March 21, 2003
By Brian Gomez, TheSunDevils.com
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Two teams echoed similar sentiments Friday before a West Regional second-round game that represents the gateway to the Sweet Sixteen.
Having just defeated No. 7-seeded Memphis, No. 10 Arizona State expressed confidence and a nothing-to-lose mentality. No. 2 Kansas spoke with a high level of certainty, despite its narrow victory over No. 15 Utah State.
Whether those statements come to fruition will be revealed Saturday night when the Sun Devils meet the Jayhawks at the Ford Center.
"We will do whatever we need to do to try to win the ballgame," said ASU head coach Rob Evans, whose team has been tabbed as eight-point underdogs. "We go into a game with a plan, and if things change, then we change. I'm not married to any system. We won't change a lot, but if we feel like we need to be a little bit more patient, then we'll be a little bit more patient."
The Sun Devils (20-11) had a blistering second half against Memphis during which they shot 69.6 percent (16-for-23) from the field. The Jayhawks, on the other hand, raised questions after the break by getting outscored 31-30 versus Utah State.
Given its recent NCAA Tournament history, Kansas head coach Roy Williams doesn't have any qualms about entering a second-round contest after enduring a sluggish opening game. In 2001, the No. 4 Jayhawks were tested before pulling away from No. 13 Cal State Northridge. Last season, No. 1 Kansas averted an upset bid against No. 16 Holy Cross.
"You all of a sudden realize that it is just another basketball game," Williams said. "The comfort level is a little better."
After squelching any nerves the Sun Devils may have had against Memphis, they figure to come out loose Saturday, even when facing a team that has won 13 of its last 15 games. Several players said Friday that nobody expected them to get this far.
"Being an underdog is motivation and it also takes off pressure because the other team is expected to win and they're expected to go further," said ASU senior forward Tommy Smith, who hopes to increase his offensive production Saturday after getting held to nine points in 24 minutes against Memphis. "Every game you win, everyone thinks of it as a surprise, but we're not surprised that we have won the games we have won. Every time we get on the court, we're expecting to win that game."
Look for the Sun Devils to possibly revert back to their open-post offense, which paid big dividends Thursday for freshman forward Ike Diogu. With Memphis' front line stretched out to the perimeter, Diogu got several open looks and he also created many passing lanes to the basket for his quick-cutting teammates.
"He went into the game with great confidence, he knew it was a team thing and he knew we were going to have his back," Smith said. "He just played them like he played anyone else."
ASU has to put together a complete game in order to stand a chance against Kansas, which has been likened to Oregon because of its fast-paced offense, its smooth transition play and its hard-nosed mentality. The Jayhawks (26-7) have shown a tendency to change defenses and they adapt well to what their opponent is running.
Nearly everything in Kansas' disciplined offense goes through senior forward Nick Collison and senior guard Kirk Hinrich, both of whom earned preseason All-America honors. Collison leads the Jayhawks with an average of 18.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, while Hinrich averages 17.6 points and 3.6 assists per game.
Kansas also relies on sophomore guard Keith Langford, a left-handed perimeter player who likes to take his man off the dribble and explode to the hole. He has scored in double figures in 29 of 32 games this year.
"At times this season, I've been sort of up and down," Langford said. "Coach has told me for our team to be successful, I have to be a lot more aggressive and I have to rebound a lot better. If I see an advantage or an opportunity where I can score, I try to make something happen, but I always try to do it in the flow of the offense."
Reach the reporter at brian.gomez@asu.edu.