Arizona Wildcats guard Terrell Brown Jr. (31) eyes the basket over Arizona State Sun Devils guard Remy Martin (1) in the second half during game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on January 25, 2021. Arizona won 80-67

 Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star

Arizona and ASU have been basketball rivals since 1914, so there is precedent for every conceivable plot, plight and scenario covering 241 games.

How about the game-is-over-at-halftime narrative?

In 1989, No. 1 Arizona led the Sun Devils 52-32 at half. The outcome was so locked in that UA coach Lute Olson didn’t participate in his team’s halftime chalk talk. He stayed on the court to present a $1,500 check to the UA Arthritis Center.

Arizona took a 53-32 halftime lead and won 109-74. Interim ASU coach Bob Schermerhorn said β€œafter the first five minus I knew it was over; we were in an element we couldn’t deal with.’’

On Monday, 32 years later, no one was handing out checks but the Sun Devils paid a steep price, falling behind 40-18 at halftime, losing 80-67.

β€œWe were kind of lethargic out of the game,’’ said ASU coach Bobby Hurley. β€œBottom line, Arizona was the hungrier team. There wasn’t a whole lot we could do.’’

The Sun Devils’ belated rally was meaningless.

When Arizona stretched its lead to 53-28, ASU’s two best players, Remy Martin and Josh Christopher, had combined to shoot 1-for-16. Talk about missing the wake-up call.

Arizona Wildcats guard James Akinjo (13) jumps to defend Arizona State Sun Devils guard Remy Martin (1) in the first half during game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on January 25, 2021.

Over the last three decades, Arizona has often been merciless against ASU at McKale Center, winning games 127-99, 116-80, 106-81 and 99-59. Monday’s game does not belong in that category because, as UA coach Sean Miller said β€œwe got shook there for about a four-minute stretch late in the game.’’

Shook, but not all shook up.

The issue Arizona carries forward is that it doesn’t yet have the experience or killer instinct of Top 25 teams. It doesn’t have enough game-ready guards. Once up by 26, the Wildcats lost their edge. They got involved in petty bickering, lost some poise. It should be a strong teaching point for Miller.

Back-to-back losses to Arizona across the last five days effectively ended ASU’s season. The Sun Devils have lost six straight games and have been exposed. They have no inside game. No height. No hope. They are in such a deep hole that even if they are able to avoid COVID-19 shutdowns and play a full 20-game conference schedule, it’s over.

They are in last place.

β€œThat’s where we’re at,’’ said Hurley. β€œWe haven’t earned the right to come out like that.’’

It’s much less complicated for the Wildcats. There is no pot of post-season gold available, but for the first time this season, the UA has played with such nerve and energy, flashing periods of elite talent, that you find yourself thinking β€œhey, these guys could be good someday.’’

You could get carried away thinking about the 2022-23 season when it is possible that Arizona’s lineup could look this way:

Junior power forward Azoulas Tubelis.

Junior wing Bennedict Mathurin.

Senior center Christian Koloko.

Junior guard Dalen Terry.

Junior shooting guard Kerr Kriisa.

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley calls out to referee in the first half during game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on January 25, 2021.

Of course, the odds of any coach keeping the core of this young team together for two more seasons is implausible in modern college basketball. By the time Arizona and ASU meet at McKale a year from now, it’s not unlikely 50 percent of each team’s rosters will have turned over. Who knows?

Enjoy this one for what it’s worth: an unexpected sweep over the once-highly ranked Sun Devils and the growing chance for Arizona to be a spoiler, helping to determine if UCLA, Colorado or Oregon wins the Pac-12 title.

The lingering issue is that the season-ending injury to guard Jemarl Baker has left Arizona without enough help off the bench. James Akinjo is evolving into an all-conference guard, but behind him it’s thin.

β€œWe’re running out of players, if you want my honest answer,’’ said Miller. β€œWe’re running out of guards.’’

Beating the Sun Devils ceased being a milestone victory at Arizona many years ago. Even now Hurley is 3-9 against the Wildcats. But Monday’s triumph did produce a significant number: It was Miller’s 400th game as Arizona’s coach and it signifies more than pure longevity.

No athletic director in the Pac-12 keeps a coach on payroll long enough to coach 400 games unless he’s cut down a few nets.

Here’s the short list of Pac-10/12 coaches employed between 1978-2021 who have coached 400 games at their school:

Olson, 727.

Ned Wulk, ASU, 678.

Mike Montgomery, Stanford, 560.

Ralph Miller, Oregon State, 545.

Lorenzo Romar, Washington, 494.

Ernie Kent, Oregon, 408.

A lot of successful coaches β€” UCLA’s Ben Howland and Jim Harrick; Washington’s Marv Harshman; USC’s George Raveling; Cal’s Ben Braun β€” didn’t get to 400 at one school.

Longevity counts, and if nothing else, you can now put Miller on a short list of coaches able to be good enough, long enough, to cash some big checks.

Over the last five days, ASU’s Hurley learned those checks aren’t easily earned.

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Contact sports columnist Greg Hansen at 520-573-4362 or ghansen@tucson.com. On Twitter: @ghansen711