@SUNDEVILHOOPS: GOING TO KANSAS CITY, KC HERE WE COME
(LOOK TO THE BOX TO YOUR RIGHT FOR GAME NOTES PDF )
√ ASU will try and go 4-0 for the fifth time in Coach Sendek’s nine seasons in Tempe as it was 6-0 last year for the first time since 1980-81. It also started 4-0 in 2012-13, 2009-10 and 2008-09.
√ In Coach Sendek’s final five seasons in Raleigh (2001-2006), NCSU and Maryland each won 53 total ACC games, as only Duke was better (76) in that time frame.
SCENE SETTER: The Arizona State Sun Devils (3-0) will meet the Maryland Terrapins (3-0) in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic on Monday, Nov. 24, at 6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MT on ESPNU at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The Sun Devils have a roster that has six lettermen, three highly rated junior college players, a mid-year transfer from UNLV (eligible Dec. 16 at Marquette) and three true freshmen in the mix for playing time. Alabama and Iowa State are in the other half of the bracket and the winners/losers will meet Tuesday.
THROUGH THREE GAMES: ASU is holding opponents to .305 shooting (47-of-154) from the floor and just 8-of-47 (.170) from the three-point stripe...after posting 16 blocks in his first two seasons (64 games), Eric Jacobsen has nine blocks in three games this year...after averaging 7.9 minutes in 22 games his first year last season, Chance Murray had 12 points in 23 minutes and five boards vs. LMU on Nov. 20 ... ASU has had three people lead it in scoring in each of its first three games, with Shaq McKissic getting 20 vs. Chicago State, Eric Jacobsen had 13 vs. Bethune-Cookman and Chance Murray had 12 vs. LMU...ASU has outrebounded all three of its first opponents...eight players have reached double-digits in scoring.
KEEP AN EYE ON THE NUMBER IMPROVEMENTS: Junior Eric Jacobsen, playing around 255 pounds,
is off to solid start in his junior season. Entering this year, Eric had played in 64 games an averaged 8.8 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds. It is early, but he is averaging 9.3 points, nine boards and is 9-of-12 (.750) from the field and 10-of-15 (.667) from the free throw line.
QUICKLY ON LAST YEAR: The Sun Devils notched their fifth 20-win season under Coach Sendek in his eight years in 2013-14 (21-12; 10-8/tied for 3rd in Pac-12), something that ASU did just three times in the prior 25 seasons to his arrival in spring of 2006. The Sun Devils advanced to the NCAA Tournament and went 16-1 at home, ASU’s best home mark since the 1974-75 team under Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins opened Wells Fargo Arena with a 14-0 home mark. ASU also had its best home win in school history with a Valentine’s 69-66 double-overtime victory over second-ranked Arizona.
ASU VS. MARYLAND: ASU and the Terrapins have met just twice, but the most recent meeting
was a great one in Sun Devil history. Unranked ASU entered the 1994 Maui Invitational under Bill Frieder and beat Texas A&M 103-73 and upset No. 13 Michigan 79-62 in the first two rounds. The Sun Devils then topped seventh-ranked and Joe Smith-led Maryland 97-90 in the final on Nov. 23. ASU shot shot .604 from the field, while Mario Bennett earned Maui Invitational MVP honors. It marked ASU’s first tournament title outside Arizona since the 1970-71 season, and shot the Sun Devils to 12th in the Associated Press rankings the next week. ASU won seven games against ranked opponents that year en route to a Sweet Sixteen appearance for the first time since 1974-75. Bill Frieder also became first coach to win three Maui Invitational titles, as he won it in 1985 and 1988 at Michigan. Maryland beat ASU 65-50 in the other meeting in the 1953-54 season. Sun Devil head coach Herb Sendek posted seven wins vs. Maryland in his time at North Carolina State.