Game Line: ASU + 1
ASU heads up to Washington for the Pac-10 conference game that may decide who finishes in first place.
ASU is firing on all cylinders. Their zone matchups are impenetrable, their offense is fluent and efficient, and with Blake Griffin out, the Sun Devils now have the best player in the country in James Harden.
In the beginning of the season, I was not sold on the Sun Devils. They were winning games, but it was hard for me to believe that they could be a top 10 team in the country.
I believed that if Arizona State made it to the tournament, their lack of size in the frontcourt would inevitably cost them.
Jeff Pendergraph has turned into an amazing defensive player. He holds his place in the zone very well, not to mention he is 6'11", 260 lbs.
PG Derek Glasser reminds me a lot of one of those throwback guards in the '80s. He runs the team smoothly and has a high assist to turnover ratio. He is the guy that makes big plays down the stretch for the Devils when they need it most, not Harden.
Glasser may turn into the next John Stockton if Harden stays one more year.
Arizona State had a lot of problems when they played Washington at home. Washington had a huge scoring burst that ASU couldn't keep up with, and the Huskies ended up getting the best of the Sun Devils.
ASU had an off weekend, losing to both Washington schools. My hunch is that ASU finishes the 2009 season perfect.
Quincy Pondexter and Jon Brockman will be difficult to stay with for the Devils. I believe Harden will match up on Pondexter, and Pendergraph will match up on Brockman within ASU's zone defense.
ASU swept UCLA playing zone, and my hunch is they find a way to win this game as well.
The Pick: ASU Moneyline
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