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. 

Maybe We Can Get The Two Wins Out Of The Way Now

Everyone knows the Devils need two more wins to control their own destiny for the NCAA Tournament.  How about a sweep of the LA schools this week at home?(UCLA tonight and USC on Saturday)  Then we can just go off and celebrate the next few weeks rather than bite down our fingernails in anticipation.  Well, I like the sound of it.

 The Sun Devils would have to play a nearly flawless game for the unthinkable to happen, but I still like our chances tonight against UCLA.  This is a great test to see if we are anywhere near the talent level of the top tiered teams in the country.   Harden and Pendergraph are going to have to be on tonight, along with Kuksiks and Abbott, who must have the deep shots falling for the Devils to be in this one.  If we are in it late, who knows, we just might have a chance. 

I just really hope Kevin Love gets shut down, at least a little.  They should send the Boat in to pick up his five fouls all on Love.  That ought to slow him down.