2010-11 ASU Mens Hoops thread

[HooverDam]

So I'm not really sure how we want to do this. I figure at least for the OoT schedule we can probably get by with just a single thread.

First to a little off season news before the season begins:

Arizona State's Brock Osweiler expected to join basketball team

I'm not really surprised by this, I mentioned when Brock came to ASU that this would be a possibility. I don't think Brock is the starting QB of an elite Pac 10 team and as backup QBs generally don't get a whole lot of time, he may get more run on the hardwood.

He's big who played some PG in HS, so he can pass the ball which will be a good fit in Herbs system. It'll surely take him time to adjust back to playing hoops and to learn the matchup zone, so I don't really expect him to crack the Pac 10 season rotation, but it'll be nice to have a strong 6'8'' body in practice.

ASU, UA set to sign two game-changing point guards

ASU will indeed sign Jahii Carson out of Mesa High on Wednesday, so the worry about that was luckily for not.

Anyhow, we're less than a week away now from ASU at UNM at the Pit, that should be a really fun game to start the season. I only wish ASU played UAB at home and then went to the Pit, its a rough way to start- oh well.

 

[Nasser22]

I went to the game today. It was nice to get a "quality win" in our home-opener. Our lack of size is definitely what is keeping us in the middle of the Pac-10 this year. Ruslan has some obvious talent and has shown some nice post moves, but he's not there yet. Cain was very impressive, although he is undersized like many of our guys. Lockett has arrived and had another solid game this afternoon. If he was a few inches taller he would be a serious NBA prospect, but he'll be very good at this level at least. Our big issue is trying to fit in all these new players. It will take a while to build the team chemistry and have these freshman get the system down. However, I still like our chances to reach the tournament with the quality talent we have and a more impressive schedule this season.

 

[HooverDam]

Im glad Herb is slowly but surely upgrading the schedule. I do wish ASU had played a cupcake or two before traveling to UNM, that was a bad idea, especially with 7 new guys- ah well.

I wouldn't be shocked to see McMillan and Pateev eventually replaced in the starting 5 by King & Cain.

McMillan is a really nice kid and very smart, I just don't think he can hack it as a starting P-10 PG on a good team. Offensively he does very little well other than rebound for his size. His shooting is awful (sub 60% FT!), he has to have 3 feet to get off his goofy set shot, he's slow to penetrate unless its wide open, he's not a great ball handler, he often doesn't see open men, etc etc.

King would give ASU more length at the top of the zone on defense, he can take his man off the dribble, he shoots a normal jumper, etc. I think he could be fine as a 1 year stop gap at PG until Carson arrives at which time he can slide over to the 2 (already salivating about the Carson-King-Lockett wing trio).

In the post Ruslan has improved a lot from last year, but last year he was miserable. Its obvious his conditioning is improved, he can make it up and down the court now without looking like he'll die. He just isn't a very skilled player inside, he has no post moves, rock like hands and on the other end he fouls too much.

I was very impressed with Cain today, who was going up against a much bigger player. He showed a few very nice post moves, seemed fundamentally strong on rebounds (making up for his lack of size) and hustled his butt off.

If Sendek is serious about increasing the tempo and going to a more athletic style I think starting King & Cain would be a good way to show recruits he's putting his money where his mouth is.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Watched some tonight and ASU has a nice team this year, but probably has too many holes to be anything more than a 10 seed type team at best.

Their bench outside of Keala King is horrid (assuming of course that Cain rightfully takes Pateev's starting spot).

Kyle Cain looks like a nice find though although at his size it's going to be tough holding up over a season playing the five in the Pac, see Derrick Williams last year who was much bigger yet still undersized. That's a long grind for a guy who's 6'7 and will end up under 200 halfway thru the season.

You're right too about McMillan, it's going to be tough to be a great team with him handling the ball. He just won't make things happen against good players with his lack of speed and athletcism.

Lockett is NBA. No idea what he did over the summer but his improvement since last year is ridiculous.

That being said Sendek usually gets the best out of these types of teams so there's a very good chance you're in the conversation when the pac-10 Tournament tips off.

Hoover - see what me and devilfan02 were saying about Hawkins?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Another thing to note is that it's not even December and the Pac-10 thus far has racked up losses to Texas Southern, Seattle University, Rider, Bradley, Murray State, and San Jose State. Getting into the Tournament as a 2nd or 3rd place team in this conference is going to be as tricky as it was last year.

 

[HooverDam]

That was a horrid game for ASU tonight, Free Throw and 3 point shooting were just abysmal as they've been in all 3 games so far. Rik has got to find the range if ASU is to be successful.

I'm perfectly fine with this ASU team just being a 10 seed, I just want them in the damned Dance. ASU has had 2 teams (the teams bracketing Hardens Soph. campaign) that likely could've/should've been dancing and I'm sure being able to tout 3 straight tourney appearances would help with recruiting.

Anyhow, this team is sort of just a bridge team to next year and the promised faster pace w/ Jahii, so if they make the tourney and are bounced in Rd 1 or win a game, Id be fine with that.

Hoover - see what me and devilfan02 were saying about Hawkins?

I still think Hawkins can be a contributor for ASU. Next year with a likely starting wing trio of Carson-King-Lockett, Hawkins will likely be a 6th man type/combo guard/offense off the bench kinda guy. He could be in the role LB used to be when he was in Phoenix.

Now if he thinks he's some super star and decides to transfer, that'll be disappointing. But I think he'll definitely see regular minutes next year as things stand currently.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Watching the ASU game currently.. Just needed to say, while having the St. John analysts calling the game for the national Fox Sports channels is fine, these are the 2 worst analysts I have heard in my lifetime..

Not only have they referred to ASU as the Wildcats on about a dozen occasions, but they are absolutely ridculous in their call.....

As for the game, ASU played well in the first half, but so far in the second half the wheels have come off, including right now in the midst of a 13-2 run highlighted by a 6 point possession that was as frustrating as I can remember...

 

[HooverDam]

Yuck, what a joke job. ASU has got to get something out of the PG position or we're in for a long season. I hope Keala King can develop quickly, so far he's shown flashes, but very little consistency. Its also disappointing we haven't seen Brandon Dunson at all, he was touted pretty highly as an athletic JC...the Devils could use him.

 

[Nasser22]

I put a couple quotes from the analyst on my twitter:
"it's now a new game. It could be 0-0, but it's 40-40"
"He's become a crowd favorite and why not? He's from Canada, close neighbors with Alaska."
Along with reminding us the city a St.Johns player was from every time they made a basket. It was hilarious.

As for the game, with a team full of wings I expect better ball control out of our guys. That was terrible. Bachynski showed some potential, which was one of of the positives tonight. We have tough match-ups vs. Baylor and Richmond coming up and need to take at least one out of the 2. Creekmur needs to start doing what we brought him in for and Kuksiks needs to wake up...very dissatisfied after this game.

 

[AsUdUdE]

it really was just a weird game.. in thaat game changing run ther was

a 6 point possession
a 4 point play
a three heaved up from 28 feet as the shot clock expiered
and numorous tournovers that were unacceptable..

Just crazy... the devils need to grow and learn from this tourney and game, the PAC-10 is wide open, but as was said, we ned something from th PG position this season

 

[AsUdUdE]

but my favorite part of the night... when the refs called a double foul on a play, calling a charge AND a block..

just a quick note to the NCAA.. this is physically impossible... but that didn't stop the refs from going with it..

All part of a crazy night in Alaska

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

the PAC-10 is wide open

I don't know, it seems pretty clear for me that Washington is the clear class of the conference.

 

[AsUdUdE]

I don't know, it seems pretty clear for me that Washington is the clear class of the conference.

true, they absolutely are, and UofA doesn't seem that far behind, but ASU is a notch below, and no one else ni the conference concerns me all that much..

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Another thing to note is that it's not even December and the Pac-10 thus far has racked up losses to Texas Southern, Seattle University, Rider, Bradley, Murray State, and San Jose State. Getting into the Tournament as a 2nd or 3rd place team in this conference is going to be as tricky as it was last year.

Add Utah Valley State, TCU, and Nebraska to the list. In reality nobody in the Pac can lose to the Oregon schools or maybe USC this year and expect tp get into the Tournament as all should have RPI's over 150. Going to be as tough as last year to make it as an at-large.

 

[Russ Smith]

Add Utah Valley State, TCU, and Nebraska to the list. In reality nobody in the Pac can lose to the Oregon schools or maybe USC this year and expect tp get into the Tournament as all should have RPI's over 150. Going to be as tough as last year to make it as an at-large.

USC will get better when they get Fontan eligible but yeah the league is pretty bad this year.

I'm watching ASU/Baylor right now, weird game seems like Baylor should be up 20 but it's 6 at the half. Lockett hasn't scored, ASU has a bunch of TO's.

Sure would be nice for ASU if Keala King had a breakout, double figures once in 5 games, last 2 games scoreless, scoreless at teh half. Looks like a kid who played inside in HS and is adjusting to be asked to play a wing position now, which is sort of the truth for him.

 

[Mainstreet]

Maybe I watch too much NBA basketball because I find it hard to get pumped up for ASU basketball which seems boring by comparison. Or maybe it is just ASU basketball. I used to live and breathe ASU basketball in the Ned Wulk era. I miss players like Fat Lever, Alton Lister and Sam Williams to mention only a few.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

It might have something to do with ASU being 329th in the country in tempo.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Maybe I watch too much NBA basketball because I find it hard to get pumped up for ASU basketball which seems boring by comparison. Or maybe it is just ASU basketball. I used to live and breathe ASU basketball in the Ned Wulk era. I miss players like Fat Lever, Alton Lister and Sam Williams to mention only a few.

So many great players, so many mediocre finishes, so few fans. I always liked Paul Williams although he was often an enigma. The best thing about ASU basketball (from late 60's on, I can't speak to earlier) is that you could always count on getting a good seat even on a spur of a moment decision. I often used it as a fallback option for a last minute date.

Mentioning Sam, Fat and Alton has me wondering where Nash, Zeno, Landsberger and Nimphius are today. Poor Byron, I bet he wishes nobody knew where he was today - stuck in the career ending city of Cleveland. He deserves better.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

It might have something to do with ASU being 329th in the country in tempo.

Good thing he's starting to take them up-tempo this season or they might be even lower on that list.

Steve

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Good thing he's starting to take them up-tempo this season or they might be even lower on that list.

Steve

They were 326th last season so technically they're a bit slower. That's out of 345 teams fyi.

 

[HooverDam]

Ug, ASU lost to Richmond today. I didn't get to see or hear the game since Im at work, but bleck, thats one they needed considering the poor start. Luckily the Pac 10 is pretty darn weak, so hopefully by the time this team gels and figures it out maybe they can get hot and win the Conference Tourney or....something.

Not looking good right now, this team is in an awkward spot, lots of talent on the wings, but not good enough play at the PG or Center positions to run uptempo and start a new style. Not enough rebounding from the bigs to outlet and even if they did, McMillan just can't initiate an offense at all.

 

[Gaddabout]

Not looking good right now, this team is in an awkward spot, lots of talent on the wings, but not good enough play at the PG or Center positions to run uptempo and start a new style. Not enough rebounding from the bigs to outlet and even if they did, McMillan just can't initiate an offense at all.

You write that as if it's surprising.

 

[Mulli]

I hate Sendek. Will he be fired soon?

 

[HooverDam]

You write that as if it's surprising.

No, its not. Though I had hoped King could play the point right away and be effective at it, so that least our troubles there would be lessened.

 

[Gaddabout]

Well, Carson may just be one solution next year, but they better land one of the few decent big men they're recruiting and hope they can contribute right away. Djurisic maybe? He'd fit in.

I dunno. Maybe Bachynski continues his fast transition and becomes a big of moderate note by the end of the year. I like his skill set, anyway. He was a decent big man recruit.

I expected this to be a typical Sendek team -- start slowly, staff makes some defensive changes, things start clicking somewhat by conference play and ASU becomes an enigma that no one fears but no one is anxious to play, either.