Men's hoops hosts NIT Action
The men's basketball team (1-0) takes on Texas State at 9 p.m. MT on ESPNU in the first round of the Dick's Sporting Good NIT Tip-Off Monday. The game will be on 860 AM, with Tim Healey and Brad Nahra calling the action. Steve Physioc and Miles Simon have the call for ESPNU. Cal State Northridge and TCU open the doubleheader at 6:30. On Tuesday, the consolation game begins at 7 with the West Regional championship game taking place at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2, with Dave Pasch and Doris Burke on the call.
The winner of the West Regional will advance to the NIT semifinals held on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Madison Square Garden, with the finals and consolation game taking place Friday, Nov. 27. Duke, UCONN and LSU are the other regional hosts.
PLAYING WELL ON TV
In the past two years, ASU is 24-7 in national or network regional games (games on FOX Sports Net, CBS or any of the ESPN networks).
RECORD UPDATE
After going 8-22 (.267) in Coach Sendek's first year (2006-2007), the Sun Devils are 47-23 (.671) since and giving up just 61.1 points per game in his 100 games.
MAC HITTING THREES
With all the activity that took place down the stretch last year, it might be easy to forget how well Jamelle McMillan was shooting in the last month. Jamelle suffered a groin injury against Stanford on March 5 which caused him to miss the regular season finale against California and then the Pac-10 Tournament. He returned for the NCAA Tournament, and ended 15-of-29 (.517) from beyond the arc in his final nine games. He made his first four three-pointers against Western Illinois before missing, so he is now 19-of-34 (.558) from the three-land in his past 10 games. His four three-pointers matched his career high, set last year at Oregon State on February 7.
BIGGEST WIN SINCE
ASU's 87-35 win over Western Illinois on Friday was the biggest margin of victory since another 52-point win (122-70) on Dec. 10, 1996, over Houston Baptist. It is tied for the sixth-largest win in school history. The previous largest margin of victory in Coach Sendek's ASU career was 39 vs. Delaware State (77-38) on Dec. 5, 2007, and vs.St. Francis (Pa.), 95-56, on Dec. 29, 2007.
ASU BIGGEST MARGINS OF VICTORY
1. 65 vs. Pasadena College (130-65), Feb. 17, 1962
1. 65 vs. Northern Arizona (106-41), Feb. 19, 1962
3. 60 vs. Hardin-Simmons (110-50), Jan. 6, 1962
4. 55 vs. Cal Poly SLO (98-43), Dec. 20, 1994
5. 53 vs. Camp Pendleton (86-33), 1948-49 (no date available)
6. 52 vs. Western Illinois (87-35), Nov. 13, 2009
6. 52 vs. Houston Baptist (122-70), Dec. 10, 1996
DIGEST THIS FOR A SECOND
ASU scored less than 52 points, its margin of victory vs. Western Illinois, seven times in Coach Sendek's first year.
FREE THROWS ARE FREE
Derek Glasser is now 187-of-226 (.827) from the free throw line in his 99-game career after making all five against the Leathernecks and added four assists. His career assist total is now 397, 47 away from matching ASU record.
ASU CAREER ASSISTS
1. Bobby Thompson, 1983-87, 454
2. Fat Lever, 1978-82, 444
3. Marcell Capers, 1992-95, 437
4. Stevin Smith, 1990-94, 416
5. Jeremy Veal, 1994-98, 413
6. Eddie House, 1996-2000, 405
7. Derek Glasser, 2006-present, 397
BETTER THAN IKE, JAMES, JEREMY, MARIO
Freshman Demetrius Walker had 12 points vs. Western Illinois. It actually is more than several notables had in the first game of their freshman season. Ike Diogu (10 vs. Morehead State, Nov. 22, 2002), Jeremy Veal (7 vs. Texas A & M in Maui, Nov. 21, 1994), James Harden (6 vs. Illinois, Nov. 19, 2007) and Mario Bennett (2 vs. Rice in Maui, Nov. 25, 1991) all had quiet debuts.
GOOD DEFENSE
ASU held Western Illinois to just 12-of-52 (.231) from the field, the second-best defensive night from the field in the past 12 seasons (1998-99 present). ASU held Delaware State to just 11-of-53 (.208) on Dec. 5, 2007.
GOOD DEFENSE II
ASU held Western Illinois to just 35 points, the fewest by a Sun Devil team since it beat Washington of Saint Louis 47-34 in the 1949-50 season.
IT FELT EARLY
When ASU opened the season on Nov. 13 against Western Illinois, it matched the second-earliest start date in school history. ASU also opened on Nov. 13 in Herb Sendek's first season. ASU opened the season on Nov. 10 in 2000-2001. Coach Sendek's earliest season opener was Nov. 11, 1997, when NC State beat #19 Georgia in East Rutherford, N.J. Coach Sendek's first Miami of Ohio team opened on Nov. 27, 1993. ASU has its sixth game of the year on Nov. 27 this year.
ASU'S EARLIEST SEASON OPENERS
Nov. 10, 2000--Tulsa 69, ASU 67 (Raleigh, N.C.)
Nov. 13, 2009--@ASU 87, Western Illinois 35
Nov. 13, 2006--Nothern Arizona 75, @ASU 71
Nov. 13, 1998--@ASU 68, San Jose State 49
Nov. 11, 1997--NC State 47, #19 Georgia 45 (East Rutherford, N.J.)
Nov. 13, 2009--@ASU 87, Western Illinois 35
Nov. 13, 2006--Northern Arizona 75, ASU 71