March 10, 2002
SUN DEVILS ENTER POSTSEASON: The Arizona State men's basketball team (14-14, 7-11 in Pac-10) will play the UNLV Runnin' Rebels on Tuesday, March 12, at 8 p.m. PT in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. Tim Healey and ASU Hall of Famer Lionel Hollins have the radio call on the Sun Devil Radio Network (TV TBA). ASU beat four NCAA Tournament teams, including three from the Pac-10, this season. The Sun Devils beat Oregon 95-88 on Jan. 6, No. 10 Arizona 88-72 on Jan. 23, and won at No. 20 UCLA 69-68 on Feb. 16. It marked the first time ASU has topped Arizona and UCLA in the same season since 1985-86. The Sun Devils were 13-9 on the year in mid-February but three key injuries and a streak of games to finish the year against six straight ranked teams put ASU at 14-14 to finish the regular season. ASU went 4-9 against NCAA Tournament teams as it also beat Utah 71-62 on Dec. 4 and finished the season by playing 11 of its final 13 games against NCAA Tournament teams. ASU and UNLV have met twice, with the Sun Devils winning both games. ASU beat UNLV 79-70 on Dec. 5, 1998, at America West Arena in Phoenix in Rob Evans first season at ASU and also won 84-81 on March 20, 1975, in the NCAA Tournament in Portland. Current Sun Devils Kenny Crandall (nine points on three three-point field goals) and Chad Prewitt (five points, five assists and nine rebounds) were the only two current Sun Devils to play in the game in 1998.
TOUGH GAMES DOWN THE STRETCH: ASU's six-game stretch to finish the regular season was the first time in school history it played six straight ranked teams. ASU's 1974-75 team played four straight ranked teams, also to finish the season. ASU beat No. 19 Arizona 107-92 to conclude the regular season that year and then went on to the NCAA Tournament where it beat No. 10 Alabama 97-94 in Tempe. ASU then played in Portland where it beat No. 16 UNLV 84-81 before losing to top-ranked UCLA 89-75. The game against UNLV will mark ASU's first game against an unranked opponent since Feb. 9 when ASU beat Washington.
NIT HISTORY: ASU will make its eighth appearance in the postseason National Invitational Tournament and has a 3-7 (.300) mark overall...ASU's last appearance was in 1999-2000, when it beat New Mexico State 83-77 on March 15 in Tempe but lost at North Carolina State 60-67 on March 21...in 1997-98, it lost at Hawaii 90-73...overall, ASU is 20-27 (.426) in postseason.
Year Score(s) Site 1999-2000 NC State 60, ASU 57 (second round) Raleigh 1999-2000 ASU 83, New Mexico State 77 (first round) Tempe 1997-98 Hawaii 90, ASU 73 Honolulu 1993-94 BYU 74, ASU 67 Provo 1992-93 Georgetown 78, ASU 68 Tempe 1991-92 Utah 60, ASU 58 (second round) Tempe 1991-92 ASU 71, Cal-Santa Barbara 58 (first round) Santa Barbara 1989-90 Long Bearch State 86, ASU 71 Tempe 1982-83 Texas Christian 78, ASU 76 (second round) Tempe 1982-83 ASU 87, Cal State Fullerton 83 (first round) Tempe