Our weekly look at the Conference of (real NCAA) Champions brings us to Tempe, AZ, although the Arizona State basketball program rarely has been a great one. Yes, here and there, the Sun Devils have been able to shine on the court, but their Territorial Cup rivalry has been quite a one-sided affair since both schools joined the Pacific-8 Conference in the late 1970s to make it the Pac-10. Here’s a quick exploration!

5. 2018

Despite an 8-10 finish in league play, the Sun Devils finished 33rd in the national SRS based on a 20-12 record overall. ASU lost a March Madness play-in game, though, despite getting off to a 12-0 start on the year—which helped the team peak at No. 3 in the Associated Press poll. Alas, it was all downhill from there. As an 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Sun Devils lost to another No. 11 team from Syracuse to end it.

4. 2003

Another 20-12 overall record for ASU was enough to get this squad to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where the 10-seed Sun Devils lost to 2-seed Kansas (and eventual national runner up) by 32 points. ASU was No. 25 in the overall SRS and finished fourth in the conference with an 11-7 league record. The team went just 2-7 against ranked teams, including a 13-point upset of No. 19 Memphis in the NCAAs.

3. 1981

The Sun Devils finished 24-4 after a disappointing upset loss in their opening March Madness game to the lower-seeded Jayhawks. A 16-2 league record earned ASU second place in the Pac-10, and the team ended up No. 10 in the overall SRS. Future NBA star Byron Scott was the team’s high scorer (16.6 ppg), and three other players on the roster reached the pro ranks, too. ASU went 4-2 against ranked teams during the year.

2. 1995

In a year where fellow conference brethren UCLA would win the national title, the Sun Devils still managed to post a 12-6 record in league play for a third-place finish. ASU went 24-9 overall, thanks to future NBA player Mario Bennett (18.7 ppg). The team was No. 17 overall in the SRS rankings after playing the No. 22 SOS. The Sun Devils finished No. 16 in the AP poll and reached the Sweet 16 before losing to Kentucky.

1. 2009

Finishing No. 17 in the SRS and No. 19 in the AP poll, this ASU team—led by future NBA superstar James Harden (20.1 ppg) and the voted league MVP—posted a 25-10 record, including an 11-7 mark in conference play. But the Sun Devils lost to No. 13 Syracuse in the Round of 32, bringing an abrupt close to a promising season. ASU went 3-3 against ranked teams overall, and the Sun Devils lost the conference tourney final.