Trip to NYC on the line tonight for men's hoops vs. TCU
TRIP TO NYC ON THE LINE
ASU meets Texas Christian and former Herb Sendek assistant Jim Christian in the West Regional final of the NIT on Tuesday at 9:30 MT on ESPN2 and KMVP 860 AM. Dave Pasch and Doris Burke have the call for ESPN2, as the teams meet for just the fourth time (TCU leads 1-2) and the first time since a 96-78 TCU win on Dec. 13, 1986, in the Cougar Classic in Provo. ASU is 2-0 and is now 29-8 (.783) at Wells Fargo Arena in the past three years. ASU beat Texas State 84-62 late Monday behind Derek Glasser's 20 points (just two off his career high), Eric Boateng's career-high 14 points and freshman Trent Lockett's 17 points and seven boards in 26 minutes off the bench. Ty Abbott made his return from knee surgery in mid-October and had 11 points in 14 minutes, including going 3-of-4 from the three-point stripe.
NOTES THROUGH TWO GAMES
Derek Glasser has made 11 straight free throws to start the year. He is now 193-of-232 (.832) from the charity stripe in his career. He also now has 401 career assists, just the seventh Sun Devil to notch 400 dimes...junior Jamelle McMillan is now 21-39 (.538) from the three-point stripe in his past 11 games dating to last year...junior Rihards Kuksiks, one of the best three-point shooters in the nation last year, is now 98-of-218 (.449) from the three-point stripe in the past two years...senior Eric Boateng was 28-of-74 (.378) from the foul line at ASU entering this year, he is 7-of-11 (.636) so far this season...ASU is 17-of-32 (.531) from the three-point stripe this year.
PLAYING WELL ON TV
In the past two years, ASU is 25-7 (.782) 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 48-23 (.676) since and giving up just 61.1 points per game in his 101 games (he is 56-45/.554).
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 is 6-of-9 (.667) this year, so he is now 21-of-39 (.538) from the three-land in his past 11 games. His four three-pointers vs. Western Illinois matched his career high, set last year at Oregon State on February 7.
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.
BIGGEST WIN SINCE
ASU's 87-35 win over Western Illinois on Nov. 13 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
FREE THROWS ARE FREE
Derek Glasser is now 193-of-232 (.832) from the free throw line in his 100-game career. His career assist total is now 401, 53 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, 401
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 on Nov. 13 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 on Nov. 13 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.
1. Arizona State 87, Western Illinois 35 (Nov. 13, 2009)
2. Arizona State 52, Colgate 36 (Dec. 19, 2006)
T3. Arizona State 49, @Oregon State 38 (Feb. 7, 2009)
T3. Arizona State 69, Oregon State 38 (Jan. 8, 2009)
T3. Arizona State 77, Delaware State 38 (Dec. 5, 2007)