Molly Miller makes her case as Arizona State sits just outside NCAA Tournament field

Arizona State’s Big 12 Tournament run ended Saturday with a 67–54 loss to No. 15 West Virginia at T-Mobile Center.

But moments after the final horn, Sun Devils coach Molly Miller shifted the conversation toward the NCAA Tournament.

Arizona State finished the night 24–10 overall. Miller believes that number alone should matter when the selection committee meets.

“I’m going to start with the closer, to win 24 games,” Miller said. “No Power Four team has ever, in the history of the tournament been left out with 24 wins.”

Her argument goes deeper than the win total.

Miller pointed to Arizona State’s success against quality competition, noting the Sun Devils recorded 12 wins against teams inside the NET top 100.

“That’s first out of any team on the bubble,” Miller said. “We have nine wins away from home,” Miller said. “We have proven we can win anywhere.”

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The Sun Devils avoided damaging losses as well.

“We don’t have a bad loss,” Miller said. “We don’t have a Q4 loss.”

Despite that résumé, ESPN’s latest women’s bracketology projection from Charlie Creme lists Arizona State among the “First Four Out,” alongside Virginia, BYU, South Dakota State and Utah.

Miller made it clear she believes the Sun Devils belong in the field.

“If you’re going to go play in the most competitive tournament in the country, you want the most competitive teams,” she said. “And that’s Arizona State.”

Arizona State battled West Virginia deep into the game before the Mountaineers pulled away late.

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“That was a game that was hard-fought on both ends,” Miller said. “We made some runs there, just couldn’t get over the hump.”

The Sun Devils were playing their third game in three days during the conference tournament.

“It’s not a full tank when you’re doing three games in three days,” Miller said. “But it was a tank full of heart and commitment.”

For Miller, the season has already proven something bigger about her team.

“I learned that culture wins,” she said. “Culture doesn’t win unless you have buy-in.”

Whether the selection committee agrees with Miller’s case will be revealed on Selection Sunday. For now, Arizona State waits.

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