ASU players' NCAA dream rides on final 2 games

Herb Sendek has been through this routine for the better part of 15 years. He knows there’s no chance of burying his Arizona State basketball players’ heads in the sand and ignoring the reality at hand.

Read Blogging with the Devils

Those who don the uniforms flashed smiles this week, keenly aware that this roster has never been able to view March as anything more than a chance for subtle self-improvement or a building block for next year.

Until now.

These Sun Devils have always believed they could participate in March Madness.

That fate — one way or another — should become crystal clear after this weekend’s trip to Oregon and Oregon State.

The Sun Devils have been careful not to put the cart before the horse, knowing they must first take care of business on the final weekend of the regular season. But the team members seemed to enjoy a chance to field such inquiries for the first time in their lives.

Other than Sendek.

“I don’t think there’s a player in college basketball right now who isn’t thinking about the NCAA tournament,” he said. “It’s not unique to us. Everyone understands the implications of the upcoming games. How could you not?”

Pressure increases, margin for error disappears and the surrounding buzz becomes increasingly audible.

For guys such as Jeff Pendergraph, Antwi Atuahene, Derek Glasser and Jerren Shipp, this weekend represents a whole new world, one more tense and exciting than high school state tournaments.

“It’s fun to think about getting these games and having a chance to go in,” Pendergraph said.

“If we don’t win, we’ll be in the same spot we have been the past two years. It definitely adds a little more pressure to get the job done.”

For guys such as James Harden, Ty Abbott and Jamelle McMillan, this pressure, both in atmosphere and in last-minute, win-loss teeth-gnashing, is part of the allure that brought them to Arizona State.

Sweep this weekend, and Arizona State almost assuredly has a spot on the dance floor.

Split this weekend, and it remains anyone’s guess.

And to throw another log on the fire, if Oregon (16-12, 7-9) sweeps the Arizona schools, the Ducks are squarely in tournament discussions.

Implications and all possible scenarios to reach the tournament have been explored ad nauseam.

The National Invitation Tournament? Until forced to think otherwise, ASU has never heard of it.

“We’ve come far,” Harden said. “In the beginning of the season we were shaky, we didn’t know what to expect. But we’ve come a long way. We’re more connected now, more together. We know what’s at stake. We know it’s a possible NCAA bid.

“It’s down to the wire. Games are needed now.”

Arizona State at Oregon

When: 6:30 p.m., tonight
Where: McArthur Court, Eugene, Oregon
Radio: KTAR (620 AM)
Records: Arizona State (18-10. 8-8 Pac-10), Oregon (16-12, 7-9)
Outlook: Arizona State: ASU won the first matchup 62-54, at Wells Fargo Arena to begin the Pac-10 season. The Sun Devils held Oregon to 2-of-17 from behind the arc, had twice as many free throws and 10 steals. It feels like ages ago, but the Sun Devils will have to repeat that defensive effort and get a second consecutive strong game from Jeff Pendergraph. Pendergraph has 45 blocks this season, equaling his total from the previous two seasons combined.
Oregon: “Spread out and shoot” is the Ducks’ style. Led by Malik Hairston (16 points, 4.8 rebounds per game), uber-quick point guard Tajuan Porter and Marty Leunen, the Ducks are explosive on offense, driving to the basket or shooting over the top. The season has been a bit of a disappointment to date, given almost everyone returned from last year, but they’re capable of repeating as Pac-10 conference tournament champions. After hitting 7-of-8 from outside the arc en route to a career-high 32 points against Oregon State last weekend, Leunen leads the Pac-10 in 3-point shooting (.529) and averages 9.1 rebounds per game.