odum’s playmaking, stabilize the perimeter through Meeusen, and compete on the glass with Trouet while finding timely production from Grbovic and Diop, the path forward stays alive. If not, the season could end immediately—making every possession in this opener a defining moment for arizona state basketball.
