May 18, 2000
SUN DEVILS WIN 19 GAMES AND EARN NIT BERTH AS EDDIE HOUSE EARNS PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
SUN DEVILS TIE FOR FOURTH IN PAC-10:
The Arizona State men's basketball team (19-13, 10-8 in Pac-10) posted its best season since 1994-95 in Rob Evans second year at the helm of the program. The young ASU team, with six true freshmen combining for nearly 96 minutes per game and having just one senior on its roster, posted a Pac-10 road sweep for the first time since 1996 to begin the second half at WSU/Washington and notched a home sweep of the LA schools for the first time since 1986 a week later. It was ASU's first four-game Pac-10 win streak since 1995. ASU also was 3-1 in overtime, all Pac-10 road contests, and was 3-3 in games decided by three points or less after going 1-5 in 1998-99. ASU went 6-3 in the second half of Pac-10 play after going just 2-7 the previous season. The Sun Devils posted 19 wins for just the fourth time in the past 17 seasons, as ASU was picked to finish eighth in the Pac-10 preseason media poll but finished in a tie for fourth with NCAA-bound UCLA (a team ASU beat 104-75 on Feb. 17 to end a 22-game losing streak to the Bruins) at 10-8, sweeping four Pac-10 teams along the way (California, Washington State, Washington and Oregon State), its most sweeps since the 194-95 team also had four.
OVERTIME NOTE:
How impressive was ASU's 3-1 record in road overtime games? ASU just missed matching the NCAA record for road overtime wins, which is four. Four schools notched 4-0 marks in road overtime games in one season, including Arizona State in 1980-81. Others were Delaware (1972-73), Cal State Fullerton (1988-89) and New Mexico State (1993-94). ASU won road overtime games at California, Washington State and Oregon State and fell at USC after going just 1-3 in overtime in 1998-99.
NIT:
ASU made its seventh appearance in the postseason National Invitational Tournament and has a 3-7 mark overall?overall, ASU is 20-27 (.425) in postseason, including an 11-12 (.435) mark in NCAA action.
Year | Score(s) | Site | |
1999-00 | NC State 60, ASU 58 (second round) | Raleigh | |
1999-00 | ASU 83, New Mexico State (first round) | Tempe | |
1997-98 | Hawaii 90, ASU 73 | Honolulu | |
1993-94 | BYU 74, ASU 67 | Provo | |
1992-93 | Georgetown 78, ASU 68 | Tempe | |
1991-92 | Utah 60, ASU 58 (second round) | Tempe | |
1991-92 | ASU 71, Cal-Santa Barbara 58 (first round) | Santa Barbara | |
1989-90 | Long Bearch State 86, ASU 71 | Tempe | |
1982-83 | Texas Christian 78, ASU 76 (second round) | Tempe | |
1982-83 | ASU 87, Cal State Fullerton 83 (first round) | Tempe |
NUMBER CRUNCHING:
ASU is scheduled to return 56.3 points per game after averaging a league-best 79.3 points, which accounts for 71 percent of the scoring. ASU was scheduled to return just 32.1 points per game from a 74.5 points per game mark in 1999-2000 (43.1 percent) after losing All-Pac-10 players Bobby Lazor (18.0 ppg.) and Mike Batiste (16.7 ppg.). But led by Eddie House's 23.0 scoring mark and five players averaging more than six points per game ASU led the league in scoring this past year and was 17th in the nation. It marked just the third time in school history ASU led the Pac-10 in scoring (also in 1992-93 and 1980-81). ASU's six freshmen combined for 39.8 percent of the scoring (31.5 ppg.), 38.6 percent of the rebounding (14.9 rpg.), 37.6 percent of the steals (3.2 spg.) and 44.7 percent of the assists (7.2 apg.)
NABC CLASSIC IN 2000:
ASU will play in the National Association Basketball Coaches Classic on Nov. 10-11, 2000, at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill, N.C., along with three 2000 NCAA Tournament teams. ASU is scheduled to meet Tulsa while North Carolina will take on Winthrop. The winners/losers will meet the next day.
FINAL HOUSE CALL:
ASU had just one senior in 1999-2000, Pac-10 Player of the Year Eddie House (the first Sun Devil to earn the honor), who was the nation's fourth leading scorer. With his 40 points vs. UCLA on Feb. 17, House became the first Pac-10 player to notch four 40-point games in one season. He posted eight games of 30+ points games on the year, as he went crazy at Cal on Jan. 8 with 61 points, which tied the Pac-10 record held by Lew Alcindor. He also had 46 vs. San Diego State (Dec. 18), 42 vs. Penn State (Dec. 29) and the 40 vs. UCLA (Feb. 17). He had 17 games of at least 20 points this year and ASU was 14-3 in those contests (9-0 at home). House also averaged 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.6 steals in his final eight games. He finished his career as ASU's record holder with 2,044 points and 258 steals and is just the second Pac-10 player to notch 2,000 career points and 250 steals. Oregon State's Gary Payton is the other.
SWEEPING:
ASU swept four Pac-10 teams (Washington, Washington St., California and Oregon St.) this year, the most since the 1994-95 team also swept four. ASU swept seven schools in 1979-80 and in 1980-81 and also had four sweeps in 1982-83 and 1990-91. ASU swept Oregon St. for the first time since 1996 and swept Washington and California for the first time since 1995. The Sun Devils have swept Washington St. the past three seasons. ASU beat Cal in Tempe for the tenth straight time and is 19-3 vs. Cal in Tempe since it joined the Pac-10.
NABC CLASSIC IN 2000:
ASU will play in the National Association Basketball Coaches Classic on Nov. 10-11, 2000, at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill, N.C., along with three 2000 NCAA Tournament teams. ASU is scheduled to meet Tulsa while North Carolina will take on Winthrop. The winners/losers will meet the next day.
FINAL HOUSE CALL:
ASU had just one senior in 1999-2000, Pac-10 Player of the Year Eddie House (the first Sun Devil to earn the honor), who was the nation's fourth leading scorer. With his 40 points vs. UCLA on Feb. 17, House became the first Pac-10 player to notch four 40-point games in one season. He posted eight games of 30+ points games on the year, as he went crazy at Cal on Jan. 8 with 61 points, which tied the Pac-10 record held by Lew Alcindor. He also had 46 vs. San Diego State (Dec. 18), 42 vs. Penn State (Dec. 29) and the 40 vs. UCLA (Feb. 17). He had 17 games of at least 20 points this year and ASU was 14-3 in those contests (9-0 at home). House also averaged 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.6 steals in his final eight games. He finished his career as ASU's record holder with 2,044 points and 258 steals and is just the second Pac-10 player to notch 2,000 career points and 250 steals. Oregon State's Gary Payton is the other.
QUICKIES:
ASU is scheduled to return nine lettermen and four starters next year, as eight players started at least one game...ASU came back from a 17-point second-half deficit to defeat New Mexico State 83-77 on March 15 in the first round of the NIT. It marked ASU's first postseason win since the 1995 NCAAs...the Sun Devils started at least one freshmen in every game, as Justin Allen was the only freshmen to not start...ASU won the game at Oregon State in OT with three players fouled out (Awvee Storey, Tanner Shell and Tommy Smith) and Chad Prewitt playing only three minutes before spraining his ankle...ASU held ten of its final 11 opponents to under 50 percent shooting...ASU was 14-4 when it led at the half compared to 10-9 in 1998-99...the Feb. 12 game at Washington was the first time three freshmen started for ASU (Kyle Dodd, Tommy Smith and Shawn Redhage) since Feb. 6, 1992...ASU held Santa Clara on Dec. 21 to just 18-of-57 from the field (.316), the lowest field goal percentage since Jan. 6, 1997, when ASU held Chaminade to 19-of-64 (.297). The percentage is the lowest in the past 110 games...ASU held Santa Clara (Dec. 21) and Bucknell (Dec. 28) to 55 points each. It marked the first time since the 1994-95 season, a span of 149 games, that ASU has held two straight opponents to under 60 points. ASU beat Arizona 53-52 on Jan. 5, 1995, and Old Dominion 71-52 on Jan. 7 in that year...ASU's rebounding margin of +21 (46-25) vs. Bucknell is tied for the fifth-biggest margin by a Rob Evans-team, while the 27 forced turnovers is tied for the fourth-most by an Evans team...ASU forced 34 turnovers vs. Morgan State, the most forced by any Rob Evans-coached team and the most forced by the Sun Devils since Jan. 2, 1993, when ASU forced 35 vs. Alaska-Anchorage...ASU's 20 steals vs. Morgan State was the most by ASU since ASU had 22 vs. Cal Poly SLO on Dec. 20, 1994...Awvee Storey is the oldest player on the team. Storey was born on April 18, 1977...Justin Allen was the youngest player on the team, as he was born July 30, 1981...the last ASU opponent to score 100 points in Tempe was Arizona on Feb. 27, 1988 (101-73). The current streak of an ASU opponent not scoring 100 points in Tempe stands at 204 games...with its two losses at NC State, ASU is 2-6 all-time against the ACC. The last time ASU beat an ACC team was in the 1994 Maui Invitational Championship, when Mario Bennett led ASU over seventh-ranked Maryland, led by Joe Smith, 97-90...Rob Evans is 39-17 (.696) in December...Eddie House ended the season fourth in the nation in scoring at 23.0 ppg. and ASU was 17th at 79.3 ppg...ASU was 7-3 this year in games televised locally on FOX Sports Net Arizona...
SENIOR EDDIE HOUSE FINAL QUICK NOTES
EDDIE AND THE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Eddie House won his fourth Pac-10 Player of the Week Award this year on Feb. 21, joining Ed O'Bannon (UCLA in 1994-95), Chris Mills (Arizona in 1992-93) and Gary Payton (Oregon State in 1989-90) as the only Pac-10 players to have won the award four times in a year. House had a stranglehold on the Pac-10 Player of the Week, as he won it three straight weeks at the beginning of the year (Dec. 20, Jan. 2, Jan. 10), the first time any Pac-10 Player has won the award in one season in three straight weeks (Gary Payton won it three straight over the course of two seasons). He earned the honor five times in his career.
EDDIE'S HOUSES:
Eddie House posted 12 games of at least 30 points in his career in seven arenas and in six states (California, Arizona, Texas, Oregon, Hawaii and North Carolina) and had four 40-point games. A look at House's 25+ point games, and note that 11 of the 20 were away from Tempe:
Date | Pts. | Opp. | Site | |
1/8/00 | 61 | California | Haas Pavilion (Berkeley, Calif.) | |
12/18/99 | 46 | San Diego State | Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe) | |
12/29/99 | 42 | Penn State | Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe) | |
2/17/00 | 40 | UCLA | Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe) | |
12/5/98 | 39 | UNLV | America West Arena (Phoenix) | |
12/19/98 | 34 | Texas A & M | Reed Arena (College Station) | |
1/23/99 | 34 | Oregon | McArthur Court (Eugene, Ore.) | |
3/21/00 | 32 | NC State | Sports Arena (Raleigh, N.C.) | |
3/15/00 | 32 | New Mexico State | Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe) | |
1/29/00 | 31 | #21 NC State | Sports Arena (Raleigh, N.C.) | |
12/28/99 | 31 | Bucknell | Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe) | |
11/24/98 | 31 | Kansas State | Lahaina Civic Center (Maui) | |
2/12/00 | 29 | Washington | KeyArena (Seattle) | |
1/13/00 | 29 | Washington | Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe) | |
2/19/00 | 28 | USC | Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe) | |
2/10/00 | 27 | Washington State | Friel Court (Pullman, Wash.) | |
2/27/99 | 26 | California | Oakland Arena (Oakland) | |
11/25/98 | 26 | Chaminade | Lahaina Civic Center (Maui) | |
1/15/00 | 25 | Washington State | Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe) | |
1/30/99 | 25 | #3 Stanford | Wells Fargo Arena (Tempe) |
OTHER HOUSE NUMBERS:
Eddie House averaged 2.31 steals per game, second in the league and was first in the league in scoring (23.0 ppg.), sixth in free throw percentage (.835), tenth in assists (3.47) and 19th in rebounding (5.5 pg.). He was the only player listed in the league's top 10 in points and assists. He also led ASU in assists in 16 games and led ASU in rebounding in eight contests.
MORE ON THE 61:
House's 18 FTs (19 attempts) at California on Jan. 6 is a school record...the last major college player to score more was Kansas State's Askia Jones, who had 62 vs. Fresno State on March 24, 1994...the 19th player to notch a 60-point game against a D-I team (24 occasions)...House outscored 55 Division I TEAMS on Jan. 8...it is only the fifth time since 1978 that a player had more than 60 in a game involving two D-I teams...was just 11 points shy of NCAA record (two D-I teams), as Kevin Bradshaw of U.S. International had 72 in 1991 vs. Loyola Marymount, but Bradshaw was 23-of-59 while House was 18-of-30.
"House's efforts in ASU's victories over UCLA and USC are impressive additions to an already glowing resume in his case for being selected the Pac-10's Player of the Year. There can't be a player in college who works harder on the offensive end, with and without the basketball. The guy is relentless."
Frank Burlison, Orange County Register, Feb. 22, 2000.
"The best way to describe Arizona State's Eddie House is to call him college basketball's version of Allen Iverson. If there is a better pure shooter in the NCAA this year, I haven't seen him."
Steve Bisheff, Orange County Register, Feb. 23, 2000.
"No one possibly could move more without the ball than House, who invokes memories of Larry Bird and John Havlicek in terms of miles logged trying to get open."
Jake Curtis, San Francisco Chronicle, Mar. 9, 2000.
EDDIE HOUSE AWARDS:
Here's a list of awards won by Eddie House in 1999-2000 by different organizations and publications: Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, Pac-10 Player of the Year by the Pac-10 Coaches (official conference Player of the Year), USBWA National Player of the Year Finalist and All-District 9 selection, Basketball News First-Team All-West Region, College Hoops Insider Pac-10 Player of the Year and All-American, NABC District 15 First-Team Selection, Basketball Times All-West Region.
JUNIOR ALTON MASON QUICK NOTES
Point guard Alton Mason, who will be ASU's lone senior next year, finished the season strong. Mason averaged 12.7 points in his final seven games and played a season-high 38 minutes in the overtime win at Oregon State on March 4. His end-of-season stretch started at Washington on Feb. 12 when he posted eight points in 12 minutes off the bench, all in the second half, as ASU came back to beat the Huskies. Mason made all six free throws in that game. In the final seven games, the junior averaged 12.7 points, shot 46.8 percent from the field (29-of-62) and was 20-of-23 (.870) from the FT line. On the season, he shot 80.7 percent from the FT line (46-of-57) after shooting just 59.5 percent (47-of-79) in 1998-99. He also had 15 steals in his final eight games. In his final 17 games, he posted 48 assists and just 18 turnovers in 358 minutes and was 27-of-31 (.871) from the free throw line in his final 10 games.
WORTH NOTING FOR MASON:
11 points, five assists and just one turnover in 36 minutes vs. Cal on March 9 as ASU improved to 10-7 in the Pac-10...matched career-high with 18 points and played career-high 38 minutes at Oregon State on March 4 in overtime win...had 14 points at Oregon on March 2...also had 18 points (all in the final 6:15) at #4 Arizona on Feb. 26...had three steals in 14 minutes vs. USC on Feb. 19...six points and five assists at UCLA on Jan. 22...six points, five assists and no turnovers at USC on Jan. 20...had eight points, six assists and five steals vs. Penn State on Dec. 29...posted 10 points vs. Santa Clara on Dec. 21...had five steals vs. Morgan State on Dec. 4...led ASU with 15 points (3-of-3 from three-point stripe) in season opener vs. Portland State on No. 20.
CAREER HIGHS FOR MASON:
Points: 18, twice, at Oregon State (3/4/00), Rebounds: 6 vs. Washington State (1/9/99), Assists: 10 vs. Alaska-Anchorage (12/29/98), Minutes: 42 at Texas A & M (12/19/98), Field Goals Made: 7 at #4 Arizona (2/26/00), Field Goals Attempted: 14 vs. New Orleans (12/1/98), Steals: 6 at California (2/27/99), 3-Pointers Made: 3, three times, vs. California (3/9/00), 3-Pointers Attempted: 6, twice, vs. California (3/9/00), Free Throws Made: 6, three times, at Oregon State (3/4/00), Free Throws Attempted: 8 vs. #12 UCLA (3/4/99).
SOPHOMORE AWVEE STOREY QUICK NOTES
Sophomore Awvee Storey, despite being listed a 6-6, established himself as one of the league's top rebounders. Storey averaged 7.6 rebounds, tied for the fourth-best mark in the loop, and led the Pac-10 in offensive rebounds(105 total). He also gave the young squad some veteran leadership despite being only a sophomore, as he is the oldest player on the team (born on April 18, 1977). He led ASU in rebounding in 18 of 32 games and also was the second-leading scorer (9.3 ppg.). Storey had 21 points at UCLA on Jan. 22 to go with eight rebounds, including 7-of-8 (.875) from the FT line. He averaged 8.6 points and 7.3 boards in Pac-10 play. Storey also had three 20-point games, all on the road (22 at BYU, 23 at USC and 21 at UCLA).
WORTH NOTING FOR STOREY:
Posted 13 points and 14 rebounds vs. New Mexico State on March 15 in NIT first-round game...11 rebounds at Oregon on March 2...12 points and 13 rebounds (eight offensive) vs. UCLA on Feb. 17...21 points and seven rebounds at UCLA on Jan. 22...23 points and 14 rebounds at USC on Jan. 20...16 points and eight rebounds vs. WSU on Jan. 15...14 rebounds vs. Washington on Jan. 13...14 rebounds (eight offensive) at Cal on Jan. 8...17 points, seven boards (six offensive) and three steals vs. Penn State on Dec. 29...named to ASU Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team...12 boards, including eight offensive, vs. Bucknell on Dec. 28...nine boards vs. San Diego State on Dec. 18...22 points (9-of-13 FGs) and seven boards at BYU on Dec. 7...12 points and seven boards in opener vs. Portland State on Nov. 20...14 points and 10 boards vs. #20 Texas on Nov. 25 in Puerto Rico...14 points vs. Colorado State on Dec. 1.
CAREER HIGHS FOR STOREY:
Points: 23 at USC (1/20/00), Rebounds: 14, four times, vs. New Mexico State (3/15/00), Off. Rebounds: 8, three times, at Oregon (3/2/00), Def. Rebounds: 10, twice, vs. New Mexico State (3/15/00), Field Goals Made: 9, twice, at USC (1/20/00), Field Goals Att.: 18 vs. Penn State (12/29/99), Free Throws Made: 7 at #25 UCLA (1/22/00), Free Throws Attempted: 8, three times, at Oregon (3/2/00)), Steals: 3, four times, vs. UCLA (2/17/00), Assists: 4 vs. Oregon State (2/3/00), Minutes: 40 at California (1/8/00)
FRESHMAN TOMMY SMITH QUICK NOTES
Phoenix North High School product Tommy Smith played in all 32 games and averaged 4.9 points and 13.4 minutes per game. The long-armed 6-9 forward was 31-of-42 (.738) from the free throw line in his final 26 games. Smith opened the season with a season-high 15 points and seven boards vs. Portland State on Nov. 20. He also posted six blocks vs. Oregon State on Feb. 3, the most by a Sun Devil since Bobby Lazor had six vs. Texas A & M on Dec. 19, 1997. In his sole start on Feb. 12 at Washington, he posted eight points and six boards as ASU swept a road trip for the first time since 1996 and also posted 10 points at Oregon March 2.
WORTH NOTING FOR SMITH:
Had 10 points vs. #5 Arizona on Jan. 26...14 points and seven boards vs. Bucknell on Dec. 28 in just 15 minutes...eight rebounds vs. Santa Clara on Dec. 21...14 points and five rebounds vs. San Diego State on Dec. 18...nine points vs. Virginia on Nov. 27 in Puerto Rico.
CAREER HIGHS FOR SMITH:
Points: 15 vs. Portland State (11/20/99), Rebounds: 8 vs. Santa Clara (12/21/99), Assists: 2, three times, vs. Oregon State (2/3/00), Field Goals Made: 7 vs. Portland State (11/20/99), Field Goals Att.: 10 vs. Portland State (11/20/99), Steals: 3, twice, vs. Oregon State (2/3/00), Free Throws Made: 8 vs. Bucknell (12/28/99), Blocks: 6 vs. Oregon State (2/3/00), Free Throws Attempted: 9 vs. Bucknell (12/28/99), Assists: 3 vs. San Diego State (12/18/99), Minutes: 24 vs. Portland State (11/20/99).
FRESHMAN DONNELL KNIGHT QUICK NOTES
Local prep product start the season slowly but came on strong towards the middle of the Pac-10 season. Knight posted a season-high 29 minutes vs. Cal on March 8 and matched a season-high with 16 points as ASU topped the Bears in a key late-season Pac-10 game. He was 5-of-6 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line in that game. Knight averaged nine points, five rebounds and 19.6 minutes in a five-game stretch from Feb. 5-Feb. 19 and was a key part of ASU's four-game winning streak in that time. He shot 35-of-61 (.574) from the field in the final 12 games of the year. He was the first ASU freshmen to start in a season opener since Ron Riley in 1992-93 and one of just seven true freshmen to start opening night in the Pac-10, along with Jason Gardner and Gilbert Arenas of Arizona, Joe Shipp, Donte Smith, Brian Wethers of Cal and Jason Kapono of UCLA. He also finished the season by making 17-of-18 (.944) free throws in his final nine games.
IT WAS LIKE KNIGHT AND DAY:
Freshman Donnell Knight really turned it up a notch for the Sun Devil on Feb. 5, when he led ASU with 16 points vs. Oregon. Knight started the year slowly but in the final 12 games was one of the key reasons why ASU was able to notch 19 wins for just the fourth time in the past 17 seasons. A look at Donnell Knight's improvement after the first 20 games of the season:
Statistic | First 20 Games | Final 12 Games |
FG % | 20-70 (.286) | 35-61 (.574) |
FT % | 8-29 (.400) | 19-24 (.792) |
3-PT % | 2-17 (.118) | 8-14 (.571) |
Rebounds | 38 (1.9 per game) | 51 (4.3 per game) |
Assists | 15 (0.75 per game) | 17 (1.42 per game) |
Steals | 2 (0.1 per game) | 7 (0.58 per game) |
Minutes | 233 (11.7 per game) | 245 (20.4 per game) |
WORTH NOTING FOR KNIGHT:
ASU was 4-1 when he notched double digits in scoring...nine points and four rebounds vs. New Mexico State on March 15...eight points and four boards at Oregon State on March 4 in overtime win...nine points and five boards in 20 minutes vs. UCLA on Feb. 17...10 points and eight boards (four offensive) at Washington on Feb. 12...had five points and six boards in 22 minutes at WSU on Feb. 10 in overtime win...led ASU with 16 points vs. #23 Oregon on Feb. 5...six points, three rebounds and three assists vs. Washington State on Jan. 15...five assists vs. San Diego State on Dec. 18...10 points and seven boards vs. Morgan State on Dec. 4...12 points vs. American P.R. on Nov. 26 in Puerto Rico.
CAREER HIGHS FOR KNIGHT:
Points: 16, twice, vs. California (3/9/00), Rebounds: 8 at Washington (2/12/00), Field Goals Made: 7 vs. #23 Oregon (2/5/00), Field Goals Att.: 9 vs. #23 Oregon (2/5/00), Free Throws Made: 6, three times, vs. California (3/9/00), Free Throws Att.: 7 vs. California (3/9/00), Assists: 5 vs. San Diego State (12/18/99), Blocks: 2 vs. Penn State (12/29/99), Minutes: 29 vs. California (3/9/00)
FRESHMAN TANNER SHELL QUICK NOTES
Freshman Tanner Shell was big part of ASU's success, especially the way he played in Pac-10 play. In his 18 Pac-10 games, Shell came off the bench in each one and contributed 9.1 points per game, third on the team in league play, and had six double-figure scoring games. He also played a huge part in ASU's first home sweep of the LA schools since 1986, as he was 10-of-13 (.769) from the field, 4-of-5 (.800) from the line and made all four free throws in the sweep of UCLA and USC on Feb. 17-19. He had 17 points, 14 of them in the second half, vs. USC and had 12 vs. UCLA. He also posted 24 points at USC on Jan. 20 and also had 13 at UCLA on Jan. 22. Shell was 8-of-16 (.500) from the floor and 3-of-6 (.500) from the three-point stripe and had 17 points in the second half at USC. In Los Angeles, he was 12-of-24 (.500) from the field, 6-of-12 (.500) from the three-point stripe and 7-of-9 (.777) from the FT line and averaged 18.5 points (24 at USC and 13 at UCLA). He also did not make a turnover in 50 minutes. A strong, physical guard who can step out and hit the three-pointer, he also delivered the quote of the day after the UCLA loss. Said Shell: "I hate losing. Losing is worse than death pretty much. You have to live with it."
NOT SHELL-SHOCKED:
Shell's 24-point freshman game at USC ranks as one of the best in recent ASU history. It is the most points by an ASU freshmen on the road since Jamal Faulkner had 27 at Oregon on Feb. 28, 1991, and matched Eddie House's 24 points vs. UCLA in 1997.
TOP ASU FRESHMAN SCORING GAMES SINCE 1989-90
Name | Date | Opponent | Points |
Mario Bennett | Feb. 20, 1992 | Arizona | 35 |
Jamal Faulkner | March 17, 1991 | Arkansas (NCAA) | 29 |
Jamal Faulkner | Feb. 28, 1991 | at Oregon | 27 |
Mario Bennett | Feb. 1, 1992 | Oregon | 26 |
Ron Riley | Dec. 21, 1992 | Northern Arizona | 25 |
Jamal Faulkner | Feb. 9, 1991 | at USC | 25 |
Jamal Faulkner | Jan. 13, 1991 | USC | 25 |
Stevin Smith | Nov. 29, 1990 | Northern Arizona | 25 |
Tanner Shell | Jan. 20, 2000 | at USC | 24 |
Eddie House | Feb. 15, 1997 | UCLA | 24 |
Mario Bennett | March 24, 1992 | Utah | 24 |
WORTH NOTING FOR SHELL:
Averaged 10.8 points and 20.6 minutes in 11 game-stretch from Jan. 20-Feb. 26...had season-high 10 boards vs. #2 Stanford on March 11...posted solid game in ASU's win over Cal on March 9 with 14 points and seven boards in a season-high 34 minutes...17 points, 14 in the second half, vs. USC on Feb. 19...12 points (4-of-5 FGs) vs. UCLA on Feb. 17...eight points (5-of-6 FTs) at Washington on Feb. 12...had 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-6 from the three-point stripe, at UCLA on Jan. 22 and played 23 minutes without a turnover...posted 24 points in 27 minutes at USC and was 8-of-16 from the field, 3-of-6 from the three-point stripe and 5-of-7 from the FT line and did not have a turnover...seven points and five rebounds vs. Washington on Jan. 13...three steals at California on Jan. 8...nine points and four boards at #1 Stanford on Jan. 6, with all nine points coming in second half...11 points and five rebounds vs. San Diego State on Dec. 18, including 2-of-2 from three-point stripe...nine points and four steals vs. Morgan State on Dec. 4...10 points vs. American-PR on 11/26...led Mesa Mountain View High School to 63-7 record and two state titles in his final two prep seasons...high school prep teammate of Todd Heap.
CAREER HIGHS FOR SHELL:
Points: 24 at USC (1/20/00), Rebounds: 10 vs. #2 Stanford (3/11/00), Field Goals Made: 8 at USC (1/20/00), Field Goals Att.: 16 at USC (1/20/00), Free Throws Made: 6 at #1 Stanford (1/6/00), Free Throws Att.: 7 at USC (1/20/00), Steals: 4 vs. Morgan State (12/4/99), Minutes: 34 vs. California (3/9/00).
QUICK NOTES ON FRESHMAN SHAWN REDHAGE
An excellent student-athlete who psoted a 3.56 grade point average in his first semester, freshman Shawn Redhage (Lincoln, Neb.) made a solid impact in his rookie year, averaging 8.3 points and shooting 52 percent from the field. He shot 83.1 percent from the FT line, including 32-of-36 (.889) in the Pac-10. He was fourth on the team in assists (63) and led the team with 24 blocks. Redhage had two of the best all-around games of the year with 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists vs. WSU on Jan. 15 and had 14 points, seven boards and five assists vs. USC on Feb. 19 as the Sun Devils improved its Pac-10 win streak to four. He posted double-digit scoring games 14 times.
WORTH NOTING FOR REDHAGE:
Made 38-of-43 (.883) free throws in his final 23 games and made his final 32-of-his-past-35 (.914) from the charity stripe...15 points vs. #23 Oregon on Feb. 5...16 points, six rebounds and seven assists vs. WSU on Jan. 15...22 points, eight rebounds and five assists vs. Washington on Jan. 13...15 points and seven boards at California on 1/8/00 oin double-overtime win...11 points vs. Bucknell on Dec. 28...12 points, six rebounds and six assists vs. Santa Clara on Dec. 21...five blocks vs. San Diego State on Dec. 18...12 points at Brigham Young on Dec. 7 and vs. Morgan State on Dec. 4...nine points and eight boards vs. Colorado State on Dec. 1...16 points vs. Virginia on Nov. 27...17 points vs. #20 Texas on Nov. 25 en route to Puerto Rico Shootout All-Tournament honors...Nebraska prep Player of the Year in 1998-99.
CAREER HIGHS FOR REDHAGE:
Points: 20 vs. Washington (1/13/00), Rebounds: 8, twice, vs. Washington (1/13/00), Field Goals Made: 8 vs. Washington 1/13/00), Field Goals Att.: 12, twice, at California (1/8/00), Free Throws Made: 6 vs. Virginia (11/27/99), Free Throws Attempted: 7 vs. Virginia (11/27/99), Assists: 7 vs. Washington State (1/15/00), Blocks: 5 vs. San Diego State (12/18/99), Minutes: 37 at California (1/8/00)
QUICK NOTES ON SOPHOMORE CHAD PREWITT
Last year Chad Prewitt averaged 4.1 points per game in his initial season and had two double-digit scoring games. This year, Prewitt averaged 9.0 ppg, third on the team. "Big Red" had his best game at No. 1 Stanford, posting 18 points and 10 rebounds (six offensive) in 33 minutes and also had another double-double with 12 points and 10 boards vs. USC on Feb. 19. Prewitt, who also sets one of the best legal screens in the nation, averaged 10.2 points in Pac-10 play (second on the team) after averaging just 2.1 last year and was the only Sun Devil to start in all 32 games. He posted double-figure scoring games in 14 of the final 22 games and had 17 on the year. He also averaged 10.1 points in the final 22 games and was ASU's top post defender and also is a good passer in the paint.
THIS YEAR VS. LAST YEAR:
Sophomore Chad Prewitt was one of the most improved players in the Pac-10 this year. Prewitt's improvements from his freshman year to his sophomore year offer the perfect benchmark for this year's six true freshmen. A look at Prewitt's numbers in his first two years:
Statistic | 1998-98 (Fr. Year) | 1999-2000 (Soph. Year) |
Points Per Game | 4.1 | 9.0 |
Minutes Per Game | 15.3 | 22.0 |
Games Started/Played | 8/30 | 32/32 |
Offenive Reobunds | 36 | 61 |
Double-Digit Scoring | 2 games | 17 games |
Pac-10 Points Per Game | 2.6 | 10.2 |
Pac-10 Minutes Per Game | 10.6 | 24.2 |
Pac-10 FT % | 15-22 (.682) | 48-65 (.738) |
Pac-10 Rebs. Per Game | 1.4 | 4.7 |
WORTH NOTING ON PREWITT:
One of the most improved players in the Pac-10...posted five straight double-figure scoring games before having five points at USCon Jan. 20...slowed by an injured ankle vs. #23 Oregon on Feb. 5, which limited him to 15 minutes and two points...reinjured ankle on March 4 at Oregon State and played just first three minutes...10 points vs. New Mexico State on March 15...12 points at Oregon on March 2...16 points at #4 Arizona on Feb. 26...12 points and 10 boards vs. USC on Feb. 19...15 points and six caroms vs. Oregon State on Feb. 3...15 points at #21 NC State on Jan. 29...12 points (5-of-7 FGs) vs. WSU on Jan. 15...10 points (6-of-6 FTs) vs. Washington on Jan. 13...18 points and 10 rebounds, including 6 offensive, at #1 Stanford on Jan. 6...10 points at California on Jan. 8...10 points, eight boards and four assists vs. Penn State on Dec. 29...11 points vs. Colorado State on Dec. 1...12 points vs. Virginia on Nov. 27...had 11 points and six rebounds vs. #20 Texas on Nov. 25...the first ASU freshman to notch a double-double since Mario Bennett in February of 1992 when Prewitt had 15 points and 10 boards vs. Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 8, 1998.
CAREER HIGHS FOR PREWITT:
Points: 18 at #1 Stanford (1/6/00), Rebounds: 10, three times, vs. USC (2/19/00), Assists: 5 vs. UNLV (12/5/98), Minutes, 37 at Washington State (2/10/00), Field Goals Made: 7, twice, vs. Oregon State (2/3/00), Field Goals Att.: 13 vs. Penn State (12/29/99), Steals: 4 vs. Northern Arizona (1/17/98), Free Throws Made: 7 at #1 Stanford (1/6/00), Free Throws Att.: 9, twice, at Oregon (3/2/00)
QUICK NOTES ON FRESHMAN KYLE DODD
Athletically-gifted Kyle Dodd showed tremendous poise in his rookie year, even nailing the game-winning three-pointer in overtime as ASU won at Washington State 81-79 and began its first four-game Pac-10 win streak since 1995. ASU was 5-2 when he started, and he started every game of the four-game Pac-10 win streak. In his final 24 games, Dodd posted 56 assists and just 16 turnovers in 466 minutes, an average of one turnover every 29 minutes and he did not turn the ball over in the final six games of the year (62 minutes). He had a season-high 10 assists and four steals vs. UCLA on Feb. 17, as ASU ended a 22-game losing streak to the Bruins in convincing fashion, 104-75.
WORTH NOTING FOR DODD:
Nine points and three assists vs. #23 Oregon on Feb. 5...five points in 19 minutes vs. Oregon State on Feb. 3...nine points and no turnovers in 26 minutes at #21 NC State on Jan. 29...had six points at USC in second start on Jan. 20...earned his first start on Jan. 15 vs. Washington State and played 27 minutes and had three assists and just one turnover...played 22 minutes and had 6 assists and no turnovers vs. Washington on Jan. 13...played 24 minutes with three assists and just one turnover at Cal in double-overtime game on Jan. 8...28 minutes and five assists vs. Bucknell on Dec. 28...had seven points and four assists in 21 minutes vs. San Diego State on Dec. 18...played 22 minutes at BYU on Dec. 7...played 24 minutes vs. Morgan State on Dec. 4...hit two three-pointers in season opener vs. Portland State on Nov. 20...played in every game on the year and posted double-digit minutes in all but six games.
CAREER HIGHS FOR DODD:
Points: 9, twice, vs. #23 Oregon (2/5/00), Rebounds: 4, twice, at Oregon (3/2/00), Assists: 10 vs. UCLA (2/17/00), Field Goals Made: 3, three times, vs. #23 Oregon (2/5/00), Field Goals Att.: 7 vs. USC (2/19/00), Steals: 4 vs. UCLA (2/17/00), Minutes: 42 at Washington State (2/10/00)
JUSTIN ALLEN QUICK NOTES
Freshman Justin Allen came off the bench on March 4 at OSU and posted six points and three boards, including two three-pointers, and played a season-high 26 minutes in ASU's 77-74 overtime win. Entering the OSU game, Allen was averaging 8.5 minutes per game but with Chad Prewitt suffering an ankle sprain three minutes into the game and Awvee Storey, Tommy Smith and Tanner Shell all in foul trouble, Allen stepped up. Allen averaged 16.3 minutes in the final three Pac-10 games. Allen was the youngest Sun Devil this year, as he was born July 30, 1981. Averaged 6.5 points against Oregon State.
WORTH NOTING ON ALLEN:
Played in 29 games and averaged 8.3 minutes...six points and two three-pointers in 26 minutes at Oregon State on March 4...five points in six minutes at Oregon on March 2...seven points (5-of-6 FTs) in 11 minutes vs. Oregon State on Feb. 3...can step out and hit the three-pointer, as he showed at Cal at the 11:39 mark of the second half when he drilled one to stop a Bear rally...played 10 minutes vs. Penn State on Dec. 29 and had two assists...six points in seven minutes vs. San Diego State on Dec. 18...nine points in 15 minutes at BYU on Dec. 7...14 points vs. American-PR on 11/26.
CAREER HIGHS FOR ALLEN:
Points: 14 vs. American-PR (11/26/99), Rebounds: 5 at Brigham Young (12/7/99), Field Goals Made: 6 vs. American-PR (11/26/99), Field Goals Att.: 8 at Oregon State (3/4/00), Free Throws Made: 5, twice, vs. Oregon State (2/3/00), Free Throws Attempted: 6 vs. twice, vs. Oregon State (2/3/00), Minutes: 26 at Oregon State (3/4/00).
TODD HEAP:
All-American tight end Todd Heap (6-5, 225) joined the team on Jan. 24. Heap caught 55 passes for 832 yards (15.1 ypc), had three TDs and was first-team All-Pac-10 in addition to earning numerous All-America honors. Heap prepped at Mountain View, along with Tanner Shell, and was a starter on a basketball state championship in 1998. He played 63 minutes in 11 games in 2000.
STARTING FROM THE GROUND UP:
ASU had six true freshmen this year, tied for the most in ASU history as the 1983-84 squad also had six. The six freshmen hailed from four states (three players from Arizona as well as one each from California, Nebraska and Illinois) and were joined by sophomore Awvee Storey, who was a newcomer in terms of games this year as he joined the team last year but had to sit after transferring from Illlinois. Evans made a point to go the prep route as he rebuilds, as ASU had just one J.C. transfer. The last time ASU had just one J.C. player was in 1984-85.
ROB EVANS:
Rob Evans (119-110/.520) will enter his third season in 2000-2001 (ninth overall) as the head basketball coach at Arizona State after being hired on April 7, 1998. The 1997 SEC Coach of the Year spent six seasons at Ole Miss, compiling an 86-81 (.515) record. He led the Rebels to a 42-16 record in his final two seasons, winning two SEC West titles, and led Ole Miss to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1937-38. The 53-year old Evans is a 1968 graduate of New Mexico State, where he captained two NCAA Tournament teams, is a 1989 inductee of the NMSU Athletic Hall of Fame and was named to the school's All-Time Basketball team. He is 33-29 (.532) entering his third year at ASU. Evans' Ole Miss squads were known as a tough man-to-man teams which ranked 13th in the nation and second in the SEC in 1997-98 in rebounding at +6.6, despite the fact that no player was in the top 30 in rebounding. Ole Miss held opponents to just 30 percent from the three-point stripe, best in the SEC, and to just 40.6 percent from the field. He is 75-45 (.625) in the past four seasons.
ASU'S HOLIDAY TRADITON:
ASU won its annual holiday tournament for the 25th time in its 33-year history. Eddie House won MVP honors, while Awvee Storey earned All-Tournament honors. ASU beat Bucknell 80-55 in the first round and topped Penn State 93-85 in the championship. House scored 31 against Bucknell and had 42 against Penn State. Also on the All-Tournament team were Brian Muckle of Bucknell, Bruce Seals of Manhattan, and Jarrett Stephens and Joe Crispin of Penn State. House also earned All-Tournament honors in 1996 and 1998.
OPENERS:
ASU beat Portland State 79-57 on Nov. 20 to win its tenth straight home opener and its seventh straight opening game win overall. Donnell Knight became the first freshman to start in the first game of the year since Ron Riley in 1992-93. Rob Evans is now 7-1 in season openers in his eight seasons as a head coach with all of them taking place at home. Evans is 2-0 in openers since coming to ASU.
PUERTO RICO SHOOTOUT:
ASU participated in the Puerto Rico Shootout Nov. 25-27 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. ASU went 1-2 in the Shootout, as Shawn Redhage earned all-tournament team honors. ASU fell to No. 21 Texas 88-71 in the opening round, beat American-Puerto Rico 103-63 in the second game and fell to Virginia 70-64 in the final game. Redhage averaged 14.7 points in the three games.
PAC-10 MEDIA:
ASU was picked to finish eighth by the Pac-10 Media in a preseason poll, announced on Nov. 4. The results, with first-place votes in parentheses: 1. Arizona (32), 2. UCLA (3), 3. Stanford (1), 4. Oregon, 5. Oregon State, 6. California, 7. USC, 8. Arizona State, 9. Washington, 10. Washington State.
ON MISSIONS:
Kenny Crandall, who was a freshman in 1998-99 and started in 23 games, went on a two-year Mormon Mission to Eugene, Ore., and will return to the Sun Devils in 2001-2002. Crandall, a native of Mesa, Ariz., and a 6-4 swingman who prepped at Mountain View High School, averaged 5.9 points and 28.4 minutes per game in his initial season. He will have three years of eligibility. Also, Dewy DeWitt, a walk-on from Show Low, Ariz., who redshirted last year and received a full academic scholarship, will leave for his mission Aug. 30 to Trujillo, Peru. He returns July 30, 2002 and will have four years of eligibility.
COACHES VS. CANCER:
Rob Evans and ASU made a commitment to Coaches Vs. Cancer as everytime an ASU player hit a three, donations were made to the Southwest Division of the American Cancer Society. Fans donate an amount for each three-pointer made (counting the two exhibitions). ASU made 195 threes in 1998-99, and Rob Evans, with his $5 per shot donation, gave the American Cancer Society $975. ASU raised $10,748.70 in 1998-99 in its initial season.
PRACTICE PLAYERS:
ASU had two players on its roster who practiced but did not dress. John Bray (#34 in practice) is a native of Charleston, S.C., and a graduate of James Island Christian High School. Brandon Goldman is a native of Northbrook, Ill., and a graduate of Glennbrook North High School. Bray posted a 4.00 grade point average in the fall of 1999 semester.
A VOTER:
Evans was one of 31 coaches on the USA Today/ESPN Board which selected the Top 25 Coaches' poll. Evans was the only Pac-10 coach, and was joined by westerners Steve Aggers (Eastern Washington), Dick Davey (Santa Clara) and Bob Thomason (Pacific).
OTHER PREDICTIONS:
West coast thought the Sun Devils would finish around seventh or eighth in most preseason polls?said Ken Goe of the Oregonian (Jan. 7), who tagged USC, OSU and the Sun Devils as "also-rans": "While Eddie House enters conference play on a tear, averaging 35.0 points in his final four non-conference games, it's hard to see how the Sun Devils can contend with a 6-1 go-to-guy."?Jim Moore of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Jan. 6) picked the Sun Devils seventh, behind Cal and in front of USC, and called ASU the "Pac-10's any-given-night team."?Jon Wilner of the LA Daily News (Jan. 6) picked ASU eighth and said "House is good enough to make the Sun Devils competitive against the league's top teams."?Mark Fainaru-Wada of the SF Examiner (Jan. 6) picked ASU sixth, behind Oregon State and ahead of USC, and said "?this is a program on the rise. And Rob Evans still has Eddie House, the league's best pure scorer and a guard with the quickest shot around."?
1999-2000 ASU record tendencies
Outrebounded opp. | 14-4 |
Outscored opp.'s bench | 14-6 |
Led at halftime | 14-4 |
Trailed at halftime | 4-8 |
Tied at halftime | 1-1 |
Shot more FTs than the opp. | 9-1 |
Shot better from field than opp. | 14-2 |
Shot worse from field than opp. | 5-11 |
Shot 50 pct. or better from field | 6-1 |
Shot less than 50 pct. from the field | 13-12 |
Opp. shot 50 pct or better from field | 1-7 |
Opp. shot less than 50 pct. from field | 18-6 |
Committed less/same turnovers than their opp. | 18-9 |
Committed more turnovers than opp. | 1-4 |
Played at home | 14-3 |
Played away | 5-8 |
Played on neutral court | 0-2 |
Pac-10 games | 10-8 |
Non-Conference games | 9-5 |
Overtime games | 3-1 |
Games decided by six points or less and/or OT games | 4-5 |
Pac-10 games decided by six points | |
or less and/or OT games | 3-3 |
Games decided by three points or less and/or OT | 3-3 |
When Eddie House scored at least 20 | 14-3 |
PAC-10 CAREER STEALS CHART
RK. | NAME (YEARS) | TOTAL |
1. | Gary Payton/OSU 1986-90 | 321 |
2. | Brevin Knight/Stanford 1993-97 | 298 |
3. | Eddie House/ASU 1996-2000 | 258 |
PAC-10 CAREER POINTS CHART
RK. | NAME (YEARS) | POINTS |
9. | Chris Welp/UW 1983-87 | 2,073 |
10. | Harold Miner/USC 1989-92 | 2,048 |
11. | Eddie House/ASU 1996-2000 | 2,044 |
14. | Jeremy Veal/ASU 1994-98 | 1,984 |
ASU CAREER SCORING AVERAGE CHART
RK. | NAME (YEARS) | AVG. |
1. | Seabern Hill (1967-70) | 19.2 |
5. | Eddie House (1996-2000) | 16.5 |
ASU FIELD GOALS MADE CAREER CHART
RK. | NAME (YEARS) | FGs MADE |
1. | Eddie House (1996-2000) | 763 |
PAC-10 FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED CAREER CHART
RK. | NAME (YEARS) | FGs ATT. |
1. | Eddie House/ASU 1996-2000 | 1,794 |
ASU FREE THROW PERCENTAGE CAREER CHART
RK. | NAME (YEARS) | FT PCT. |
1. | Alex Austin (1986-90) | 81.5 |
6. | Eddie House (1996-2000) | 79.8 |
PAC-10 3-PT CAREER ATTEMPTS CHART
RK. | NAME/SCHOOL AND YEARS | 3-PT ATT. |
1. | Stevin Smith/ASU 1990-94 | 891 |
2. | Ron Riley/ASU 1992-96 | 831 |
3. | Orlando Williams/UO 1991-95 | 715 |
4. | Eddie House/ASU 1996-2000 | 683 |
PAC-10 3-PT CAREER MADE CHART
RK. | NAME (YEARS) | 3-PT MADE |
1. | Stevin Smith/ASU 1990-94 | 323 |
4. | Ron Riley/ASU 1992-96 | 263 |
5. | Eddie House/ASU 1996-2000 | 250 |
EDDIE ON SEASON LISTS:
Eddie House's remarkable senior season gave him several ASU single-season records and put him close to others. A look at House and the Sun Deivls on some ASU season lists after this year:
POINTS
Rk. | Name (Season) | Points |
1. | Eddie House (1999-2000) | 736 |
2. | Byron Scott (1982-83) | 713 |
3. | Jeremy Veal (1997-98) | 666 |
SCORING AVERAGE
Rk. | Name (Season) | Average |
1. | Eddie House (1999-2000) | 23.0 |
2. | Seabern Hill (1969-70) | 22.8 |
3. | Freddie Lewis (1965-66) | 22.7 |
STEALS
Rk. | Name (Season) | Steals |
1. | Fat Lever (1981-82) | 76 |
2t. | Eddie House (1999-2000) | 74 |
2t. | Fat Lever (1980-81) | 74 |
FIELD GOALS MADE
Rk. | Name (Season) | FGs Made |
1. | Byron Scott (1982-83) | 283 |
2. | Paul Williams (1982-83) | 264 |
3. | Eddie House (1999-2000) | 263 |
FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED
Rk. | Name (Season) | FGs Att. |
1. | Eddie House (1999-2000) | 623* |
2. | Seabern Hill (196-70) | 589 |
FREE THROWS MADE
Rk. | Name (Season) | FTs Made |
1. | Freddie Lewis (1965-66) | 173 |
6. | Eddie House (1999-2000) | 137 |
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Rk. | Name (Season) | FTs Made |
1. | Chris Beasley (1983-84) | 87.5 |
9. | Eddie House (1999-2000) | 83.5 |
MOST WINS
Rk. | Season | Wins |
1. | 1962-63 | 26 |
T-9. | 1999-2000 | 19 |
MOST POINTS
Rk. | Season | Points |
1. | 1997-98 | 2,703 |
3. | 1999-2000 | 2,539 |
MOST FIELD GOALS MADE
Rk. | Season | FGs Made |
1. | 1974-75 | 1,026 |
10. | 1999-2000 | 924 |
MOST FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED
Rk. | Season | FGs Att. |
1. | 1960-61 | 2,143 |
2. | 1999-2000 | 2,127 |