Larry Ness
10* Bailout Blowout - New Mexico -3.5
Arizona St opens its season on the road for the first time since 1992. However, the schedule maker could have given Herb Sendek's squad a little easier opponent. Arizona State is coming off a campaign in which it posted a record of 22-11, including 12-6 in the Pac 10. The team's loss to Stanford early in the Pac 10 tourney really hurt its at-large NCAA tourney chances and after getting "left out," the Sun Devils flopped at home against Jacksonville in the first round of the NIT. New Mexico began its season at home vs Detroit, winning 63-54 on Saturday. It was not a good outing, as the Lobos shot 3-of-20 on threes. Alford led the Lobos to a 14-2 MWC mark (regular season title) and in the NCAAs. The team's 30-5 final record was the most in school history. Obviously the team will miss Hopson (15.9-9.3-4.6), who decided to skip his senior year and Martinez (13.1-5.9), but the cupboard is far from bare. Gary (13.1-3.9 APG) is a real leader at the point and McDonald (10.4-3.1) should have a breakout season at the big guard position (he's currently out with a minor elbow injury). Team also will get UCLA transfer Gooden (a 6-9 player) after he becomes eligible on Dec 17. Already, 6-7 transfer Negedu showed promise with eight points and six rebounds vs Detroit, plus 6-11 freshman Kirk totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds in his first-ever game. Another freshman, guard Williams, had seven points. Guards Dennis and Fenton got little time last year behind Hopson and Martinez but chipped in 12 and nine points, respectively in the season opener. Don't forget the 6-8 Hardeman (7.0-5.5), who had four points and nine rebounds to open the year. My point is, Alford's got a pretty group coming back, despite the losses of Hopson and Martinez. "The Pit" is a brutal place to play and ASU enters without its PG from last year, Glasser (10.1-4.8 APG). McMillan (6.6-2.8 APG) will likely start at the point, joined by an excellent backcourt partner in Abbott (12.0-4.4). The 6-6 Kuksiks (12.1-3.6) is the team's leading returning scorer but the Sun Devils will miss the size of the 6-10 Boateng (8.8-7.2). Bottom line is this. The Sun Devils won't match last year's 22-win season and this is one tough road opener, which the school is NOT used to playing. "The Pit" claims another 'victim!'