Tuesdays with Herbie
November 13th, 2007, 10:34 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Mark Heller
Arizona State had a media session Tuesday, the last large-scale press gathering before the team leaves for the Maui Invitational on Friday.
The season begins Nov. 19 against an Illinois team not unlike ASU in terms of age and experience (i.e., not much of either). Then it’s either Duke or Princeton Nov. 20 and then TBD Nov. 21 before the Sun Devils return on a red-eye flight Thanksgiving morning.
A few things we learned:
Coach Herb Sendek is leaning toward a starting lineup of Jeff Pendergraph, Eric Boateng, James Harden, Jamelle McMillan and Ty Abbott.
Of course, since it’s a week before the game, Sendek said it’s subject to change.
To some extent, starting lineups can be overrated. These freshmen haven’t been through a college basketball grind before, so rest and fatigue will eventually become issues, and it’s not like Derek Glasser, Christian Polk, Jerren Shipp or Kraidon Woods aren’t going to see playing time.
Should it happen, however, it would be the first time in school history the basketball team will have started three freshmen in a season-opener. All in the backcourt, the area most coaches and insiders say is key aspect of having a successful season.
According to research by ASU’s sports information department, the Sun Devils will be the last Division I team to open its season. The ASU-Illinois game starts Monday at 11:30 p.m. Eastern time (9:30 p.m. Phoenix time). Wright State also plays its season-opener on Monday against Coastal Carolina, but the Raiders play at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Sendek said he wasn’t very happy with a couple of recent practices, “on offense, defense or special teams,” he joked. The Sun Devils have 12 days between the Western New Mexico exhibition and Illinois, and although Sendek tried to get a game scheduled in between, it didn’t work.
No problems with Boateng’s foot, which he sprained early last week and missed the second exhibition game.
There will be some leisure time for the team in Hawaii, but Sendek said the team is ”not bringing our bathing suits and suntan oil.” Remember, the Sun Devils play three games in three days, so other than a little R-and-R in the day or two before the tournament, they won’t have much free time, especially if you include any walk-through time, watching film and keeping themselves energized.
Christian Polk said he’s gained 10-15 pounds and he looks bulked up. The question is, will his size (or perhaps fewer minutes) help him regain his shot?
The first day high school seniors can sign letters of intent is Wednesday, and the signing period lasts for one week. Phoenix Pinnacle forward Taylor Rohde and St. Joseph (Mo.) forward Johnny Coy are expected to sign, although Coy probably won’t officially sign until Thursday or Friday.
Johnny Coy (left) and Taylor Rohde
Sendek can’t talk about his recruits until they officially sign, but I’ll have a story in Wednesday’s Tribune looking at how Sendek and his staff have been able to piece together this core group of young players so quickly.
Finally, check out our ASU season preview in Sunday’s Tribune, plus a Scott Bordow column on the Sun Devils.