Pac-10 Basketball Preview – Arizona State Sun Devils
State of the Program
Like almost every other Pac-10 team this season, Arizona State will be searching for a new identity. The Sun Devils enter the 2009-10 season without two of the best players in program history. G James Harden and F Jeff Pendergraph accounted for 34.6 PPG, 13.8 RPG, and 5.1 APG per game last season, but both are now in the NBA.
Will ASU be able to survive without the superstar duo? I believe the answer is yes for one simple reason: Herb Sendek. Sendek has proven that his Devils can compete against anyone because of a deliberate offense and meticulously crafted zone defense. Aside from Pendergraph and Harden, ASU returns every major contributor from last season’s NCAA Tournament team. The challenge this year will be incorporating a talented freshman recruiting class into Sendek’s complicated system.
While this ASU team won’t have an All-American guiding it, the squad appears to be deeper and more talented from top to bottom than it has been in quite some time. Sendek has raised the profile of the program with newfound exposure (NBA Draft picks, NCAA Tournament Birth, 3rd place finish in Pac-10, 2nd place finish in Pac-10 Tourney) and a brand new practice facility (Weatherup Center).
Impact Superstar: G Derek Glasser
Glasser may not fit the mold of a stereotypical “superstar”, but he is invaluable for Sendek’s Devils. The ultra-experienced senior had a breakout season in 2008-09, finishing with 8.8 PPG and 4.8 APG, while shooting 41% from three-point distance. Glasser was ASU’s best player in both the Pac-10 Tournament and NCAA Tourney, and he has proven throughout his career that he is capable of hitting clutch shots when his team needs them most.
The 6-1 point guard from Marina Del Rey (CA) will engineer Sendek’s offense for the fourth year in a row, and that means the Devils will rarely turn the ball over. Glasser is a true floor general, possessing keen instincts and an extremely high basketball IQ.
I have always respected Glasser’s game because of his great decision-making. In many ways, having him on the floor is like having Sendek out there, and his leadership will play a big role in the development of the younger players.
Needs To Have A Big Year: C Eric Boateng
The loss of Jeff Pendergraph means the frontcourt now belongs to Boateng. The 6-10 senior from London, England has been in the program for a few years now, but he has yet to meet the high expectations that were set for him when he transferred from Duke. Last season, Boateng averaged 1.6 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 8.2 minutes per game.
The Sun Devils are a guard-heavy lineup that shoots the ball very well, but none of it will matter if Boateng can’t establish himself in the post. Word out of Tempe is that Boateng has never looked better, and his presence of the offensive and defensive boards will be critical to the Devils success in 2009-10.
Potential Impact Newcomer: G Trent Lockett
G Demetrius Walker and F Victor Rudd have the potential to make an impact this season, but fellow freshman Trent Lockett is my choice because of his intangibles. Herb Sendek had this to say about Lockett at the team’s media day: “I love Trent Lockett, and as you get to know him, you will too. He’s an amazing young man. He’s the consummate gentleman. He’s the prototype for a student athlete. Athletically, he’s very gifted. He’s going to be really good for Arizona State in so many ways.”
Both Rivals and Socut.com rated the 6-5 guard from Minnetonka (MN) as a 4-star prospect. Lockett is an explosive athlete with tremendous leaping ability and deep three-point range. He will be counted on to help offset the loss of James Harden, and could work his way into a starting role at some point during the season.
My Take
Even in a rebuilding season, you can never count out a Herb Sendek-coached team. There’s no doubt the Devils have plenty of question marks, but I expect to see a fundamentally-sound team that will never beat itself. If some of last season’s key contributors play well in 2009-10 (Kuksiks, Abbott, McMillan), this ASU squad may surprise people.
My gut tells me the Devils will be held back by their frontcourt this season. It is still difficult to project how good Boateng will be, and if he is in foul trouble who will step up (Pateev, Rhode)?
In the end, I expect ASU to finish somewhere around 8-10 or 9-9 in the conference, but by 2010-11, Herb Sendek’s young Devils should make a lot of noise in the Pac-10.
Projected Pac-10 Finish: 7th Place
Arizona State Sun Devils
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Basketball, Demetrius Walker, Derek Glasser, Eric Boateng, Herb Sendek, Trent Lockett, Victor Rudd
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