Are We In Yet?

Saturday’s victory over Oregon State has put the Devils right on the bubble to get into the NCAA Tournament.  It was a historic afternoon for the Beavers who finished of the Pac-10 regular season without a single conference win.  It was a career night for two different Devils, McMillen and Boateng both had career highs in points.  All in all, it was a must win and they got it done. 

Now turning ahead to the Pac-10 Tournament, ASU will face off against USC on Thursday.  Here is the rematch for all the Trojan whiners.  Last meeting the USC thugs hacked the Devils up and down the court then cried about the difference in the number of fouls called on each team.  I hope ASU goes into this game, that is basically a home game for the Trojans, with the same game plan of attacking the hoop and making the officials give us the calls. 

One win, according to ESPN, is all the Devils need to have their place locked up in the NCAA Tournament.  I’d like to think they are already in, but one more would give us 20 wins on the year and beef up our resume.  I’ve never been so jacked about March Madness as this year. 

Quack Off Oregon

Now that the USC fans are finally about done crying about the officiating, it time to hit the hardwood once again.  Tonight the Devils have the first of two in Oregon.  The Ducks are easily beatable and this game falls under the should win category for ASU, but you can never rule out a team, playing at home, at the end of a season, with NCAA Tournament hopes.  The Devils can basically clinch a spot in the big dance with a win tonight, while the Ducks need to capture the voters attention with a sweep this weekend and a run in the Pac-10 Tournament. 

 Devils’ Keys to the Game:  Get Pendergraph involved early…the longer it takes to get him going, the less likely he will contribute.  Harden, Harden, and Harden…can we get him to take more shots this game?  He rarely shoots more than he has to, but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to see him take 15 to 18 shots tonight.  Lastly, get someone else to contribute from the outside…I don’t care who it is.  It could be Glasser, Abbott, Kuksiks, Shipp, McMillen, or Polk, just someone needs to be the third option and sink a few open shots. 

I still can’t believe this one isn’t on TV in Arizona.