Feb. 2, 2009
Coach Herb Sendek
Thoughts on the game:
"I thought the two Washington guards, (Isaiah) Thomas and (Justin) Dentmon, really controlled the game today. We didn't have a good answer for them, both off the bounce and behind the arc. Those guys really had us tied up. Jeff Pendergraph stood up and gave us a great performance, but clearly the guard play of Washington was significant."
On the Sun Devils first half play, both offensively and defensively:
"I didn't feel good going into halftime down 12. That would be quite a stretch. I think it is reflected in my first comment. We had a very difficult time in transition, where we turned the ball over too much in the first half and took some ill-advised shots that led to the court being scattered. Those guys are good in that situation. Secondly, in the half court, they really did a good job of taking us off the dribble. I can remember three baskets that Thomas had right from the top of the key, just going one-on-one with his quickness and herky-jerky movements. He really got us off balance. Those two guys were really good today."
On their turnovers:
"Anytime there is an event like this, both teams are trying to counteract what the other is doing. The truth is, it's always a combination of both (Washington playing well and ASU error). We were much better in the second half, we had only one or two turnovers."
Guard James Harden
On what the Sun Devils need to do to bounce back after two straight home losses:
"Our mindset at practice is to work on our shots and get our confidence back."
Forward Jeff Pendergraph
Thoughts on the game:
"We've got to step up and not let stuff like this happen. Especially at home. And freshman, too. That's so frustrating. You can't let some dude that's barely finished his 100-level classes come in here and kick your butt. That's embarrassing."
On the Sun Devils shooting 26 percent from behind the three-point line (6-of-23):
"You miss a shot, so what? Everybody misses a shot; nobody is 100 percent. People, seems like, are weak-minded. They get down on themselves for no reason. If you go into the game thinking, 'I've got to shoot well today,' you're going to suck."