In the Herb Sendek universe, once Saturday’s good times ended, they were gone for good.

Sure, a 22-point trouncing of then-No. 17 Xavier was fun for the Arizona State men’s basketball team.

Read Blogging with the Devils

Given how lowly the team felt it played against Illinois and Nebraska earlier this season, it could be argued that type of game was overdue.

That page, however, was turned quickly. Tonight’s game against Montana State could fall into one of those “trap” modes not seen around Wells Fargo Arena in a couple years.

That might be why the locker room jubilation Saturday was short-lived when Jeff Pendergraph came in.

“I said, ‘This is what it feels like, but don’t let it go to our heads,’ ” Pendergraph said. “I think the guys understood.”

The most recent ASU was in any kind of “letdown” predicament was last February, when it ended a 15-game losing streak by beating No. 22 USC. The Sun Devils’ next game, however, was against Arizona, so a falloff wasn’t going to happen against the in-state rival, and it didn’t in a 61-58 loss to the Wildcats.

Another tool ASU can show itself to avoid crashing: The Sun Devils went 1-2 against the Big Sky Conference last year, with losses to Northern Arizona and Portland State.

Given these few ways in which the Sun Devils could get bitten by the Bobcats, the high-alert barometers were on the past two days of practice.

“We can’t get caught up in beating a top-20 team,” guard Ty Abbott said. “Teams coming up aren’t pushovers. They’re going to come at us and we have to realize it. (Saturday’s) win makes us more of a target.”

Past references have served as another teaching point for Sendek, who noted the same-yet-opposite disposition last year during that 15-game slide.

“You could walk in the gym and expect the same standard and you wouldn’t be able to detect what just happened,” said Sendek, who noted this team “already re-spun its cocoon,” in quickly getting back to the business of preparation.

“I thought it allowed us to get better last year. That’s an important trademark to carry forward. It’s always the next game, the next play.”

The Sun Devils reviewed game film following Saturday’s win, and while coaches saw a good defensive effort, they also felt an urge to point out shots the Musketeers missed, shots Xavier hadn’t missed most of the season.

Using honesty as one of his tools is a way for the coach to instill it in his players.

The theory being avoid possible pitfalls such as tonight: Climbing high one night, crashing down the next.

“Comparing scores gets you nowhere,” Sendek said. “The next game is quickly upon you. We typically don’t have a week or more like football. The next game is on you, sometimes before you get your uniform cleaned. So you have to have the capacity to move forward, one way or the other.

“Batter up. It’s the next game.”

BONUS SHOTS

Sophomore forward Jerren Shipp didn’t practice Sunday or Monday because of a sprained left ankle he suffered during Saturday’s win, but Sendek is still hopeful Shipp can play.

Shipp suffered a knee injury during practice last week, but the knee isn’t as big an issue as the ankle. If Shipp can’t go, Rihards Kuksiks would likely make his second consecutive start.

ASU received three votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll. Xavier dropped to No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today poll, and fell out of the AP poll.

Montana State starts four players who are fifth-year seniors and a fifth player who is a fourth-year junior.

Montana State at Arizona State

When: 7 p.m., today

Where: Wells Fargo Arena

TV/Radio: None/KTAR (620 AM)

Outlook: Arizona State – Freshman Ty Abbott was named the Pac-10 player of the week after recording 19 points, six rebounds and two steals against Xavier. He’s the fourth Sun Devil freshman to win the award, joining Ike Diogu, Mario Bennett and Chris Sandle. The Sun Devils are looking for Jamelle McMillan to bounce back from a 14-minute, four-turnover performance in which sophomore Derek Glasser played most of the second half.

Montana State – This is the final game of three-state road trip. The Bobcats (4-3) played at Nevada and Wyoming before stopping at ASU. They will also play Oregon State on Dec. 30. Divaldo Mbunga was named the Big Sky player of the week last week, as he and Carlos Taylor combine for 40 percent of the team’s scoring (30 points per game).