ASU is off to a great start in building a quality program but as previously stated, it all depends on what happens after Harden and Pendergraph leave. As long as Coach Sendek keeps getting quality recruits, ASU can continue to build on the foundation it has now created.

Another benefit for ASU is that the turmoil in the UA program has created a window of opportunity. The coaching issues at UA have now caused the loss of two recruiting classes which will impact that program negatively for the next few years. However, like all good programs, they will eventually return.

ASU fans shouldn’t root for UA to fail, but rather should hope that our state ends up like North Carolina, with two powerhouses (Duke and UNC) located near to each other.

Quality programs in both Tempe and Tucson make both teams better.

As I was watching the Oscars I was switching to the ASU/UA game, which was driving my wife and daughter nuts. With 11 minutes to play ASU was up by 14 and they screamed at me, “ASU is blowing them out – stop switching from the Oscars.” I know ASU hoops too well to know that a 14 point lead with 11 minutes to play is safe.

I saw a chart a few years ago that showed the all-time number of weeks that teams had spent ranked in the AP hoops poll. Prior to his arrival from Iowa, ASU and au were even, or ASU maybe even held a slight edge. Obviously they blew us out of the water over Loot’s tenure, and we had a massive dropoff from the Ned Wulk years. But I think the rats are making a major leap if they just assume that they are guaranteed a spot in college basketball’s royalty for all eternity. If ASU has found our Loot — or heck, even the 2nd coming of Ned Wulk — in Herb Sendek, our days of being noncompetetive in this series are done.