Cream of the crop in the Pac-12

Until this season, it’s been 23 years since Arizona and ASU played each other when both were ranked in the AP Top 25. To put that in better perspective, the hit Pixar movie “Toy Story” hadn’t even been released yet.

When the UA and ASU met back in December, the Cats and Sun Devils were the only two teams from the Pac-12 ranked. Just a little over a month later, they’re still the only teams from the conference ranked. It may have been a down year in the Conference of Champions, but the Arizona schools certainly have represented the Pac-12 well.

UA fans shall not pass

College Bar and Grill, located right in the heart of ASU’s campus, made sure that any Arizona fans that made the trip to Tempe weren’t allowed in their establishment. Anyone wearing Wildcats gear — cardinal red and navy blue — was not allowed into the bar and if anyone snuck in, they would be kicked out.

Roses are red,Violets are blue.If you wear those colors,You won't get in @CollegeBarTempe.#GoDevils #BeatCats

— Joe Healey (@JoeHealey42) February 15, 2018

“We figured it’d be a good opportunity to put our flag in the ground and mark our territory, and be a place where the whole fan base can get behind us,” said Nick Nicholas, dean of bar operations at College Bar and Grill. If Arizona retaliates in such manner, which bar would give ASU fans the boot? Gentle Ben’s? No Anchovies? The ball is in your court, University Boulevard.

Petty filters

Arizona has its own Snapchat filter at Wells Fargo Arena. 😳 pic.twitter.com/mxvcmigyZn

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 16, 2018

Snapchat has custom and unique filters for specific locations around the world. Arizona kept it competitive and added its own set of filters — right inside enemy territory.

One that users had at their disposal Thursday was a “This is Wildcat Country” filter with a photo of ASU head coach Bobby Hurley pushing the palm of his hand into his face. Another featured the words “McKale North,” which is what UA fans have called Wells Fargo Arena over the years. Arizona Athletics responded with a tweet that it wasn’t responsible for the filters.

“Let’s get ready to rumble!”

🗣🗣🗣 LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE‼️@Michael_Buffer 🎤🥊 with the intros for tonight's game! pic.twitter.com/whuLRd66Hs

— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) February 16, 2018

(via @TheSunDevils on Twitter)

The ASU starters had the luxury of legendary boxing announcer Michael Buffer calling out their names for the starting lineup before tip-off.

It was fitting considering the game felt like a blow-for-blow heavyweight title match.

Johnson and Johnson

Former Arizona standouts Stanley Johnson and Nick Johnson were in attendance and sat behind the UA bench during the game. Stanley, who played on the 2014-15 Elite Eight squad, is in his third year with the Detroit Pistons and has averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Nick has averaged 12.4 points per game with the Austin Spurs this season, the G-League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs.

Curtain of Distraction

The famous Curtain of Distraction, which is a gimmick of ASU students wearing funky costumes to make the opposing team miss free throws, was at its best on Thursday.

Deandre Ayton on ASU’s curtain of distraction: 😂 pic.twitter.com/hClxyqi5Nj

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 16, 2018

During Arizona’s third trip to the free-throw line, a student wearing a Kermit the Frog costume in a tuxedo hoisted the Territorial Cup. The next trip, a man wearing a wet, white dress shirt with black hair kept pointing and making grimacing faces. Yep, he was Sean Miller. Well done, students. Well done.

Ejected cheerleader

Arizona’s cheerleader just got ejected for heckling. Officially the most savage cheerleader alive pic.twitter.com/YPMUgGbZsj

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 16, 2018

As ASU was shooting free throws during the second half, an Arizona cheerleader appeared to have said something directed toward the official, thus earning him the ol’ fashioned boot from Wells Fargo Arena. ASU fans erupted as the cheerleader was tossed from the arena. When was the last time a cheerleader was booted from a game? Ah, rivalries.

They said it

“F-B-I” — What ASU’s student section chanted throughout the game. The chant was at its loudest at halftime when Miller walked through the tunnel, which is right under the students.

A fan even wore an FBI jacket, but the security guards told him to take it off during the game since he was sitting courtside.

The big number

6

The number of wins Sean Miller has against Bobby Hurley in as many attempts.