Blogging with the Devils

When I attended Arizona State University in the early 1990s, the professor in an economics class I took had a saying: “I don’t give the grades away.” The diplomas are not given away, either, so a tip of the cap and tassel to the 60 Sun Devil athletes who graduate this week:

BASEBALL: Greg Bordes (interdisciplinary studies); Dustin Brader (interdisciplinary studies), Derik Olvey (interdisciplinary studies), Tommy Rafferty (interdisciplinary studies), Ryan Sontag (kinesiology)

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Antwi Atuahene (interdisciplinary studies)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Sybil Dosty (interdisciplinary studies), Jill Noe (Masters of liberal studies), Reagan Pariseau (kinesiology)

FOOTBALL: Rudy Carpenter (interdisciplinary studies), Djadji Daffe (French), Wes Evans (interdisciplinary studies), Angelo Fobbs-Valentino (interdisciplinary studies), Michael Jones (interdisciplinary studies), Garrett Judah (interdisciplinary studies), Nate Kimbrough (interdisciplinary studies), Tashaka Merriweather (interdisciplinary studies), Brent Miller (interdisciplinary studies), Kellen Mills (interdisciplinary studies), Troy Nolan (interdisciplinary studies), Jeremy Payton (interdisciplinary studies), David Smith (interdisciplinary studies)

WOMEN’S GOLF: Charmaine Erasmus (interdisciplinary studies)

GYMNASTICS: Josie Hancock (interdisciplinary studies), Lisa Lanza (communication), Karissa Vossler (interdisciplinary studies)

SOCCER: Kim Bingham (marketing, psychology), Alissa Oldenkamp (marketing, management), Carla Scanniello (finance)

MEN’S SWIMMING: Lucas Azevedo (management), Ellis Schieman (communication)

WOMEN’S SWIMMING: Lindsey Russenberger (interdisciplinary studies), Emlynn Tursick (kinesiology)

WOMEN’S TENNIS: Roxanne Clarke (interdisciplinary studies), Jessica Leitch (management), Vendula Pilecka (interdisciplinary studies)

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD: Kyle Alcorn (interdisciplinary studies), Jordan Durham (interdisciplinary studies); Andrew Haas (civil engineering), Tomas Navarro (kinesiology), Bradley Roth (history), David Ryan (marketing)

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD: Jenna Kingma (marketing), April Kubishta (mathematics), D’Metra Macedon (interdisciplinary studies), Jessica Pressley (justice studies), Sarah Stevens (kinesiology), Alana Waterford (microbiology), Bridgette Williams (interdisciplinary studies)

VOLLEYBALL: Colette Meek (French, psychology), Staci Smith (interdisciplinary studies)

WATER POLO: Traci Aparicio (justice studies), Windy Ballejos (design studies), Ashley Bower (journalism & mass communication), Caylinn Wallace (marketing)

WRESTLING: Alex Pavlenko (interdisciplinary studies), Patrick Pitsch (interdisciplinary studies), Quinton Pruett (justice studies), Richard Renzi (interdisciplinary studies), Jason Trulson (biology)

Information on ASU’s School of Interdisciplinary Studies can be found here.

Ike Davis

A rib muscle strain will likely keep Arizona State first baseman/pitcher Ike Davis sidelined at least through this weekend’s series against Loyola Marymount, coach Pat Murphy said on Monday.

Davis has not played in the Sun Devils’ last five games. That absence has enabled third baseman Brett Wallace to pass him for the team lead in batting average (.404 to .401) and tie him in home runs (15). Davis still tops the team in RBIs, with 62 to Wallace’s 59.

“He can’t play right now,” Murphy said. “We can’t afford to risk it.”

The Sun Devils play at Kansas State on Tuesday and Wichita State on Wednesday. Davis made the trip, but pitcher Stephen Sauer remained in Tempe to rest his ailing right shoulder.

The Loyola Marymount games are ASU’s last in nonconference play. It finishes the regular season with Pac-10 series against Washington and at Arizona.

Assuming Davis does not play this weekend, he will have three weeks of rest before league action resumes. The Sun Devils hope that is enough time.

Murphy tried to use Davis as a decoy during Sunday’s game at UCLA, as the junior was announced as a pinch hitter to try and force the Bruins into a pitching change. Coach John Savage did not bite, and Davis never stepped to the plate, as he was immediately replaced by outfielder Michael Jones.

The NCAA releases its latest multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores on Tuesday. In 2007, 19 of ASU’s 22 varsity teams had multi-year academic progress rate scores of at least 925, the mandated minimum by the NCAA. The school received no penalties resulting from APR scores, which measure current academic performance.

FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Ike Davis was not in Arizona State’s lineup for the series opener at UCLA and is likely out for the weekend, a school spokesman said.

Ike Davis, who leads Arizona State in several offensive categories, is battling a rib muscle strain but made the trip to UCLA.

There comes a time, Arizona State coach Pat Murphy said, where changes needs to be made just to break up the monotony that can set in over the course of a 56-game college baseball regular season.

“Things can get stale, and that can be tough on some people,” Murphy said. “This game can be very wicked to you. The bad situations sometimes find you, and you need some refreshing things to happen.”

Murphy pointed to two recent lineup changes that have provided a jolt to the fourth-ranked Sun Devils, who head into this weekend’s series at UCLA on a four-game winning streak. ASU was 3-6 from April 5-22.

Ryan Sontag, a senior, has become the everyday left fielder and leadoff hitter, and he is batting .382 (21-for-55) with a home run and 11 RBIs since April 1.

Junior Greg Bordes has started the last six games at shortstop, and while his hitting numbers (5-for-22) are not eye-popping, he has five RBIs in that stretch while providing reliable glove work. Defense was the primary reason for Marcel Champagnie’s demotion.

Bordes comes from a baseball family. His grandfather, Bill Cutler, is a former Pacific Coast League president; his father, Charlie, played professionally, and older brother Brett is a former Sun Devil pitcher who is now in the Baltimore Orioles’ system.

“Greg knows the game,” Murphy said. “He’s not on all cylinders because he has not played full-time baseball in four years. He gives us an element of competitiveness. It was time for him to get a chance, and he’s made the most of it. I couldn’t be happier, because he is a guy who is committed to the program.”

Greg Bordes

Murphy’s compared Bordes to Dustin Pedroia, the former Sun Devil second baseman and 2007 American League rookie of the year with the Boston Red Sox. The comparison, delivered in Murphy’s keen-wit fashion, might not be flattering to either player, but — considering that Pedroia is one of the coach’s all-time favorite players — it is as lofty of praise as he can give.

“He’s a lot like Pedroia. He can’t run, throw, move left-to-right or hit for power,” Murphy said. “But he’s a player. He’s a mini-Pedroia.”

Bordes paid a lot of dues before his recent emergence, appearing in just 28 games (three starts) in two previous ASU seasons.

“I’m just having fun,” Bordes said. “I’ve been here four years and stayed after it, grinding every day. I’ve got a chance and am trying to make the most of it.”

In injury news, first baseman/pitcher Ike Davis (rib muscle strain) made the trip to Los Angeles and is expected to take at least some part in practice on Thursday night. Pitcher Stephen Sauer (shoulder) remained in Tempe.

For relief pitcher Tommy Rafferty, capitalizing on opportunity has been a season-long endeavor. The senior reliever has eight victories (in as many decisions), which is tied for seventh in the nation.

“He’s earned it,” Murphy said. “His numbers (24 games, 3.52 ERA, two saves) indicate that he pitches a lot. He has stepped up and done an amazing job.”

Rafferty is on pace to break the school record for appearances in a season, 38, set by Brett Bordes in 2005.

Despite ASU’s need for a No. 3 starter, Rafferty is unlikely to move into that spot because of his bullpen value. That leaves the usual suspects — Sauer, freshman Seth Blair and junior Jason Franzblau — to continue making their cases.

Blair had an encouraging effort on Saturday against California. He gave up eight hits and three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, but some of that damage was due to poor defense.

“We’ve never played well behind Blair,” Murphy said. “But he’s gotten better.”

The Sun Devils lead the nation with 297 walks. They are third in scoring (9.8 runs per game) and 22nd in team batting average (.327).

The Saturday game against UCLA, broadcast on Fox Sports Net, will be available in more than 26.7 million homes, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast.

ASU has received a verbal football commitment from quarterback Brock Osweiler of Flathead High School in Kalispell, Mont., according to recruiting services. The 6-foot-8, 235-pounder, who threw for 3,250 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior last season, is the second known commitment in the Sun Devils’ 2009 class.

Tuesday was the official groundbreaking ceremony for Arizona State basketball’s Weatherup Center, which will be located between the soccer stadium and the band’s practice field.

The roughly $20 million facility for both hoops teams will house two practice courts (where both the men and women plan to do the vast majority of practices and shootarounds), locker rooms, video rooms, weight rooms, coaches’ offices, etc.

ASU plans to move lock, stock and barrel into this home in April 2009, and is short approximately $5 million in funding, a remarkably small figure given the school’s historic struggles to raise money for previous projects.

ASU will be the sixth Pac-10 school to have a second hoops facility.

The scheduling strains put on basketball and volleyball practice times (volleyball practice will stay at Wells Fargo Arena) will disappear with this facility, since separate courts and facilites mean Herb Sendek’s and Charli Turner Thorne’s teams can practice any time they want.

Remember two years ago, when the Sun Devils had to practice at the Glendale YMCA?  Try selling that during a recruiting visit.

(Last season was an improvement: The Student Recreation Center on campus).

No, there won’t be individual plasma-screen TVs at every locker. Sendek and Turner Thorne had a lot of input in this building, but those tricked-out extras aren’t their style. 

Speaking of scheduling, before the ceremony, Sendek held a casual luncheon with some East Valley media, and among the array of topics and small-talk was his nonconference schedule.

None of this (outside perhaps the Anaheim Classic to begin the season) is set in stone, but here are a few likely nonconference opponents:

The Anaheim tournament currently has ASU, Wake Forest, Texas-El Paso, Baylor, Providence, Cal State Fullerton and UNC-Charlotte on the docket (Arkansas has been wishy-washy on a commitment).

The Sun Devils will play Brigham Young in Glendale as part of the Stadium Shootout on Dec. 20 (Louisville and Minnesota will play the other game). It’s basically a rehearsal showcase in preparation for the 2009 NCAA Tournament regional which will be held at University of Phoenix Stadium.

(By the way, how about the 6 million webs you can weave between Sendek, Louisville coach Rick Pitino and former Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, now at Minnesota). 

If the regional goes smoothly, ASU will have basically made its case to host a Final Four in Glendale, as soon as 2012.

The Sun Devils also host Nebraska, face Pepperdine and start a two-year series with San Diego State.

How Sendek fills in the remaining few spots remains to be seen, but it won’t be easy.

The Sun Devil Club is sponsoring the Sun Devil Express, a series of five luncheons with Arizona State coaches in May. It’s basically a chance to listen to coaches talk about their programs and perhaps answer a few questions.

Here’s the skinny (all times are 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. unless noted):

Friday at Don and Charlie’s, 7501 E. Camelback Rd. in Scottsdale, with football coach Dennis Erickson and women’s basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne.

May 13 at Monti’s La Casa Vieja, 100 S. Mill Ave. in Tempe, with Erickson (sold out).

May 15 at Majerle’s, 3095 W. Chandler Blvd. in Chandler, with men’s basketball coach Herb Sendek and Turner Thorne.

May 22 at Majerle’s, 24 N. Second St. in Phoenix, with Sendek.

May 28 at Tucson El Saguarito, 1035 E. Mabel St. in Tucson, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. with Sendek.

Tickets are sold in advance. Contact the Sun Devil Club at (480) 727-7000 or sundevilclub@asu.edu for more information.

It’s almost time. College basketball players not graduating have until April 27 to declare for the NBA draft, but those who don’t sign with an agent have until 10 days before this summer’s draft to withdraw and return to school.

This won’t affect Arizona State directly since James Harden is returning and Jeff Pendergraph said Monday he’s returning to ASU for his senior season, a wise decision.

What could help most is the league’s attrition. Take a look at this season’s all-Pac 10 teams and their status (as of Tuesday evening):

First Team: Ryan Anderson, California (declared without agent), Harden (returning to school), Brook Lopez, Stanford (signed with an agent), Kevin Love, UCLA (declared and about to sign an agent), O.J. Mayo, Southern California (signed with an agent).

Second Team: Jerryd Bayless, Arizona (signed with an agent), Jon Brockman, Washington (returning to school), Darren Collison, UCLA (undecided), Maarty Leunen, Oregon (graduated), Kyle Weaver, Washington State (graduated).

Third Team: Chase Budinger, Arizona (declared without agent), Taj Gibson, USC (returning to school), Derrick Low, Washington State (graduated), Pendergraph (returning to school), Russell Westbrook (declared without agent).

The Pac-10 may not be quite as remarkable next season, but that list has ASU looking good.

In the bigger picture, for every Harden and Pendergraph, however, are a lot more guys on the other side: Mayo, Love, Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, etc. They’re (more) ready for the NBA and have every right to take advantage of the payday coming.

Here’s a recent column by Gene Wojciechowski at ESPN.com, and while it’s nothing that hasn’t been spouted off about for years and years, it’s that time of year to get back on the pulpit.

Seems as though Arizona State basketball assistants keep getting plucked for other jobs, and that’s not a bad thing.

Archie Miller left after one season with ASU for Ohio State, and today it’s longtime assistant Mark Phelps, who’s headed to Drake.

Here’s Sean Keeler’s take from today’s Des Moines (Iowa) Register, and it’s impressive, in this day and age, that there was no rumor mill or message board mongering in either Tempe or Des Moines. Not a whisper of Phelps’ name was mentioned as a candidate in the past week.

Basically, Phelps’ hiring to replace the departed Keno Davis was pretty shocking in both time zones. The ASU connection helped (Drake athletic director Sandy Hatfield Clubb was a former associate AD in Tempe), but Phelps sealed this job with two terrific interviews, one via phone and the other in person.

Introduced as the new Drake basketball coach on Monday, former Arizona State assistant Mark Phelps called it a “precious opportunity,” but it was a long time coming for the 12-year assistant to Herb Sendek. (Des Moines Register photo) 

Phelps’ departure means ASU coach Herb Sendek has a spot to fill on his staff for a second consecutive summer.

Greg Hansen of the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson has already mentioned ASU radio analyst Russ Pennell as a possible Lute Olson assistant once Kevin O’Neill officially departs, and no doubt Sendek’s thought the same at ASU.

Pennell was a former assistant under Rob Evans, an AAU coach who knows the high school and AAU scene as well as anyone. He has an excellent relationship with Sendek (Ty Abbott, anyone?) and, given a better opportunity, can coach.

Friendship and high-pressure coaching don’t always mix, so one question is whether Sendek and Pennell would take the chance on mixing the two.

Whether he’s coaching or doing radio, Pennell’s one the Sun Devils don’t want to lose.

Arizona State linebacker Travis Goethel breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Brandon Smith during the Sun Devils’ intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday. (Darryl Webb/Tribune)

The end of spring drills for Arizona State brought more notes and quotes than could be stuffed into my story that appeared in Sunday’s edition of the Tribune. Fortunately, there are no word-count limitations in cyberspace:

Perhaps the most inspiring part of the 17-17 tie in Saturday’s intrasquad game was the performance of sophomore defensive end Jamarr Robinson, whose end to spring 2008 directly contrasted a year ago.

In the ’07 spring game, Robinson, then a linebacker, suffered a knee injury that kept him out until October. On Saturday, Robinson had three of the game’s seven sacks, the best evidence yet that he has found a home in the DE rotation behind starters Dexter Davis and Luis Vasquez.

Jamarr Robinson

“This year has been a lot more fun,” the 6-foot-2, 233-pound Robinson said. “I’m blessed to be in the situation that they have presented me, and I’m just loving it.

“When (defensive coordinator Craig) Bray called me into his office, I thought I was in trouble. But he just said we could use more depth at end, and it was an opportunity for me to get on the field. I just went for it.”

During his career, ASU coach Dennis Erickson has often moved defensive players closer to the scrimmage line — switching safeties to linebacker and linebackers to the line — to take advantage of their speed. In Robinson and redshirt freshman James Brooks, the Sun Devils appear to have ends that can be especially quick off the edge.

“(Defensive line) coach (Grady) Stretz has been a great teacher, and I’ve learned a lot by watching Dexter and Luis,” Robinson said. “I’ve been able to rush and play freely. I have to gain a few pounds to stop the run better, but I’m excited (about the season). I think we’ll have one of the best defensive lines in the Pac-10.”

Running back Shaun DeWitty has rarely been able to show off his athleticism at ASU due to injuries, most notably a sore back that healed while he utilized a redshirt last season. On Saturday, the junior was the leading rusher, with 71 yards on 13 carries, including a 29-yard touchdown.

The biggest ASU running back at 6-feet-2 and 227 pounds, DeWitty’s lanky frame makes him more difficult to slow down and wrap up with an arm tackle. It also makes him susceptible to getting the ball knocked out — he lost a fumble on Saturday — if he is too upright while running.

“I’ve been working with the coaches on getting my pad level down,” DeWitty said. “I feel like I’ve gotten better at it during the spring. I’m still up at times. I’m a tall guy and have had back problems, so I got into some bad habits. It’s like anything you work at, really. It will get better over time.”

DeWitty’s best year at ASU was in 2006, when he ran for 121 yards in the spring game and — when he was not limited due to back stiffness — was used as a third-down back in the fall. With Keegan Herring, Dimitri Nance and Jarrell Woods also options in the backfield, DeWitty will likely be limited to a situational role this season.

However, DeWitty said that performing up to his capabilities is his biggest concern.

“I hope I’m ready to do that,” DeWitty said. “That’s my goal. If I keep working, I know I’ll be able to contribute.”

Jarrell Holman also redshirted in 2007, but it was not by his design. At ASU’s football media day last August, I approached Holman to ask about cornerback, where he was expected to compete for a starting job after transferring from Phoenix College. He disappointingly told me that, after just two practices, he had been moved to safety.

“It was very discouraging,” Holman said earlier this spring. “I sat up at nights, thinking about whether I made the right decision to come here. But I had to fight through it. I changed my perspective. I had some good talks with family members, and they told me to just work hard. I know I can play. It’s just a matter of having the right attitude.”

Holman learned the nuances of safety with the help of watching starters Troy Nolan and Josh Barrett and backups Jeremy Payton and Rodney Cox. The payoff was an impressive spring that culminated in seven tackles on Saturday.

In addition to being in the safety rotation behind first-stringers Nolan and Cox, Holman has gotten playing time at nickelback.

“I’m not playing tentative anymore,” Holman said. “My motto has become: ‘Hit them before they hit you.’ “

Lastly, here are the pertinent statistical details from the spring game:

SCORING SUMMARY
Maroon 17, White 17

Maroon — DeWitty 29 run (Z. Richards kick)
White — B. Smith 43 pass from Carpenter (Weber kick)
Maroon — FG Z. Richards 45
White — Nance 1 run (Weber kick)
Maroon — Kimbrough 31 pass from Sullivan (Z. Richards kick)
White — FG Weber 46

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: DeWitty 13 for 71, TD; Nance 13 for 44, TD; Herring 10 for 14; Woods 9 for 12; Carpenter 1 for minus-5; Stangel 1 for minus-10; Sullivan 2 for minus-14; Szakacsy 4 for minus-26

PASSING: Sullivan 13 of 28 for 115, TD, INT; Carpenter 7 of 21 for 88, TD, INT; Stangel 6 of 12 for 77; Szakacsy 2 of 2 for 19; Williams 0 of 1

RECEIVING: Williams 5 for 39; Kimbrough 3 for 47, TD; Nance 3 for 43; Driscoll 3 for 12; Taylor 2 for 26; Simpson 2 for 20; Simmons 2 for 18; Knapp 2 for 17; Evbuomwan 2 for 10; B. Smith 1 for 43, TD; Piva 1 for 9; DeWitty 1 for 8; Herring 1 for 7

MISSED FIELD GOALS: None

DEFENSIVE SUPERLATIVES: Bertrand (sack); Brooks (sack); Montt (sack); Munns (11 tackles, pass deflection); Nixon (interception); Parker (fumble recovery); Robinson (three sacks); Singfield (interception); Vasquez (sack)

It’s never too early to look ahead, is it?

Arizona State hosts the 2009 West Regional of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, with three games at University of Phoenix Stadium between March 26 and 28.

Tickets are $167 and available to the general public. Applications will be accepted until May 15. Fans can now apply for tickets online.

Tickets will be assigned according to the order that applications are received. If the demand for tickets exceeds supply, a random drawing will be held to select ticket recipients.

Applicants will be notified in June if they were selected and will be delivered in mid-February 2009. Those not selected to receive ticket will be given refunds.

David Bertrand

The most unlikely first-team defensive player for Arizona State during spring practice was, at this time last year, playing for the Sun Devils’ in-state rival.

Defensive tackle David Bertrand is a junior who, frustrated at Arizona’s unwillingness to offer him a scholarship after two years as a backup, transferred to ASU shortly before the start of last season. The Scottsdale Horizon High product played in six games for the Wildcats in 2006 and three in ’05, collecting seven career tackles.

“I’m really happy to be here and happy not to be there,” Bertrand said. “I had some personal problems and decided to leave there and wound up here. I played the first two years, and they just weren’t going to give me a scholarship. I had to get out of there.”

The 6-foot-1, 283-pound Bertrand has practiced with the first team since the second week of spring drills. Even as Saia Falahola (triceps) and David Smith (concussion) have returned from injuries, Bertrand has remained with the top unit.

Smith and Jonathan English are listed as the first-team tackles on ASU’s depth chart, and ex-Michigan player Eugene Germany (who can play tackle or end), junior-college transfer Spencer Gasu and highly-touted freshman Lawrence Guy are among seven defensive linemen arriving in the fall.

However, coach Dennis Erickson said that Bertrand has potential to contribute.

“I think he can help us. He’s had a good spring,” Erickson said. “He’s not big, but powerful, and he is getting an opportunity with other guys hurt. We need guys to step up at defensive tackle.”

Bertrand is one of two former Wildcats on the roster; redshirt freshman running back Avory Battle — whose brother, Allante, will play football and run track at ASU starting this fall — is the other.

“I can’t wait to get on the field against (Arizona),” said Bertrand, who will get a chance to line up against his former school on Dec. 6 in Tucson.

Tuesday’s practice was the next-to-last workout in pads this spring. ASU will don helmets only on Thursday before concluding drills with the spring game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium.

“We had to get something done (on Tuesday), and we did,” Erickson said. “Thursday, we won’t do much in shorts. We’ll split into two teams and practice for about 45 minutes, and then we’ll have the game. By the time Saturday comes around, we should be ready to go. We should get something out of it.”

Asked his assessment of the team with the end of spring looming, Erickson said: “I’m happy with where we are defensively. We’re way ahead of where we were last year at this time because we have a lot of players back. Offensively, (quarterback) Rudy Carpenter has had an outstanding spring. Our front is getting better all the time. You can sense an improvement in that group since the beginning of spring ball.”

Erickson said that left tackle Jon Hargis, a converted defensive lineman, has improved in recent practices. Hargis is battling for one of three vacant starting spots on an offensive line that Erickson said has responded well to the simplified protection schemes.

“I thought we had too much last year,” said Erickson, whose offense surrendered a school-record 55 sacks in 2007. “Even if we had all of those (starters) back, I would still cut back on the stuff we did, because it was confusing. Things are easier. You aren’t going to pick up every blitz, but assignment-wise, we’re in good shape.”