Devils no pushover

  • John Sleeper / Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, January 9, 2002 9:00pm
  • Sports

By John Sleeper

Herald Writer

SEATTLE – Count Oregon State men’s basketball coach Ritchie McKay as a believer in Arizona State this season.

McKay’s Beavers split with the Sun Devils in two rugged games Dec. 22 and last Friday and can say that the 2002 ASU team bears little resemblance to last year’s squad that finished 5-13 in the Pacific-10 Conference, 13-16 overall.

The 2000-01 Sun Devils were a rudderless ship at times. Young, inexperience players dotted the roster. The team had to deal with the emotional hit of discovering that forward Justin Allen, counted on to bring toughness and rebounding, was found to have Hodgkin’s Disease and would be lost for at least the season. And it was the worst outside shooting team in the Pac-10 last year, connecting on just 29 percent of its three-point attempts.

But after getting a close look at the Sun Devils (2-2 Pac-10 play, 9-4 overall) in a 62-57 victory in Corvallis and a 67-58 loss in Tempe, McKay came away impressed.

“They’re playing great,” he said. “They’re playing very good team basketball, especially on the defensive end.”

That comes as bad news for the Washington Huskies (0-4, 6-8), swimming in a six-game losing streak and in the midst of a brutal early-league schedule.

The Huskies, victims of too many turnovers and not enough defense, face a vastly improved Sun Devils squad at Hec Edmundson Pavilion tonight. Rugged, experienced forward Chad Prewitt is averaging 21.6 points and 8.2 rebounds in his last five games and is catching the eyes of pro scouts. Allen isn’t all the way back, but has been an inspiration simply by rejoining the team.

Far from the turnover-plagued team of last season, the Sun Devils make few mistakes, as evidenced by just seven turnovers against the Beavers Sunday. Junior guard Kyle Dodd, who shares the point guard spot with freshman Jason Braxton, has 36 assists and just seven turnovers for the season.

Any questions about ASU’s quality were answered Sunday in a 95-88 victory over a strong Oregon team that swept yearly-power Arizona.

“They gained great confidence with that win,” UW coach Bob Bender said.

Washington needs a victory in the worst way, especially after having lost two games to USC by a combined 42 points. The Huskies haven’t won in more than a month, not since Dec. 8 , when they beat New Mexico State 74-62 on the road. A win tonight, and/or one Saturday against Arizona, would do wonders for a painfully young team whose confidence has taken hits.

” ‘Important’ is too easy of a characterization,” Bender said. “There has to be a total understanding in what we need to accomplish – winning. That’s what all this comes down to, is winning a basketball game. I’ve kept referring to the need for improvement, and I continue to do that. But in improvement, we need to win.

“For us to accomplish the goals of winning, that next step has to occur.”

Bender said his team, which includes six regulars who weren’t on the active roster last year, has to accelerate the maturation process. To that end, the coaching staff is turning the screws a tad, communicating that all five on the floor have to be productive. If they aren’t, they’ll sit.

“Against the Pac-10 opponents, we’re not good enough to beat people with one, two or three players,” Bender said. “I think it’s become pretty obvious.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on as John Collins (20) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic hit the ground running

LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and… Continue reading

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.