Let’s hear it for the new guys
January 5th, 2008, 6:22 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Mark Heller
Obviously 3-0 would suit Arizona State just dandy, but even if the Sun Devils lose to Arizona (which is looking like a toss-up game for the first time in years), winning two of three at home to start the Pac-10 slate would be welcome.
In addition to the victory, at least three other positives emerged from Saturday’s 72-53 win against Oregon State, a victory the Sun Devils needed against the one Pac-10 not as highly regarded as the rest of them.
No. 1: Ty Abbott
Teams are starting to pay more attention to Ty Abbott at the 3-point line, but he had a few open looks he normally makes. He went 3-for-14, including 1 of 12 from behind the arc against the Oregon schools. With James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph and better ball movement displayed by ASU on Saturday, this mini-slump won’t last.
Still, it’s a testament to Abbott and his willingness to keep shooting while do the other things necessary to help win games. In Abbott’s case, defend and grab a few rebounds.
Ty Abbott did this a lot at Phoenix Desert Vista, and he’s done it well enough at ASU to get minutes while the shots won’t fall.
He did both on Saturday, helping out against Marcel Jones, Omari Johnson and Josh Tarver, the Beavers three dangerous scorers who were non-factors most of the game.
Things like that which don’t show up in boxscores are why Abbott is still getting 35-plus minutes.
No. 2: Eric Boateng
Boateng knew he could do better than Thursday night, and he came back with a couple quick, decisive moves inside against Oregon State on Saturday. With Jeff Pendergraph in foul trouble early, the Sun Devils never lost their lead with Boateng in the middle, which is ultimately what ASU wants to see in games for the immediate future.
“Whatever way an individual player can add value, that’s what has to be done,” Boateng said after Saturday’s game. “We all have to chip in and keep moving forward.”
No. 3: Jamelle McMillan
Derek Glasser has been such a valuable playmaker at point guard the past few weeks that McMillan has gotten squeezed a little for playing time.
When he has played — particularly the past few games — there have been signs of tentativeness. Hardly shocking given he’s a freshman playing at another level (not even his dad as an NBA coach can counter the adjustments most college newbies go through).
He wasn’t making shots, and, more critically in the eyes of coach Herb Sendek, committed turnovers.
McMillan went 0-for-2 from the field in Saturday’s win, but it was his best floor game since before Christmas. He had three rebounds, two assists, was active defensively, and most importantly, zero turnovers.
They’ll need help from this trio on Wednesday. Arizona should be plenty ticked after losing at home to Oregon on Saturday, and though the availability of freshman phenom and former Phoenix St. Mary’s star Jerryd Bayless (knee injury) remains in doubt.
But, as Sendek said postgame Saturday: ”Regardless of who’s coaching them, (Chase) Budinger is still there.”
With or without Jerryd Bayless, the sophomore Chase Budinger (above) and his Wildcats can ball, but could he pass for a young Bill Walton?
“Arizona is a great program, they’ve dominated this series,” Sendek added. “We know we have to be at a high level to compete against them.”