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Men's hoops game notes for Oregon State game


February 08, 2010

Past three seasons
The Arizona State's men's hoops team, in its fourth season under 324-game winner Herb Sendek and coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1980-81, returns home to face the Oregon duo, with Oregon State up first for a 6:30 p.m. MT tip on KTAR 620 AM on Thursday (Feb. 11). ASU (16-8 and 6-5 in the Pac-10) then gets set for a 4 p.m. MT tip vs. Oregon on Saturday, Feb. 13, on FOX Sport Net Arizona and KTAR 620 AM. ASU is one of seven teams within two games of the lead of the Pac-10, as Cal leads the way at 7-4. ASU, UW, UA, UCLA and USC are at 6-5 while Washington State is at 5-6. ASU split a pair in Washington last week, completing a season sweep of Washington State for the first time since 2002-03 before falling at Washington on Saturday. The Sun Devils have held 14 of their 24 opponents to under 40 percent field goal shooting, as 31 of its past 59 opponents have shot under 40 percent. ASU enters this week seventh in the nation in scoring defense (58.9 points per game allowed) and is 20th three-pointers made per game (8.3). Derek Glasser is 17th nationally at .883 (83-of-94) from the free throw line, while Jamelle McMillan, who missed four games in mid-January with a foot injury, made a return last weekend as he is ninth in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.95). ASU is now 26-21 (.553) in Pac-10 games the past three seasons, tied for the third-best record in that time with USC. UCLA is 35-12 (.745) while UW is 27-20 (.574).

To revisit
ASU was picked to finish seventh in the Pac-10 preseason media poll and some folks had them tagged for last (like Jon Wilner of the Sporting News), as ASU was one of just seven schools to have two draft picks in the top 35 last year (James Harden was the third pick and Jeff Pendergraph 31st), joining North Carolina (three), USC, Louisville, Wake Forest and UCLA. With seven conference games left and a Pac-10 Tournament game as well, ASU needs just one more win to clinch a winning season. It would mark the first time ASU had posted three straight winning seasons since Bill Frieder led ASU to five straight from 1990-91 to 1994-95. Also, ASU has produced 62 wins in the past two-plus seasons, just the sixth-time in school history a three-year period has produced 62 wins. ASU is trying to reach 20 wins for the third straight season after reaching 20 wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1979-80 and 1980-81. ASU has not had three straight 20-win seasons since the 1960-61 (23-6), 1961-62 (23-4) and 1962-63 (26-3) teams racked up 73 victories. Entering this season UCLA, Stanford, USC and ASU were the only Pac-10 schools to notch 20 wins in each of the past two seasons.


Most wins over a three-year period in ASU history
1960-61 TO 1962-63 (73-13/.849)
1961-62 TO 1963-64 (66-18/.892)
1959-60 TO 1961-62 (63-17/.788)
1972-73 TO 1974-75 (62-22/.738)
1978-79 TO 1980-81 (62-25/.712)
2007-08 TO 2009-10 (62-31/.667)

Really?
ASU had a winning record at the halfway mark of the Pac-10 season (5-4) for just the third time in the past 15 seasons (1995-96 to present) and for the second straight season under Herb Sendek. ASU was 5-4 at the turn last year en route to the NCAA Tournament with NBA draft picks James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph leading the way. In 2002-03, ASU also was 5-4 at the turn, with Freshman of the Year Ike Diogu (and eventual NBA Lottery pick) and four seniors in the starting lineup and also advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Most improved
The Pac-10 last season started a Most Improved Player Award and the inaugural honor went to Washington's Justin Dentmon. This year's first-half leader might/could/should be Sun Devil junior Ty Abbott...he is averaging 17.6 points and 6.9 boards in the past nine games and is 33-of-68 (.485) from the three-point stripe in that time...in league games, he ranks seventh in scoring at 15.8 points per game, eighth in rebounding (6.5), second in defensive rebounds per game (5.7) and is tied for first in three-pointers made per game (3.1) and third in percentage (.453)...has scored in double digits in each of the nine games...posted a season-high 29 points vs. Stanford, including seven three-pointers, and also added a career-best 12 rebounds, all on the defensive end...played a season-high 38 minutes, posted 20 points and matched season highs in assists (four) and steals (three) vs. California on Jan. 28...it marked the first time he posted back-to-back 20 point games in his career...and why the most improved tag? Abbott is 56-of-124 (.452) from the floor, 34-of-75 (.453) from the three-point stripe and is averaging 15.8 points and 6.5 boards per game in Pac-10 play. Last year he shot 19-of-86 (.221) from the floor, 8-of-59 (.136) from the three-point stripe and averaged 2.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in Pac-10 play...missed just one game after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in mid-October...earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors after the sweep of the Washington schools Jan. 8-10. He scored 17 points in each win...has played in 92 games in his three-year career and started in 81...when Abbott scores in double digits, ASU is 34-10 (.773) and 22-6 (.786) the past two seasons.

At home
ASU is 39-11 (.780) at home in the past three seasons, including a 15-5 mark in 2007-08 that set the ASU mark for total home wins. ASU is 24-6 (.800) the past two seasons at home, including 12-3 (.800) this season. Ten of ASU's 27 home wins in the two seasons prior to this year (2007-2008 and 2008-2009) were against teams that would play in the NCAA Tournament that same season.

Offense
ASU'S 88 points vs. Stanford on Jan. 10 is the second-most in a Pac-10 regulation game for ASU under Herb Sendek. It won at California 99-90 in a double overtime game on Jan. 17, 2008 and won at Stanford 90-60 last year to open Pac-10 play on Jan. 2, 2009. It then posted 81 at Washington State on Feb. 4, the first time since Jan. 13-15, 2005, it had scored at least 80 points in back-to-back Pac-10 games.

Most points in Pac-10 game by ASU under Herb Sendek (56 games)
ASU 99, @California 90, 2 OT (Jan. 17, 2008)
ASU 90, @Stanford 60 (Jan. 2, 2009)
ASU 88, Stanford 70 (Jan. 30, 2010)
ASU 83, California 66 (March 7, 2009)
ASU 81, @Washington State 70 (Feb. 4, 2010)
ASU 80, USC 66 (March 1, 2008)

Tough to guard
At the other end of the floor: ASU has the tough-to-defend combination of leading the league in three-pointers made per game (8.3) and percentage (.380). That .380 mark is ASU's best three-bomb percentage in the past 21 seasons (1989-90 to present) as the 1988-89 squad set the school mark at .430. In the 23 seasons since the three-pointer has been used (1986-87), only five teams have led the league in both three-bombs made and percentage (Oregon in 2007-08, 2003-04, 2002-03 and 2001-02 and Stanford in 1999-2000).

Best in the league this year
ASU posted 23 assists vs. Stanford on Jan. 30, the most by a Pac-10 team in a league game this year, as it had assists on its first 18 baskets. The second-most assists by a Pac-10 team in a league game this year is the 22 by ASU against Washington State on Jan. 10. Also, ASU's 10 steals vs. Stanford was its most in a Pac-10 contest since it had 10 vs. Oregon on Jan. 3, 2008, a span of the past 46 league tilts. ASU also had 12 three-pointers vs. Stanford, the most by a Pac-10 team in a league game this year, as ASU led 54-22 at the half.

Against Oregon State
ASU has put together a modest five-game win streak against the Beavers, as Herb Sendek is 5-2 against OSU...the 66-57 ASU win in Corvallis on Jan. 16 was the closest in the five games, as ASU has averaged 66.6 points in that time and allowed the Beavers just 50.0 per game...OSU leads the overall series 38-36...ASU swept the regular season series from the Beavers in 2008-09 for the second straight year and for the ninth time since joining the Pac-10...ASU has shot 50.7 percent from the field (114-of-225) in the past five games against OSU and held the Beavers to 91-of-253 (.360) from the field...Eric Boateng is 12-of-15 (.800) from the field in five career games against OSU...only one glaring difference in the Jan. 16 Sun Devil 66-57 win in Corvallis and that was ASU forcing 18 turnovers (the most by a Pac-10 team against ASU in a regular season game since USC also had 18 on March 1, 2008) while committing just nine...Ty Abbott led ASU with 21 points (5-of-10 from the three-point stripe) while Rihards Kuksiks added 15...ASU played without Jamelle McMillan, who missed the first of four games with a foot injury, and allowed just four offensive rebounds...Derek Glasser had eight assists and just one turnover in 39 minutes.

ASU biggest victory margin in Pac-10 game under Herb Sendek
31--ASU 69, Oregon State 38 (Jan. 8, 2009)
30--ASU 90, @Stanford 60 (Jan. 2, 2009)
25--ASU 71, Washington State 46 (Jan. 10, 2010)

ASU Pac-10 opponents fewest points (1978-79 to Present)
Arizona State 49, @Oregon State 38 (Feb. 7, 2009)
Arizona State 69, Oregon State 38 (Jan. 8, 2009)
Arizona State 42, @California 41 (Mar. 3, 2007)
Arizona State 53, Washington 41 (Jan. 31, 1991)
Arizona State 67, Washington State 41 (Feb. 11, 1984)

Great D in first half
ASU held Oregon State to 13 first-half points Feb. 7, 2009, ASU's best first-half defensive effort since it led OSU 33-13 on Feb. 25, 1995. ASU also held the Beavers to 15 first-half points on Jan. 8 in Tempe. In both games the Beavers were 6-of-21 (.286) from the field and were a combined 7-of-29 (.241) from the three-point stripe in the first half.

Fewest halftime points by ASU opponent since 1989-90
ASU 19, @Oregon State 13 (Feb. 7, 2009)
ASU 33, Oregon State 13 (Feb. 25, 1995)
ASU 24, Stanford 14 (Jan. 27, 1991 at Stanford)
ASU 30, Oregon State 15 (Jan. 8, 2009)

Making shots
ASU shot .651 from the field vs. Oregon State in Tempe on Jan. 8, 2009, its sixth-best shooting effort vs. a Pac-10 team and second-best in the past 20 seasons.

ASU best field goal percentage vs. Pac-10 team
.756/34-of-45 vs. Oregon State, Feb. 10, 1979
.679/36-of-55 vs. Stanford, Feb. 9, 1985
.673/35-of-52 at California, Feb. 3, 1979
.667/30-of-45 vs. OSU/P10 Trn, Mar. 9, 1990
.654/34-of-52 at WSU, Feb. 6, 2003
.651/28-of-43 vs. Oregon State, Jan. 8, 2009

About the points allowed vs. WSU
Quietly the Jan. 10 71-46 win over Washington State was one of the best in terms of points allowed by ASU in its Pac-10 history. It is the eighth-fewest points allowed in ASU's 569 Pac-10 regular-season contests.

Fewest points allowed in a Pac-10 game
ASU 48, @Oregon State 38 (Feb. 7, 2009/Herb Sendek)
ASU 69, Oregon State 38 (Jan. 8, 2009/Herb Sendek)
ASU 42, @Cal 41 (March 3, 2008/Herb Sendek)
ASU 53, Washington 41 (Jan. 31, 1991/Bill Frieder)
ASU 67, @Washington State 41 (Feb. 11, 1984/Bob Weinhauer)
ASU 82, Oregon State 44 (Feb. 25, 1995/Bill Frieder)
ASU 96, WSU 45 (Feb. 7, 2002/Rob Evans)
ASU 71, Washington State 46 (Jan. 10, 2010/Herb Sendek)

Good starts
In the past nine games ASU is scoring 35.1 points in the first half while allowing just 27.8 and is holding its opponents to just 35.5 percent field goal shooting (93-262) in the opening 20 minutes. ASU is 6-3 in that stretch.

Impressive
Freshman Trent Lockett, a native of Golden Valley, Minn., comes from one of the top high school programs in the country (Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minn.) and has made a solid first impression. His 17 points against Stanford (Jan. 30) matched his second-best scoring night, as he had 19 vs. USF on Nov. 20 and 17 vs. Texas State on Nov. 16. He also added a career-best eight assists (he had 15 assists entering the game). He is averaging 8.1 points, 3.5 boards and is shooting 65-of-130 (.500) from the field. In the past seven games he is averaging 9.9 points, has taken 49 free throws (making 34 for .694) and has nine double-figure scoring games on the year.

Pac-10 stat leaders overall games
In overall game statistics, ASU leads the league in three-point percentage (.380), assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.2) and three-pointers made per game (8.3). It is second in scoring margin (+10.1), scoring defense (58.9 points per game/seventh in nation), field goal percentage defense (.398) and turnover margin (+2.2) and third in free throw percentage (.718), steals per game (7.1) and assists per game (14.3). Individually Derek Glasser leads the league in assists per game (5.0) while Jamelle McMillan sets the pace in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0), with Glasser second at 2.1. Glasser is third in free throw percentage (.883) while Ty Abbott is second in three-point percentage (.447) and fifth in three-pointers made per game (2.4). Eric Boateng leads the league in field goal percentage (.637)

PAC-10 STAT LEADERS IN CONFERENCE TILTS
In Pac-10 game statistics, ASU leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1) and three-pointers made per game (8.0)...ASU ranks second in steals (6.5) and fewest turnovers per game (12.4)...ASU ranks third in scoring defense (64.0 ppg.), three-point percentage (.358), turnover margin (+0.5), assists (13.6), free throw percentage (.731) and field goal percentage defense (.419)...Ty Abbott ranks seventh in scoring in Pac-10 play at 15.8 points per game, eighth in rebounding (6.5) and is tied for first in three-pointers made per game (3.1) and third in percentage (.453)...Derek Glasser is second in assists per game (4.3) and fourth in free throw percentage (.878)...Eric Boateng tied for fifth at 7.6 boards per game and leads the league in field goal percentage at .633 (38-of-60)...Ty Abbott ranks second in the league in defensive rebounds.

Another solid note
Six of ASU's 22 opponents have had season-lows in points against ASU...San Diego State is at 71.4 ppg. but had just 52...UW is at 81.3 but had 51, while WSU is at 75.9 and had 46...UCSB is averaging 67.8 ppg. but ASU held the Gauchos to 42...others with season-lows against ASU are Delaware State (34) and Western Illinois (35)...Jimmer Fredette of BYU, who had 49 at Arizona and is averaging 21.4 points, was 1-of-13 from the field against ASU and missed all his three-point attempts on Dec. 8 in Provo...WSU's Klay Thompson, averaging 21.2 points, was 3-of-11 from the floor and posted nine points on Jan. 10 and was 6-of-20 from the floor and 2-of-10 from the three-point stripe on Feb. 4...Duke is averaging 81.4 but had 64 on Nov. 25. Duke had a season-low 60 in its Jan. 23 win over Clemson.

All over stat sheet
Junior Jamelle McMillan was all over the stat sheet the eight games prior to his injury in mid-January, as he missed four game. In that time he is averaged 32.8 minutes, 9.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and had 12 steals and just 11 turnovers. He also was 13-of-37 (.351) from the three-point stripe.

Minute man
Derek Glasser continues to climb up the ASU career minutes list. Eddie House has the career mark, playing in 124 games from 1996-2000 while notching 4,164 minutes (33.6 minutes per game). He also has a chance to become just the seventh Sun Devil to start in 100 games.

ASU career minutes
1. Eddie House (1999-2000)--4,164/124 games/33.6
2. Jeremy Veal (1994-98)--3,980/122 games/32.5
3. Jeff Pendergraph (2005-09)--3,801/126 games/30.2
4. Stevin Smith (1990-94)--3,657/115 games/31.8
5. Derek Glasser (2006-10)--3,634/122 games/29.8
6. Ron Riley (1992-96)--3,501/116 games/30.2
7. Fat Lever (1978-82)--3,421/113 games/30.3
8. Alex Austin (1985-90)--3,409/113 games/30.2
9. Steve Beck (1983-87)--3,323/110 games/30.3
10. Dwayne Fontana (1990-94)--3,220/110 games/29.3

ASU career starts
1. Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-09, 120
2. Eddie House, 1996-2000, 114
3. Ron Riley, 1992-96, 109
4. Jason Braxton, 2001-2005, 102
5. Alex Austin, 1986-90, 100
6. Steve Beck, 1983-87, 96
7. Derek Glasser, 2006-present, 94