April 20, 2006
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SUN DEVIL DATA: The Arizona State University men's basketball team (11-17; 5-13 in the Pac-10 Conference) closed its 2005-06 season on March 8 with a 71-68 loss to Oregon State in the Pac-10 Tournament. After starting Pac-10 play 1-9, ASU went 4-5 in its final nine games as freshman Jeff Pendergraph continued to impress and improve. The Pac-10 All-Freshman Team honoree averaged 14.7 ppg. (second on team) and led ASU in rebounding (8.0 rpg.) and double-doubles (four) in that time. ASU finished first in the Pac-10 in three-point percentage for just the second time in school history at 37.8 percent (158-of-418), its best mark since the 1988-89 squad set the school mark with a .430 clip and also led the league. It also allowed 69.9 points per game, its best defensive mark since the 1991-92 team gave up 69.1 points per game.
NEW COACH: Herb Sendek will take over the Sun Devils in 2006-07, as the former NC State and Miami (Ohio) mentor has 13 seasons of head coaching experience and led the Wolfpack to five straight NCAA appearances from 2002-06. Sendek is 253-158 (.647) in 13 seasons and was 191-132 (.591) at NC State. The 43-year old Pittsburgh, Pa., native will be second-youngest coach in the Pac-10 next year behind only first-year head coach Tony Bennett of Washington State, yet his 253 careers wins is fourth in the league.
MORE PENDERGRAPH: Jeff Pendergraph, a member of the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team, worked himself into shape after missing all of the fall conditioning and most of November due to surgery to remove a benign tumor in his left leg. Pendergraph finished fourth in the Pac-10 in field goal percentage in league games shooting 51.5 percent (87-of-169). Among Pac-10 freshman, he was second in the league in points per game (10.9), third in rebounds (6.1), third in field goal percentage (.494) and first in blocks (0.85). Pendergraph had 15 double-figure scoring games (eight of final nine) and averaged 13.0 points and 8.3 boards in the final six games. Since the calendar turned to 2006, Pendergraph averaged 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in those 17 games. ASU's two most recent All-Freshman honorees are both playing in the NBA (Ike Diogu in 2002-03 and Eddie House in 1996-97).
Pac-10 Freshman Scoring Leaders Rk. Freshman, School PPG 1. Marcus Williams, UA 13.0 2. Jeff Pendergraph, ASU 10.9 3. LR Mbah a Moute, UCLA 9.1 4. Jon Brockman, UW 9.0 5. Justin Dentmon, UW 8.1
Pac-10 Freshman Reb. Leaders Rk. Freshman, School RPG 1. LR Mbah a Moute, UCLA 8.2 2. Jon Brockman, UW 6.5 3. Jeff Pendergraph, ASU 6.1 4. Marcus Williams, UA 4.7
IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Jeff Pendergraph had 23 blocks, the fifth-most in Sun Devil history by a freshman, and his 49.4 percent shooting from the floor ranks among the best in ASU freshman history. A look at Pendergraph on ASU freshman lists:
ASU FRESHMAN BLOCKS (1978-79 to present) Rk. Name, Season, Blocks 1. Mario Bennett, 1991-92, 55 2. Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91, 33 3. Ike Diogu, 2002-03, 31 4. Shawn Redhage, 1999-2000, 24 5. Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06, 23 6. Tommy Smith, 1999-2000, 21 7. Ron Riley, 1992-93, 17 T8. Sylvester Seay, 2005-06, 13 T8. Jim Deines, 1981-82, 13
ASU FRESHMAN REBOUNDING Rk. Name, Season, RPG 1. Ike Diogu, 2002-03, 7.8 2. Mario Bennett, 1991-92, 6.8 3. Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91, 6.2 4. Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06, 6.1 5. Johnny Nash, 1976-77, 5.8
ASU FRESHMAN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (minimum 100 attempts) Rk. .Pct. Name, Season (FGM-FGA) 1. .608 - Ike Diogu, 2002-03 (209-of-344) 2. .574 - Mario Bennett, 1991-92 (159-of-277) 3. .570 - Dwayne Fontana, 1990-91 (102-of-179) 4. .568 - Eric Holloway, 1983-84 (79-of-139) 5. .520 - Shawn Redhage, 1999-2000 (103-of-198) 6. .500 - Byron Scott, 1979-80 (66-of-132) 7. .494 - Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06 (115-of-233) 8. .492 - Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91 (189-of-384) 9. .487 - Mark Carlino, 1985-86 (55-of-113) 10. .479 - Steve Beck, 1983-84 (116-of-242)
KRUGER LEADING: Junior Kevin Kruger, who earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors and was a second-team NABC District 15 selection, was among the Pac-10 top-10 in minutes per game (38.96/first), three-point field goals made per game (2.89/first), free throw percentage (.810/sixth), steals (1.50 pg/sixth), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.34/ninth), scoring (15.0 ppg./ninth), three-point percentage (.378/fouth) and assists (3.54 pg/tenth). He played 11 40-minute games on the year, including seven of the final 11 contests, and averaged 40.2 minutes in the final 12 games after the Feb. 18 50-minute effort at California in the double overtime win. His 38.96 minutes per game tied for second in the nation. He played 1,091 out of 1,140 possible minutes this year (95.7 percent), which was second in the nation. Kruger's 81 three-pointers made this year is the fourth-best mark in school history, while his 201 three-point attempts is the seventh-most.
IRON MAN: Kevin Kruger's 38.9 minutes per game is the top mark on the ASU single-season chart. Here's a look at ASU's top single-season minutes per game numbers.
ASU MINUTES PER GAME (1962-63 to present) RK. Player, Season MPG 1. Kevin Kruger, 2005-06 38.9 2. Stevin Smith, 1993-94 38.5 3. Fat Lever, 1981-82 38.2 4. Freddie Lewis, 1965-66 38.1 5. Alex Austin, 1989-90 37.9 T6. Jeremy Veal, 1997-98 37.5 T6. Paul Williams, 1981-82 37.5 8. Dwayne Fontana, 1993-94 37.3 T9. Eddie House, 1999-2000 37.2 T9. Seabern Hill, 1969-70 37.2
HOGGING MINUTES: Kevin Kruger played 1,091 of 1,140 minutes this year, the second-best percentage (.957) in the nation.
National Leaders/Percentage of Minutes Rk. Player, School Pct. of Minutes 1. Jared Jordan, Marist 97.4 2. Kevin Kruger, Arizona St. 95.7 3. Keydren Clark, St. Peter's 95.6 4. Ronald Steele, Alabama 95.3 5. Whit Holcomb-Faye, Radford 95.1
MORE MINUTE STUFF: Kevin Kruger averaged 38.9 minutes per game, tied for second-most in the nation.
National Leaders/Minutes Per Game Rk. Player, School MPG 1. Chris Quinn, Notre Dame, Sr. 40.0 T2. Kevin Kruger, Arizona St., Jr. 39.0 T2. Jared Jordan, Marist, Jr. 39.0 4. Keydren Clark, St. Peter's, Sr. 38.8 5. James Holmes, South Florida, Sr. 38.6 T6. Ronald Steele, Alabama, So. 38.4 T6. Quinton Day, UMKC, Jr. 38.4 T6. Jarrius Jackson, Texas Tech, Jr. 38.4
KRUGER'S PAC-10 RANKINGS: Kevin Kruger was the only player to rank in the top-10 in eight Pac-10 categories this past year, as five players were ranked in the top-10 in six of the 13 categories. Kruger and Malik Hairston of Oregon shared the distinction of being the highest scoring players (each averaged 15.0 points per game) to not earn All-Pac-10 honors (both made honorable mention). Kruger led the league in minutes per game (38.96) and three-point field goals made per game (2.89), one of just two players to lead the league in more than one category. Leon Powe of California led the Pac-10 in scoring, rebounding, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds.
FRESHMEN NOTES: Jeff Pendergraph and Sylvester Seay each scored 21 points vs. Oregon on Feb. 11, the first time in ASU history two freshmen have scored 20 points in the same game. Against Stanford on Jan. 21, Pendergraph looked every bit of the part of a future big-time player with 14 points (7-of-8 shooting), three rebounds and two blocks in just 10 minutes. On the defensive end, Stanford senior and All-Pac-10 performer Matt Haryasz, the conference's sixth-best scorer and second-best rebounder, was 1-of-4 from the floor and had one rebound, but at the 7:44 mark of the first half Pendergraph sprained his right ankle and would be done for the night. Haryasz went on to finish with 27 points (8-of-12 after the injury) and 10 boards (nine after the injury) as Stanford won 70-64.
ASU Pacific-10 All-Freshman Selections Sun Devil, Season Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06 Ike Diogu (Freshman of the Year), 2002-03 Eddie House, 1996-97 Ron Riley, 1992-93 Mario Bennett, 1991-92 Dwayne Fontana, 1990-91 Jamal Faulkner (Freshman of the Year), 1990-91 Chris Sandle, 1984-85 Steve Beck, 1983-84 Byron Scott (Freshman of the Year), 1979-80
OTHER FRESHMAN: Sylvester Seay was in on the freshman-does-well act, as in the final 13 games he averaged 7.2 points and 17.6 minutes. In that time he also has 10 blocks and eight steals. He played a season-high 30 minutes vs. Oregon on Feb. 11 and had 21 points and five boards and was 8-of-13 (.615) from the floor. In the final nine games, Seay averaged seven points and 16.7 minutes.
MAKING SHOTS: ASU led the league in three-point percentage, hitting 158-of-418 (.378), bolstered by Kevin Krugers 81-of-201 (.403) and Bryson Krueger's 48-of-124 (.387). The Sun Devils hit free throws as well, as Kevin Kruger finished at 81.0 percent (98-of-121) and Bryson Krueger, after going to the line just 28 times in 2004-05, finished at 87.7 percent (50-of-57). ASU finished fourth in the Pac-10 in free throw percentage, hitting on 72.2 percent (410-of-568), the eighth-best mark in school history.
POINT: Sophomore Antwi Atuahene averaged 7.1 points, 3.6 boards and 3.9 assists in 25.7 minutes per game (third on the team). In the final 16 games he averaged 29.4 minutes (third on the team), 7.8 points (fourth on team) and 4.6 assists, with a career-high 21 points at Oregon on Jan. 12 and a career-high in minutes (42) at Oregon State on Jan. 14, including the game-winning shot with eight seconds left in OT. He also had a career-high five steals against Arizona on Jan. 25 and posted 10 assists vs. Oregon on Feb. 11, the most by a Sun Devil in the previous 67 games (Jason Braxton had 12 at USC on Jan. 17, 2004).
CLOSE: After playing (but losing) back-to-back one-pointers for the first time since 1982-83 on Jan. 5-7, ASU got a win with its 65-63 overtime win at Oregon State (Jan. 14) and then followed that up with a 65-64 double-overtime win at NCAA-bound California on Feb. 18, as ASU is 7-4 in road overtime games in the past eight years. The Sun Devils lost 66-65 to USC on Jan. 5 as Lodrick Stewart's only bucket was when he hit a three-pointer with seconds remaining to give the Trojans the win. ASU was leading UCLA 60-59 with under 10 seconds left on Jan. 7, but Jordan Farmar hit a runner to give UCLA a 61-60 win. ASU's last back-to-back one-pointers came on Jan. 10, 1983, (87-86 loss to sixth-ranked UCLA) and Jan. 13, 1983, (75-74 at Washington State).
DEFENSE: ASU had two of its best defensive efforts against the league's best two shooting teams in mid-January. Oregon State entered its ASU game on Jan. 14 at 53.4 percent in Pac-10 games, but ASU held the Beavers to just 22-of-56 (.393) in Gill Coliseum. On Jan. 7 against UCLA, ASU held the Pac-10 champion Bruins to 18-of-50 (.360) and just 1-of-15 (.067) from the three-point stripe.
BAD LUCK: Senior Allen Morill missed the remainder of the year after having microfracture surgery on his left knee on Dec. 19. Morill had played in the first seven games (starting in two) and averaged 15.7 minutes before his injury. He posted a career-high 14 points against Alcorn State on Nov. 26 and had 10 points and nine boards in 29 minutes vs. Minnesota on Dec. 5. At the time of the injury, Morill was the second-most experienced Sun Devil (57 career games), as ASU had just one senior (Tyrone Jackson) on the roster the rest of the season.
THAT IS NOT ALL: In addition to Morill's season-ending injury, others missed games and many practices. Serge Angounou, a two-year starter, suffered a bone bruise on his left knee in practice on Dec. 4 and missed the next two games (both losses) and practiced on a limited basis all season. Freshman Jeff Pendergraph had a benign tumor removed in the fall from his left femur and did not get any conditioning or practice until November, as he missed both exhibitions and the first game of the season. Sophomore Antwi Atuahene did not miss a regular season game due to a nasal fracture suffered in November, but he missed the second exhibition game and some practices and had to wear a mask until mid-January to protect his nose. And while freshman Chad Goldstein could not play in in the first six games after transferring last year from UC-Davis, it didn't stop him from catching the injury bug. He broke his nose in the fall and wore a mask in practice and in his first game at Iowa on Dec. 17. Two days later, in his first practice, his nose was broken again.
IN THE NBA: Three Sun Devils made NBA rosters in 2005-06, as 2005 Lottery pick (ninth overall) and 2005 Pac-10 Player of the Year Ike Diogu (Golden State Warriors), is joined by 1999-2000 Pac-10 Player of the Year Eddie House (Phoenix Suns) and Awvee Storey (Washington Wizards), the Pac-10's leading rebounder in 2000-2001. Diogu became ASU's seventh first-round pick and the first since Mario Bennett went to Phoenix in 1995 (27th overall). Diogu is the highest Sun Devil drafted since Byron Scott went fourth in 1983.
#1 Antwi Atuahene NOTES: Posted double digits in scoring in nine games...averaged 29.4 minutes (third on the team), 7.8 points (fourth on team) and 4.6 assists in final 16 games...10 points at Stanford on Feb. 16...12 points and 10 assists vs. Oregon on Feb. 11, the most assists by a Sun Devil since Jason Braxton had 12 at USC on Jan. 17, 2004...nine points, seven boards and seven assists vs. UCLA on Feb. 9...12 points at #14 UCLA on Feb. 2...five steals vs. Arizona on Jan. 25...11 points vs. Stanford on Jan. 21...hit game-winner at Oregon State on Jan. 14 in overtime in 42 minutes...posted 21 points at Oregon on Jan. 12...had eight points, seven assists and seven rebounds in his second start on Jan. 7 against #17 UCLA...10 points at #7 Washington on Dec. 29...11 points vs. Minnesota on Dec. 5...15 points vs. USCB on Nov. 28.
#4 Jeff Pendergraph NOTES: Posted double-digits in 15 games (including eight of final nine)...started final 22 games...13.0 points and 8.3 boards in final six games...33.8 minutes in final 11 games...12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in final 17 games...Pac-10 All-Freshman honoree...fifth double-double with 15 points and 11 boards vs. #14 Washington on March 2...fourth double-double at Arizona on Feb. 25 with 10 points and 12 boards in 40 minutes...third double-double was at Cal on Feb. 18 with 15 points and 11 boards...18 points and nine boards at Stanford on Feb. 16...had 21 points (10-of-18 from floor) on Feb. 11 vs. Oregon...second double-double came on Feb. 9 vs. Oregon State with 18 and 11 boards...15 points and seven boards at USC on Feb. 4...17 points and 11 rebounds in first double-double vs. Arizona on Jan. 25...had 14 points (7-of-8 shooting) and two blocks in 10 minutes against Stanford on Jan. 21 before missing rest of game (ankle injury)...averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds against Los Angeles schools in January, with 16 points against USC on Jan. 5 (7-of-12 shooting) and 11 points vs. UCLA on Jan. 7...20 points vs. Utah Valley State on Dec. 10 (7-of-13 shooting)...missed the first game of the year vs. Southern Utah as he was still recovering from surgery to remove a benign tumor from leg, found in the fall.
#12 Bryson Krueger NOTES: Averaged 12.3 points, including a career-high 27 against North Texas...averaged 12.6 points in final 11 games and was in double figures in nine of those contests...was in double figures in 18 games and had two 20-point games...16 points in 37 minutes vs. Oregon State on March 8 in Pac-10 Tournament...14 points at Arizona on Feb. 25 off the bench...19 points including game-winning three-pointer at California on Feb. 18...14 points including 8-of-9 free throws at Stanford on Feb. 16...14 points vs. Oregon State on Feb. 9 in 37 minutes...14 points at #14 UCLA on Feb. 2...14 points and 4-of-6 from the three-point stripe vs. Arizona on Jan. 25...18 points and seven boards 41 minutes in Jan. 14 overtime win at Oregon State...14 points vs. USC on Jan. 5...named to ASU Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team after notching 18 points in championship game against NAU on Dec. 22...50-of-57 (.877) from the free throw line on the year, as his free throw attempts was a notable figure as he went to the line just 28 times in 2004-05...in his 59-game career (45 starts), he is 88-of-216 (.407) from the three-point stripe.
#13 Kevin Kruger NOTES: Averaged 38.9 minutes per game on the year, tops in the Pac-10 and tied for second in the nation...played 40 minutes in 11 games on the year...had seven 20-point games and 24 double-figure scoring games in 2005-06...229-of-282 (.811) from the free throw line in 87-game career and is 157-of-187 (.840) in Pac-10 games...career-high 27 points vs. Minnesota on Dec. 5...22 points vs. Oregon State (including five three-pointers) on Mar. 8 in Pac-10 Tournament...20 points vs. Washington State on March 4...23 points on March 2 vs. Washington...16 points in 50 minute double-overtime at Cal on Feb. 18...15 points at Stanford on Feb. 16...17 points, including five three-pointers, in Feb. 9 win over Oregon State...23 points vs. Arizona on Jan. 25 and at Washington State on Dec. 31.
#30 Sylvester Seay NOTES: Averaged 7.2 points and 17.6 minutes in final 13 games...played a season-high 30 minutes vs. Oregon on Feb. 11 and had 21 points, five boards and three steals and was 8-of-13 (.615) from the floor...averaged seven points and 16.7 minutes in final nine games...11 points in 22 minutes at USC on Feb. 4...had eight points and seven boards in first career start vs. Stanford on Jan. 21...came off the bench on Jan. 19 vs. California and had 13 points in 22 minutes on 5-of-7 shooting.
#33 Tyrone Jackson NOTES: Earned start on Senior Day on March 4 vs. Washington State and had 12 points in 30 minutes, including two three-pointers...had four double-digit scoring games on the year, including a career-high 15 against Utah Valley State on Dec. 10...career-high nine assists vs. USC on Jan. 5...averaged 21.0 minutes per game this year after averaging 15.1 minutes per game last year...averaged 16.8 minutes in the final 13 games last year and had 41 assists and just 13 turnovers in that time.
#45 Serge Angounou NOTES: Had career-high 16 rebounds in 35 minutes vs. Washington State on March 4...posted eight rebounds in 27 minutes at California on Feb. 18...had solid weekend in Los Angeles with 11 points and nine boards at UCLA on Feb. 2 and 11 points and 10 boards at USC on Feb. 4...posted 10 points in overtime win at Oregon State on Jan. 14...was in double digits in seven games in 2005-06...scored a career-high 23 points in a career-high 38 minutes vs. #17 UCLA on Jan. 7 after scoring a then season-high 19 points vs. USC on Jan. 5...62-of-79 (.785) from the free throw line in his past 40 games dating to last year...three 20-point games in career...six double-doubles and 10 double-figure rebounding games in career...had an 18-point, 10-rebound game against Washington State on Jan. 27, 2005, when he was perfect in seven field goal attempts...has 19 double-digit scoring games in the past two seasons.
100-POINTS: No ASU opponent has scored 100 points in Wells Fargo Arena since Feb. 27, 1988, when third-ranked Arizona topped ASU 101-73, a span of the past 301 home games.
NEVER AN EASY OPENER: With Arizona winning the 2005 Pac-10 title, the 2004-05 season marked the fourth time in the previous six that ASU opened the season with an eventual Pac-10 champion, as ASU faced the eventual Pac-10 champion three straight years in its Pac-10 opener from 2000-2002, facing Stanford in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 and then opening with Oregon in 2001-2002. ASU opened Pac-10 play on Dec. 29 at 2005 Pac-10 Tournament champion, then-undefeated and seventh-ranked Washington and fell 91-67, and the Huskies finished second in the league this year. This year also marked the sixth time in eight years ASU opened Pac-10 play on the road, and the two home games were against top-five teams. ASU fell to No. 2 Stanford on Jan. 4, 2000, in Tempe, and to fourth-ranked Arizona 93-74 on Jan. 3, 2003.
ASU PAC-10 RECENT OPENERS Date Score Site Notes Dec. 29, 2005 #7 UW 91, ASU 67 Seattle, Wash. UW ends 13-5 in Pac-10 playJan. 2, 2005 #14 Arizona 97, ASU 79 Tucson, Ariz. Arizona wins Pac-10 at 14-4
Jan. 3, 2004 #4 Arizona 93, ASU 74 Tempe, Ariz. Arizona goes 20-10
Jan. 2, 2003 ASU 67, OSU 47 Corvallis, Ore. ASU finishes 20-12 and in NCAAs
Dec. 20, 2001 Oregon 103, ASU 90 Eugene, Ore. UO wins Pac-10, goes 26-9
Jan. 4, 2001 #2 Stanford 94, ASU 77 Tempe, Ariz. Stanford wins Pac-10, goes 31-3
Jan. 6, 2000 #1 Stanford 86, ASU 67 Palo Alto, Calif. Stanford wins Pac-10, goes 27-4
Jan. 2, 1999 USC 72, ASU 70 Los Angeles, Calif. USC ends ASU 6-game win streak
ETC.: ASU placed five players in double figures at USC on Feb. 4, the first time that had happened in 35 games (Jan. 15, 2005, also at USC)...ASU has won eight straight against Oregon State in Tempe and is 12-5 against the Beavers in the past eight years...ASU is 7-4 in road overtime games in the past eight years...ASU won nine straight games from November 27-Dec. 29 of 2004, the longest Sun Devil win streak since the 1980-81 team won 11 straight...ASU started 4-0 this year for the first time since 1994-95...ASU is 4-4 at Oregon in the past eight years...ASU tied the school record for three-point percentage by hitting 8-of-11 (.742) against North Texas, led by Bryson Krueger who was perfect in five attempts...ASU made 32-of-40 (.800) free throws against Alcorn State on Nov. 26, its most made free throws since it hit 35 in the season opener against Arkansas-Little Rock on Nov. 22, 2003...ASU made 24-of-27 (.889) free throws against Southern Utah and at Stanford, tied for the sixth-best mark in school history with a minimum of 20 attempts...ASU had 13 steals vs. SUU, matching last season's season-high set in the first game against Jackson State and forced 27 turnovers, the most forced by ASU since Dec. 22, 2003.
FREEBIES: ASU made free throws at a 73.5 percent rate in 2003-2004, the fifth-best mark in ASU history and the second-best in the previous 17 seasons. It shot 72.2 percent this year, the eighth-best mark in school history. A look at the best free throw teams in ASU annals.
ASU TOP SEASON FREE THROW PERCENTAGE 1. 75.6 - 1978 2. 75.4 - 1955 3t. 74.6 - 1998 3t. 74.6 - 1987 5. 73.5 - 2004 6. 73.0 - 1957 7. 72.9 - 2000 8. 72.2 - 2006 9. 72.1 - 1989 10. 72.0 - 1982