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ASU 2012-2013 SCHEDULE Date Opp. (TV)...... Score/Time 11/10 Central Arkansas (P12)...... 5:30 11/18 Florida A&M (P12)...... 1 11/20 Cornell (P12)...... 7 ************************************************************************************************************************ 11/23 Arkansas @Vegas (ESPN3)...... 4 PT SUN DEVIL MEN'S HOOPS OPENS 2012-13 SEASON NOV. 10 VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS 11/24 Wisconsin/Creighton @Vegas....TBD ************************************************************************************************************************ 11/28 Arkansas-Pine Bluff (P12)...... 6 SUN DEVIL HOOPS SEASON TO START AS EARLY AS EVER: Arizona State starts its 2012-13 men's 12/1 Sacramento State (P12)...... 6:30 hoops season on Saturday, Nov. 10, vs. Central Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. MT on the Pac-12 Networks, and its 12/5 Hartford (P12)...... 6:30 five returning lettermen, four returning starters and six newcomers will match the earliest start date in school 12/8 Cal State Northridge (P12)...... Noon history. Seniors Carrick Felix, Chris Colvin and Ruslan Pateev return along with starters from last year Jordan 12/12 DePaul (P12)...... 7 Bachynski and Jon Gilling, and they welcome three redshirts from last year who practiced (Jahii Carson, 12/15 Dartmouth (P12)...... 1 Evan Gordon and Bo Barnes) but could not play, along with front line newcomers Kenny Martin and Eric 12/22 @Texas Tech (FSSW Plus)...... 1 CT Jacobsen, both Arizona High School products. 12/29 Coppin State (P12)...... Noon 1/2 Utah (P12)...... 8 A QUICK NUGGET ON EACH GUY TO GET YOU STARTED: Here is one quick piece of Sun Devil data on 1/6 Colorado (P12)...... 6 each player...senior Carrick Felix (B.S. Communications, 2012) is a big key to the Sun Devils in 2012-13. 1/10 @Oregon State (P12)...... 8:30 PT Consider this: he averaged 14.4 points in Sun Devil wins last year and 8.8 losses. How important are those 1/13 @Oregon (P12)...... 6 PT 5.6 points per game? ASU's scoring margin in 31 games last year was -5.3 points per game...senior Chris 1/19 Arizona (FSN)...... 12:30 Colvin averaged 8.7 points and 5.0 assists in the final 15 games last year...senior Ruslan Pateev has 67 1/24 USC (P12)...... 8:30 career blocks in 79 games entering his senior season...junior averaged 10.1 points and 1/26 UCLA (FSN)...... 8 shot .643 from the field in the final 13 games last year...how much better was sophomore Jon Gilling from 1/31 @Washington St. (P12)...... 8 PT December to February and March of last year (his freshman season)? He averaged 8.8 minutes in the 2/2 Washington (ESPNU)...... 6 PT first eight games and 9.0 points in his final 22 games...freshman Jahii Carson sat last year but could 2/7 California (P12)...... 7:30 practice, and everyone is anxious to watch the 5-10 guard from nearby Mesa, Ariz., a top-50 recruit 2/9 Stanford (ESPNU)...... 5 from the class of 2011. He averaged 32.2 points per game in senior year and in his final high school game 2/13 @Utah (P12)...... 6 he dropped 58 in state semifinal playoff game...junior Evan Gordon led the Liberty Flames in scoring with 2/16 @Colorado (ESPNU)...... 7 14.4 points per game (eighth in the Big South) in his sophomore year (2010-11) before transferring to ASU 2/20 Wash. St. (P12)...... 8 and enters this year with 832 career points...sophomore Bo Barnes hit 57 three-pointers at Hawaii in 2010- 2/23 @Washington (ESPNU)...... 9 11, setting a freshman school record, and had five three-pointers four times...freshmenEric Jacobsen and 2/27 @UCLA (P12)...... 8:30 PT Kenny Martin are both local products with solid upside on the low . 1/5 @USC (FSN)...... NOON PT 3/9 @Arizona (FSN)...... 2:30 THIS FEELS EARLY: ASU opens it season on Saturday, Nov. 10, against Central Arkansas in Tempe at 5:30 3/13 Tournament @MGM...... TBD p.m. MT (Pac-12 Network), matching the earliest starting date in school history. ASU lost to Tulsa 69-67 in Raleigh on Nov. 10, 2000, and opened on Nov. 11 last season. How much has college hoops scheduling MIX AND MATCH: With an odd timeline changed in the past two decades. Nov. 10 marks Coach Sendek's earliest opener (prior was Nov. amount of injuries/illnesses, ASU 11, 1997, as NC State beat #19 Georgia in East Rutherford, N.J.). As a point of reference, ASU's first game has used 23 starting lineups and 20 seasons ago in 1982-83 was Nov. 26 and in the year it joined the Pac-10 (1978-79) it was Nov. 24. Herb’s 14 Sun Devils made starts in past first game as a in his first season at Miami of Ohio? A 108-68 win over Mt. Vernon Nazarene on two seasons. ASU used 12 start- Nov. 27, 1993. Coach is 16-3 in season openers in his career and 3-3 at ASU. ing lineups in 2011-12, the most EARLIEST SEASON OPENERS IN SUN DEVIL HISTORY since the 2003-04 squad also used Nov. 10, 2012--Central Arkansas at Arizona State/5:30 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Networks a dozen. Nov. 10, 2000--Tulsa 69, ASU 67 (Raleigh, N.C.) Nov. 11, 2011-- ASU 78, Montana State 72 COACH NOTE: is the third-youngest coach in college COACH SENDEK’S EARLIEST SEASON OPENERS hoops with 350 career D-I wins Nov. 10, 2012--Central Arkansas at Arizona State/5:30 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Networks (352/49 years young). Only Billy Nov. 11, 2011: ASU 78, Montana State 72 Donovan and are Nov. 11, 1997: NC State 47, #19 Georgia 45 (East Rutherford, N.J.) younger with more Ws. Nov. 13, 2009: @ASU 87, Western Illinois 35 Nov. 13, 2006: Northern Arizona 75, @ASU 71

ASU MEDIA RELATIONS: ASU men's basketball SID Doug Tammaro can be reached directly at 480-965- 5799 or via e-mail at [email protected]. The ASU website is: www.TheSunDevils.com. Page 2, ASU 2012-13 MEN'S HOOPS...Jon Gilling had a career-high 21 points vs. UA on March 4 and was 5-6 from 3PT range.

2012-2013 SUN DEVIL MEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER Pos # Name Yr. Ht./Wt. PPG RPG Notes G/F 0 Carrick Felix Sr. 6-6/197 10.5 4.0 Student in the Masters of Liberal Studies program (B.S., Communications, 2012) G 1 Jahii Carson & Fr. 5-10/175 -- -- Top-50 recruit from Mesa, Ariz./Weight is up about 25 pounds since high school G 2 Chris Colvin Sr. 6-2/185 7.0 4.0a 8.7 points and 5.0 assists in the final 15 games last year F 3 Eric Jacobsen Fr. 6-10/245 -- -- Local product from Hamilton High School in nearby Chandler, Ariz. G 4 Bo Barnes & So. 6-4/195 -- -- Transfer from Hawaii who made frosh school record 57 3s in 2010-11 F 5 Richie Edwards Sr. 6-7/225 -- -- Transfer from Valparaiso who will sit the 2012-13 season and have one year to play G 10 Evan Gordon & Jr. 6-1/187 -- -- Led Liberty w/ 14.4 ppg (8th/Big South) in 2010-11/832 career points G 12 Joey Hormes Sr. 6-0/197 -- -- Local product from Glendale C.C. and Valley Christian H.S. C 13 Jordan Bachynski Jr. 7-2/250 6.0 4.0 10.1 ppg. and shot .643 from the field in the final 13 games of 2011-12 G 12 Jarett Upchurch Jr. 6-0/190 -- -- Scottsdale Chaparral High School Product C 23 Ruslan Pateev Sr. 7-0/250 3.0 3.0 Moscow native is 3rd 7-footer @ASU/67 blocks in his career F 31 Jonathan Gilling Fr. 6-7/219 7.1 1.7a Denmark native who can flat out shoot/23 points vs. UA Mar. 4/20 vs. UW Jan. 26 F 33 David Whitmore So. 6-6/215 0.6 0.3 Local walkon from Corona del Sol in Tempe/member of Honors College F 41 Kenny Martin Fr. 6-8/220 -- -- Local product from Raymond S. Kellis High School in Glendale, Ariz. Head Coach: Herb Sendek /352-254 (.581)/20th season/18.5 wins per season/7 NCAA appearances/8 NIT appearances Coach Sendek at ASU: 98-96 (.505) Coach Sendek at NC State: 191-132 (.591) Coach Sendek at Miami (Ohio): 63-26 (.708) Conference Coach of Year: Pac-10 (2009-10); ACC (2003-04); MAC (1994-95) Associate Head Coach: Dedrique Taylor Assistant Coaches: , Larry Greer Operations: Robert Spence Trainer: John J. Anderson, MS, ATC, CSCS Strength Coach: Rich Wenner

ABOUT THAT EARLY START DATE: ABOUT THOSE TRANSFERS: NBA STANDS FOR NEW BASKETBALL ASSISTANTS: A three-time The Sun Devils have two players ready to play this year who have shown conference Coach of the Year entering his 20th season as a college the ability to make three-pointers on the D-I level, but unfortunately both head coach, the 49-year old Coach Sendek went the NBA route to fill his of them had to watch the game in a polo shirt last year. Evan Gordon, staff this August, as he has named Eric Musselman and Larry Greer as a 6-1 guard, averaged 14.4 points per game as a sophomore at Liberty assistant coaches, the first time since the spring of 2008 Coach Sendek in 2010-11 and made 112 three-pointers in his two-year Flames career. had to hire an assistant coach. Greer spent the past five seasons work- Bo Barnes, a 6-4 wing from Scottsdale Christian in Arizona, averaged ing with Nate McMillan at the an assistant coach 6.9 points per game at Hawaii in 2010-11 and was one of only two play- (2011-12) and advance scout (2007-2011). Musselman just recently ers to appear in all 32 games. He made more three-point field goals finished earning league Coach of the Year honors with the Los Angeles (57) than any freshman in school history and buried at least five three D-Fenders of the NBA D-League. His squad had eight NBA call-ups and pointers in a game on four separate occasions. won the regular season title with a 38-12 record, including wins in 21 of the final 23 games. He also coached the Venezuela National Team NOTES ON JAHII: Son of Vanae and Jonathan Carson, Jahii Carson in 2011 and 2012 at the Pre-Olympics in Argentina while his 2011 team is rumored to have dunked at 13 while being only 5-3 and it is hard to averaged a tournament-best 94.8 points per game. His NBA experience doubt that. He has big-time hops and energy in his 5-10 frame...ASU's includes leading the to a 101.3 points per game scor- top in-state recruit in decades as he was a 2011 Parade Magazine ing mark in 2006-07, eighth-best in the league as the Kings sold out Second-Team All-American and the Arizona Republic Big Schools Player every home game. In 2002-03 he was second in NBA Coach of the Year of the Year...racked up Arizona first-team honors from all over...set New voting as he led the to their two best seasons in York City holiday tournament record with 36.3 ppg in three games in ten years, including a 51-31 (.622) home record. The Warriors were the December of 2010...set Mesa High School season marks for points per most improved team in the league with 17 more wins and the second- game (32.2) and assists (6.6) after setting records in junior year (23.7 leading scoring team in the league at 102.4 points per game. He has ppg./5.6 assists)...team was 21-6 in senior season and advanced to served as an assistant coach under (Memphis), Class 5A state semifinals...also averaged over two steals per game in (Atlanta), Chuck Daley (Orlando) and (Magic). senior season...led team to 25-5 mark in junior season...how about these numbers for Jahii in the 2011 Class 5A state tournament...58-point effort VS. THE OPPONENTS: ASU has never faced Central Arkansas, Florida in a semifinal loss to Phoenix Brophy Prep (25-of-38 from field)...37-point A&M, Cornell or Wisconsin...Sun Devils are 4-2 vs. Creighton... No. 1 outing in first round win over Tucson...38 points, five assists, four boards seeded Razorbacks beat the -coached Sun Devils in the and four steals in 72-66 quarterfinal win against Mountain Pointe. 1991 NCAA Tournament in Atlanta, 97-90. Jon Gilling averaged 8.8 minutes in the first eight games last year but 9.0 points in his final 22 games...Page 3, ASU 2012-13 HOOPS

LAS VEGAS: The Sun Devils will take part in the Las Vegas Invitational Nov. 18, 20 and 23-24. COACH SENDEK NOTES... Its first two games will be in Tempe, as it will take on Florida A&M on Sunday, Feb. 18 and then FREE THOWS: NC State under Herb Sendek host Cornell on Feb. 20. It will then take on Arkansas on Friday, Nov. 23 and meet either Wiscon- led the nation and set an ACC record for free sin or Creighton on Nov. 24. ASU is 10-6 under Coach Sendek in regular season tournaments, throw shooting (.799) in 2003-2004. That mark including 8-6 in neutral site regular season tournaments. It was 1-2 in the Old Spice Classic is tied for tenth-best mark in NCAA history. in Orlando last year, 2-1 in the Great Alaska Shootout in November of 2010, 1-1 at in November of 2009 in NIT Season Tip-Off, 2-1 in the 76 Classic at Anaheim POINTS: NC State’s 74.5 points per game in November of 2008 and 2-1 in the 2007 Maui Invitational. mark in 2005-2006, Coach Sendek's final team in Raleigh, would have been third-highest in the STAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW: In the past 13 seasons (1999-2000 to present), no program has Pac-12 last year. had more Pac-12 Players of The Year than Arizona State. won the award in 1999- 2000, took home the honor in 2004-05 and won the award in 2008-09. NBA READY: Herb Sendek was one of just California also has had three, while UCLA has had two and five other schools have had one. three coaches who had a NBA first-round draft pick in 2005 and 2006. was the TOUGH TO SCORE: In his 606-game head coaching career, only three teams have scored 20th pick of the Denver Nuggets in 2005. Cedric 100 points against Herb Sendek. No team has posted triple digits against a Sendek-led team Simmons was the 15th pick of the New Orleans/ in the past 332 games. The last team to do it was top-ranked Duke on Feb. 14, 2002 (108-71 Hornets in 2006. at Cameron). HISTORY: Herb Sendek was the first coach SUPER QUICK RECAP FROM 2011-12: Sixth-year Sun Devil coach Herb Sendek and the to knock off the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tour- Arizona State men's hoops team (10-21; 6-12 in Pac-12) finished the season by winning its two nament in consecutive years. NC State beat final Pac-12 regular season games, including an 87-80 win over Arizona on March 4. The Sun Maryland (2002) and Wake Forest (2003). Devils battled some injuries throughout the year, as no Sun Devil played in all 31 games and Maryland was ranked second while Wake the team's leading scorer missed six games in the middle of the Pac-12 season. After posting Forest was ninth. just three 20-win seasons in the previous 25 seasons, ASU has posted three 20-win seasons under 2009-10 Pac-10 Coach of the Year Herb Sendek in his six years. ASU was 8-22 in Coach DEFENSE: In Herb Sendek’s 10 seasons, Sendek's first year (2006-2007), but is 90-74 (.548) in past five and giving up just 62.4 ppg. in NC State led the ACC in scoring defense four his 194 games as Sun Devil head coach. times and held opponents to just 54.7 points per game in 1996-97, an ACC record. ABOUT THE TURNOVERS FROM LAST YEAR: It has been said that last year's ASU turnovers (16.3 per game) was an anomaly based on its ranking in the Pac-10 and nationally the past few FINAL FOURS: Herb Sendek has coached in years with Derek Glasser and Jamelle McMillan handling the ball. Here is a nugget to back that two Final Fours (1987 Providence and 1993 fact up...in the previous two seasons combined (2009-2011), ASU averaged 12.05 turnovers in Kentucky). 64 games, the best mark in the league. NCAA SUCCESS: Under Herb Sendek, NC JORDAN NOTES: Last year then sophomore Jordan Bachynski scored a career-high 20 in State was one of only eight teams who won a Feb. 2 game at Stanford and had 19 vs. USC on Feb. 26, and if you take a look at his final 13 NCAA Tournament game from 2004-06. games in 2011-12 his improvement was solid as all of his stats compared to the first 18 games were off-the-chart good. One area of improvement was his shooting. He entered the THREE: NC State averaged nine threes in Stanford Feb. 2 game 20-of-50 (.400) for the season and 40-of-90 (.444) in his career, but was 2005-06, best in the ACC and ninth in nation. 10-of-12 (.833) in that game. He had seven double-figure scoring games in the final 13 games. Another good note on his free throw improvement is that in his final nine games, as he was 33- YOUNG TALENT: NC State placed seven of-47 (.702) at the charity stripe, in the first 21 games he was 20-of-50 (.400). players on the All-ACC freshman team under FINAL 13 GAMES/FIRST 18 GAMES FOR JORDAN Coach Sendek, and James Harden (2007-08) POINTS PER GAME: 10.1/2.8 and Trent Lockett (2009-10) have continued PCT: 45-70 (.643)/18-39 (.462) the trend in Tempe. FREE THROW SHOOTING: 41-63 (.651)/12-34 (.353) REBOUNDS PER GAME: 5.9/2.5 OVERTIME: ASU is 6-4 in overtime under Coach Sendek, including a 4-0 record in 2007- 08. Its last overtime game was a 73-72 loss to UCLA in Tempe on Jan. 29, 2011. Page 4, ASU 2012-13 HOOPS...ASU is 48-8 (.857) when it shoots at least 50 percent under Coach Sendek (6-2 in 2011-12).

PAC-12 COACHES FROM THE TOP BY... COACH OF YEAR: The Pac-12 has five current coaches who have earned Pac-10 Coach of the (NUMBERS PRIOR TO 2012-13 SEASON) Year. Herb Sendek earned it in 2009-10, while (2010-11), (2011-12, MOST DIVISION I WINS 2008-09 and 2004-05) and (2005-06) earned kudos at their school. Mike Mont- , 635 gomery did it four times at Stanford (2003-04, 2002-03, 1999-2000 and 1998-99). , 455 Ben Howland, 376 600/350: The Feb. 11, 2012, ASU-Colorado game was Coach Sendek's 600th game as a head Herb Sendek, 352 coach. His first game was on Nov. 27, 1993, when the 30-year old mentor led Miami (Ohio) to 108-68 win over Mt. Vernon Nazarene in Oxford. Included on his staff that year were Georgia YEARS AS DIVISION I HEAD COACH State head coach Ron Hunter and Arizona head coach Sean Miller. Coach Sendek also earned Mike Montgomery, 30 his 350th career win on Feb. 9 vs. Utah, as he is the third-youngest active coach with 350 Divi- Dana Altman, 23 sion I wins. He will turn 50 on Feb. 22, 2013. Herb Sendek, 19 Ben Howland, 18 GILLING PAC-12 MINUTES/OVERALL THREES: Jonathan Gilling averaged 31.9 minutes in Lorenzo Romar, 16 Pac-12 play in his freshman season. That ranked seventh in Sun Devil freshmen history and there are some Sun Devil studs in front of him. Gilling also made 55 three-pointers on the year, MOST GAMES AS HEAD COACH fifth-best by an ASU freshman. Mike Montgomery, 926 SUN DEVIL FRESHMEN MINUTES PER GAME PAC-10/12 GAMES Dana Altman, 725 1. James Harden, 2007-08 (35.9) Herb Sendek, 607 2. Ty Abbott, 2007-08 (34.8) Ben Howland, 572 3. , 1979-80 (34.2) Lorenzo Romar, 513 4. Ike Diogu, 2002-03 (33.3) 5. Derek Glasser, 2006-07 (32.2) YOUNGEST 6. Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91 (32.1) Sean Miller, Arizona (44 on Nov. 17, 2012) 7. Jonathan Gilling, 2011-12 (31.9) Larry Krystowiak, Utah (48 on Sep. 23, 2012) (49 on Sep. 28, 2012) SUN DEVIL FRESHMEN THREE-POINTERS MADE Herb Sendek (50 on Feb. 22, 2013) 1. Ty Abbott, 2007-08, 76 2. Ron Riley, 1992-93, 66 MOST NCAA TOURNAMENTS 3. Christian Polk, 2006-07, 64 Mike Montgomery, 15 4. Eddie House, 1996-97, 57 Ben Howland, 9 5. Jonathan Gilling, 2011-12, 55 Dana Altman, 8 Herb Sendek/Lorenzo Romar, 7 YOUNG AND BEEN COACHING LONG: Herb Sendek earned the Miami of Ohio job in the spring of 1993 at age 30. Three years later he took over the NC State program at age 33. Some SUN DEVIL CAREER 20-POINT GAMES 20 years later he ranks near the top of the youngest coaches with at least 350 career Division 23, Carrick Felix vs. UA (3/4/12) I wins, as he will turn 50 on Feb. 22, 2012. Joining the list soon will be at Gonzaga, 22, Carrick Felix at USC (1/5/12) (342 wins entering this season and born on Dec. 27, 1962), at American (347 wins 21, Jon Gilling vs. UA (3/4/12) and born June 29, 1960), at Ohio State (323 and born July 11, 1967), Greg Marshall 21, Carrick Felix vs. Tulsa (1/12/11) at Wichita State (303 wins and born Feb. 27, 1963) and Ron Hunter at Georgia State (296 wins 20, Jordan Bachynski at Stanford (2/2/12) and born on March 7, 1964). 20, Carrick Felix vs. WSU (1/28/12) YOUNGEST COACHES WITH 350 DIVISION I WINS 20, Jonathan Gilling vs. UW (1/26/12) (NUMBERS ENTERING 2012-13 SEASON) 20, Carrick Felix vs. New Mexico (11/18/11) , Florida, 421 (May 30, 1965) Steve Alford, New Mexico, 356 (Nov. 23, 1964) USC SWEEP: ASU swept the season series Herb Sendek, Arizona State, 352 (Feb. 22, 1963) vs. USC last year for the first time since 1994- , Kansas, 476 (Dec. 27, 1962) 95 with its 56-52 win on Feb. 25, as ASU held , Villanova, 359 (Dec. 24, 1961) the Trojans without a field goal in final 11:16. , Vanderbilt, 384 (Oct. 1, 1960) Coach Sendek has 36 wins over ranked teams in his 19-year career...Page 5, ASU 2012-13 HOOPS

HERB PAC-10 NOTE: ASU's second-place Pac-10 finish in 2009-10, which earned Herb Sendek HEAD COACH: Herb Sendek, 98-96 (.505) at Pac-10 Coach of the Year, matched ASU's best in its three-plus decades of Pac-10 play and its ASU, is in his 20th season as a head coach 12 wins were the most since 1994-95. ASU has notched at least 11 Pac-10 wins eight times, in 2011-2012 and has averaged 18.6 wins Herb Sendek has done it in two of the past four seasons. per season. He led the NC State Wolfpack to MOST SUN DEVIL WINS IN PAC-10 PLAY five straight NCAA appearances from 2002-06 1980-81, 16-2/2nd/ and is now 352-254 (.581) and was 191-132 1979-80, 15-3/2nd/Ned Wulk (.591) at NC State. The 49-year-old (born 2009-10, 12-6/2nd/Herb Sendek Feb. 22, 1963) , Pa., native is the 1994-95, 12-6/3rd/Bill Frieder fourth-youngest coach in the Pac-12. Only 1982-83, 12-6/T-3rd/ Duke posted more ACC wins (regular season 2008-09, 11-7/T-3rd/Herb Sendek and ACC Tournament) than NC State's 53 from 2002-03, 11-7/4th/ 2002-2006. Here is an overlooked note is his 1992-93, 11-7/T-3rd/Bill Frieder 10-year stay at NC State. To compare it to the Pac-10, since the league expanded to 10 teams FIRST GAME FRESHMAN STARTER: There is a good chance that Jahii Carson will start the in 1978-79, only six coaches have coached at first game of the season. A freshman hasn't started the first game for ASU since 2007-08, when their schools for at least 10 years: Ty Abbott, James Harden and Jamell McMillan all got the starting nod on Nov. 19, 2007, in a (24/Arizona), (19/Oregon State), 77-54 loss to Illinois in the Maui Invitational. Carson would become just the fourth Arizona high Mike Montgomery (18/Stanford), school product to start as a freshman in his first game at Arizona State, joining Donnell Knight (13/Oregon), (12/California) and in 1999-2000 (Corona del Sol), Christian Polk in 2006-07 (Deer Valley) and Ty Abbott in 2007- Lorenzo Romar (11th at Washington this year). 08 (Desert Vista). Ben Howland enters his 10th year at UCLA SUN DEVIL FRESHMAN OPENING NIGHT STARTERS this year. 1972-1973: Gary Jackson 1976-1977: Johnny Nash CURRENT LONGEVITY AMONG PAC-12 1979-1980: Bryon Scott COACHES (YEARS AT SCHOOL) 1984-1985: Chris Sandle 1985-1986: Alex Austin Lorenzo Romar, Washington-11th 1981-1982: Shawn Holiday 1986-1987: Tyrone Mitchell Ben Howland, UCLA-10th 1990-1991: Jamal Faulkner, 1991-1992: Mario Bennett, Tony Ronaldson Herb Sendek, ASU-7th 1992-1993: Ron Riley 1999-2000: Donnell Knight Johnny Dawkins, Stanford; 2002-2003: Ike Diogu Mike Montgomery, Cal; 2003-2004: Tron Smith, Keith Wooden Craig Robinson, OSU-5th 2006-2007: Christian Polk, Jerren Shipp 2007-2008: Ty Abbott, James Harden, Jamelle McMillan , Washington State Kevin O'Neill, USC Sean Miller, UA-4th

BLOCKS: ASU blocked 123 shots last year, the seventh-most by a Sun Devil squad in history, Dana Altman, Oregon; the most in the Coach Sendek-era and the most since the 2003 team swatted 139. Jordan , Colorado-Third Year Bachynski had 41, Ruslan Pateev notched 30 and Carrick Felix had 22. Larry Krystowiak, Utah-Second Year ABOUT THAT DEPAUL VISIT ON DEC. 12: A Big East team will visit Wells Fargo Arena for the first time since the 1993-94 season this year, as DePaul will play in Tempe on Wednesday, Dec. 12 (7 p.m. MT on the Pac-12 Network). ASU beat Villanova 73-62 in overtime on Dec. 29, 1993, the last time a Big East team came to Wells Fargo Arena. ASU will return the trip to in 2013-14. In the past decade, only four Pac-12 teams have hosted a Big East team in regular season play. Page 6, ASU 2012-13 HOOPS...In his 19-season head coaching career, only three teams have scored 100 points against Herb Sendek.

COACHING CHANGES: According to the QUICK NOTES ON THE PAC-12 SCHEDULE: The Sun Devils will open the Pac-12 season at NCAA record book Coach Sendek was one of home for the first time since the 2007-08 season. ASU will host Utah on Wednesday, Jan. 2... 61 coaching changes for the 2006-07 season. the previous four seasons ASU has opened on the road against Arizona, Oregon State, UCLA Since that time there have been 300 more. Only and Stanford..for just the second time in past six seasons ASU will have five of its first seven 19 of the 61 remain at the school as Coach Pac-12 games at home, including the Territorial Cup matchup on Saturday, Jan. 19...ASU will Sendek has. visit Oregon's new arena for the first time since it opened in January of 2011, as last year the Sun Devils missed the Oregon road trip and the year prior ASU played in the final game of McArthur MAJOR CONFERENCE COACHING Court...in addition to the Utah game on Jan. 2, the Sun Devils will play three Wednesday Pac-12 CHANGES AFTER 2005-2006 games. ASU will play at Utah on Feb. 13 prior to its tilt at Colorado on Feb. 16, host Washington (3 STILL WITH PROGRAM) State on Feb. 20 prior to hosting Washington on Saturday, Feb. 23, and then play at UCLA on Herb Sendek, Arizona State Feb. 27 prior to its Saturday, Mar. 2 game at USC...ASU concludes its season on Saturday, , March 9, in Tucson. ASU is 3-3 at Arizona under Coach Sendek after winning once in Tucson Andy Kennedy, Mississippi in the previous 23 tries (win was in 1994-95, from 1983-84 through 2006-07 period)...ASU will miss the Bay Area road trip, but Cal (Feb. 7) and Stanford (Feb. 9) come to town, while the Sun MAJOR CONFERENCE COACHING Devils don't host the Oregon schools...last year for the fourth straight season, ASU opened play CHANGES AFTER 2005-2006 SEASON on the road (68-51 loss in Tucson on New Year's Eve) and played five of its first seven league (11 SINCE DEPARTED) games on the road for the third time in four years, and the other year in that span (2009-10) it , IU played four of first seven on the road. In its first seven games in previous four seasons, ASU Greg McDermott, Iowa St. played 19 of its first 28 conference games on the road. , KSU Mike Anderson, Missouri SOME NOTES ON HERB'S SCORING: In Coach Sendek's final five seasons at NC State (2001- , Nebraska 2006), his team's averaged 73.7 points per game (192 games) including 75.4 points per game in , NC State 2001-02. His final team at NC State averaged 74.5 points per game. How does that 74.5 points Jeff Capel, Oklahoma per game from 2005-06 compare to the current Pac-12? It would have been the third-highest Sean Sutton, Oklahoma State scoring team in the Pac-12 last year in each of the past two seasons. Fred Hill, Rutgers , Seton Hall GILLING NOTES: As a freshman in 2011-12 Jonathan Gilling in the final 22 games had 50 assists Tony Bennett, Washington State and averaged 29.9 minutes, 9.0 points and was 48-of-115 (.417) from the three-point stripe...went bonkers vs. Arizona on March 4 with 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting and 5-of-6 threes...matched BEATING THE BEST: A look at Herb Sendek's career-high with 39 minutes vs. UCLA on Feb. 23 and had 17 points...after playing career-high wins over the top NCAA coaches in history, as 39 minutes vs. Washington Jan. 26 and posting 20 points he played 38 and had season-high Coach Sendek has topped five of the top 10. seven assists in win over Wazzu on Jan. 28...averaged 8.8 minutes in the first eight games Rk. Coach, Recent School Wins HSW* and 9.0 points in his final 22 games...had eight double-figure scoring efforts in final 18 tilts... 1. , Duke 927 3 averaged 14.5 points on the USC/UCLA road trip and also had 12 at Colorado on Jan. 19...big- 2. , Texas Tech-IU 902 time good at UCLA on Jan. 7, notching 17 points, including 5-of-6 from the three-point stripe, in 3. , Syracuse 890 1 34 minutes...12 points in 33 minutes along with four assists in the Jan. 5 win at USC. 4. , UNC 879 JON GILLING FIRST 9 GAMES OF SEASON/FINAL 22 GAMES 5. , Kentucky 876 MINUTES PER GAME: 8.8/29.9 6. , UCONN 873 1 POINTS PER GAME: 1.9/9.0 7. Jim Phelan, Mt. St. Mary's 830 1 FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE: .357 (5-14)/.424 (64-151) 8. , OSU 806 THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE: .357 (5-14)/.417 (48-115) 9. , Ga. State 786 ASSISTS PER GAME: 0.3/2.2 10. Lute Olson, Arizona 780 1 REBOUNDS PER GAME: 0.5/2.3 *HSW is wins by Herb Sendek team *All numbers prior to 2012-13 season ASU FRESHMEN MINUTES PER GAME COACH SENDEK 1. James Harden, 2007-08 34.4 FROM ACC: From 2001-2002 season through 2. Ty Abbott, 2007-08, 32.7 2005-2006 (Herb's final five seasons) NC State 3. Jerren Shipp, 2006-07, 30.0 won 53 total ACC games (regular season and 4. Christian Polk, 2006-07, 29.4 ACC tournament). Only Duke was better (76) 5. Derek Glasser, 2006-07, 27.9 in that time frame. Maryland also had 53. 6. Jonathan Gilling, 2011-12, 24.3 In his 10 seasons at NC State, Coach Sendek's teams led the ACC four times in FT%...Page 7, ASU 2012-13 HOOPS

HERB SENDEK COACHING TREE TIED FOR TOPS IN THE NATION MANY WINS, MANY PLACES: Oklahoma Herb Sendek earned his first head coaching job at age 30 at Miami of Ohio, which has allowed in December of 2011 became the 26th state him to compile one of the best list of former assistant coaches turned current D-I head coaches where Herb Sendek has won a game during in the nation. Currently there are eight former Coach Sendek assistants leading programs, and his 20-year head coaching career. He has a ninth, at Miami of Ohio, retired after the 2011-12 season (was a Miami assistant won multiple games in North Carolina (152), from 1994-96). Arizona (69), Ohio (51), California (12), Florida The latest addition to the list was Dayton's Archie Miller, who spent three seasons on Coach (9), Oregon, (6), Michigan (6), South Carolina Sendek's staff at ASU (2006-07) and North Carolina State (2004-06). In his final two years in (5), (5), Georgia (4), (4), Mas- Raleigh, NCSU won more than 20 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. His coaching sachusetts (3), (3), Alaska (2), Hawaii career began at N.C. State in 2002-03, where he filled the role of intern under Coach Sendek. (2), Maryland (2), Nevada (2), Texas (2) and Prior to that was 12-year sidekick , who earned the Drake spot in the spring of Washington (2). He also has won two games in 2008 after serving for 10 years on the staff at NC State and for two years at ASU. Former NC and one in Washington D.C. One State sidekick also earned the position in the spring of 2008 and win states are Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, New moved onto Illinois in the spring of 2012. Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah. The others are , formerly at Kent State and TCU and now at Ohio (Miami as- sistant from 1994-96), at Western Carolina (NC State assistant from 2001-05), 100: In his 20-year coaching career, only three Ron Hunter of Georgia State (Miami assistant from 1993-94), Ohio State's Thad Matta (Miami teams have scored 100 points against Herb assistant in 1994-95) and Arizona's Sean Miller (assistant at both Miami from 1993-95 and at Sendek. The last team to do it was No. 1 Duke NC State from 1996-2000). in a 108-71 at Cameron on Feb. 14, 2002.

NATION'S TOP COACHING TREES ENTERING 2012-13 MEN'S HOOPS SEASON PAC-10/12 POY: In the past 13 years, ASU has COACH SENDEK, ARIZONA STATE (8): Jim Christian, Ohio; John Groce, Illinois; Larry Hunter, had three Pac-10 Players of the Year, as only Western Carolina; Ron Hunter, Georgia State; Thad Matta, Ohio State; Archie Miller, Dayton; Cal can match that number. Eddie House won Sean Miller, Arizona; Mark Phelps, Drake the honor in 1999-2000, Ike Diogu in 2004-05 and James Harden in 2008-09. UCLA has had , LOUISVILLE (8): Mick Cronin, Cincinnati; Billy Donovan, Florida; Steve Masiello, two while Arizona, USC, Oregon, Stanford and Manhattan; , New Mexico State; , Florida International; Herb Washington have had one each. Sendek, Arizona State; , Minnesota; , Seton Hall FEATHER IN THE CAP: ASU became just the MIKE MONTGOMERY, CALIFORNIA (7): Jeff Jackson, Furman; , TCU; Stew third Pac-10 team to win three straight in McK- Morill, Utah State; Eric Reveno, Portland; , Old Dominion; Russell Turner, UC-Irvine; ale in the past 29 seasons (1983-84 to , Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 2011-12) when Herb Sendek's squad beat UA 73-69 on Feb. 21, 2010. Stanford under Mike BILLY DONOVAN, FLORIDA (6): , Alabama; Donnie Jones, UCF; Lewis Preston, Montgomery won four straight from 2001-04 Kennesaw State; Richard Pitino, FIU; , Wyoming; , VCU and UCLA under Ben Howland won three straight (2006-08). , MICHIGAN STATE (5): , Indiana; , ; , South Florida; Mark Montgomery, Northern Illinois; Doug Wojcik, Charleston MOST BLOCKS BY ASU IN COACH SENDEK ERA , KENTUCKY (5): , Auburn; , Drexel; , 11 vs. Southern Illinois (Mar. 20, 2008) UMASS; Chuck Martin, Marist; , Memphis 9 vs. Arizona (Mar. 4, 2012) 9 vs. Pepperdine (Nov. 15, 2011) TRENT JOHNSON, TCU (5): David Carter, Nevada; , Georgia; Eric Reveno, Portland; 9 vs. #15 Arizona (Feb. 13, 2011) Keith Richard, Louisiana-Monroe; Nick Robinson, Southern Utah 8 vs. USC (Jan. 27, 2011) 8 at Washington (Feb. 6, 2010) , UTAH STATE (5): Jeff Jackson, Furman; , Weber State; , UNLV; Blaine Taylor, Old Dominion; , Idaho

PAC-10 COACH OF YEAR: Herb Sendek became the second Sun Devil to earn Pac-10 Coach of the Year in ASU's first 32 Pac-10 seasons in 2009-10 (Ned Wulk/1978-79). What is even more eye opening is the 30 years between Sun Devil winners. That is nothing new as his 2003-04 ACC honor was NC State's first in 15 seasons (/1988-89). Page 8, ASU HOOPS 2012-13...Herb Sendek averaged 18.5 wins per season in his first 19 years as a head coach.

COLVIN CAME ON STRONG: Chris Colvin had his best floor-general RUSLAN: Junior Ruslan Pateev matched a career-high with 31 min- game of the 2011-12 season matching career-high with nine assists utes vs. Oregon on Jan. 12 (also 31 minutes vs. California on Jan. 8, and just two turnovers in the high-level win over Arizona on March 4... 2011) and matched season-bests with six rebounds and three assists. nine assists in the Feb. 23 UCLA loss to go along with 10 points and Pateev entered the season 23-of-42 (.548) from the free throw line but just three turnovers in 39 minutes....in his final 15 games he averaged is 24-of-36 (.667) this year. In the past 16 games he is shooting 36-of- 8.7 points (fourth on the team), 31.1 minutes and had 75 assists (5.0 61 (.590) from the field. per game). He had six double-figure scoring games in that time, includ- ing a career-best 18 at WSU (Feb. 18), 16 vs. WSU (Jan. 28) and 15 NOT NORMAL: ASU averaged a Pac-12 high 16.3 turnovers in 2011- at Colorado (Jan. 19)...played 40 minutes vs. WSU on Jan. 28 for the 12, unusual for a Coach Sendek team. ASU finished tied for second in first time in his career and notched 16 points and six rebounds in the the Pac-10 in fewest turnovers per game at 12.2 in 2010-11 (USC best win...against Oregon State on Jan. 14 he played 13 minutes (10 in the at 11.4). It averaged 11.9 in 2009-10 (first in the league). second-half). In those 10 minutes he was 6-of-8 from the free throw line SUN DEVIL TURNOVERS PER GAME UNDER COACH SENDEK and had five assists and just one turnover. 2011-12: 16.3 CHRIS COLVIN FIRST 16 GAMES OF SEASON/FINAL 15 GAMES 2010-11: 12.2 (t2nd for fewest in Pac-10) MINUTES PER GAME: 20.3/31.1 2009-10: 11.9 (1st in Pac-10) POINTS PER GAME: 4.9/8.7 2008-09: 11.5 (2nd in Pac-10/15th in nation) FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE: .277 (18-65)/.406 (41-101) 2007-08: 12.6 (t3rd in Pac-10) THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE: .250 (5-20)/.375 (12-32) 2006-07: 14.5 (7th in Pac-10) ASSISTS PER GAME: 2.8/5.0 REBOUNDS PER GAME: 1.3/3.5 CARRICK UPDATE: Senior Carrick Felix, who missed two games late in the year vs. UCLA (Feb. 23) and USC (Feb. 25) due to an ill- LINEUP: With its injuries and illnesses ASU used 11 starting lineups and ness, notched the fifth 20-point game of his career with career-high 23 11 players made a start in 2010-11 and those numbers finished at 12 and vs. Arizona on March 4 including 8-of-9 from the free throw line...also eight in 2011-12...no player played in every game in 2011-12...12 lineups had 20 points vs. Washington State on Jan. 28, 22 vs. USC (Jan. 5, was most by the Sun Devils since 2003-04 team started 13 and tied for 2012), 21 vs. Tulsa in his sophomore season (Jan. 12, 2011) and 20 second-most in 19 seasons...1995-96 team under Bill Frieder also tried vs. New Mexico (Nov. 18, 2011)...hit game-winning three-pointer with 12 options...each of ASU's top four scorers missed at least two games 1.8 seconds on the clock on Dec. 10 vs. North Dakota State...had mon- due to injury last year...ASU had its full compliment of players in just 10 ster game at USC on Jan. 5 in 62-53 win with 22 points in 39 minutes of 18 Pac-10 tilts in 2010-11 and for just 10 of 18 in 2011-12. on 8-of-12 shooting...had 16 double-figure scoring games in 2011-12 after having five in 2010-11...a junior college transfer in 2010-11 as a HOW GOOD OF A PAC-12 SEASON DID JON HAVE?: It is not a stretch sophomore, he saw action in 30 games in first year and showed great to say that Jon Gilling was snubbed for the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team flashes but was sidelined by illness in the middle of year that basically last year. When taking into account the 18 Pac-12 games only last year, cut his season in half. here is where he ranked among freshman: PAC-12 FRESHMAN LEADERS (PAC-12 GAMES ONLY) SUN DEVILS AMONG TOP SCORERS: Two Sun Devils have been MINUTES PER GAME among the top-10 scorers in the nation in the past decade. Seven Pac-12 , WASH (32.1) players have finished in the NCAA top-10 in scoring since conference Jon Gilling, ASU (31.9) expansion in 1978-79, and Arizona State is the only school to have two players listed. Eddie House finished fourth in 1999-2000 at 23.0 points THREE-POINTERS MADE PER GAME per game, while Ike Diogu finished ninth in 2003-04 (22.8) and sixth in Chasson Randle, Stanford (46) 2004-05 (22.6). Jon Gilling, ASU (42) PAC-10/-12 PLAYERS IN NCAA TOP-10 SCORING (1978-79 TO PRESENT) THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE Rk., Player, School, Year Avg. Chasson Randle, Stanford (.434) 8. , Stanford, 2009-10, 22.0 Jon Gilling, ASU (.416) 6. Ike Diogu, ASU, 2004-2005, 22.6 9. Ike Diogu, ASU, 2003-2004, 22.8 POINTS PER GAME 4. Eddie House, ASU, 1999-2000, 23.0 Tony Wroten, Washington (16.0) 2. , California, 1996-1997, 24.8 Chasson Randle, Stanford (14.0) 7. Harold Miner, USC, 1991-1992, 26.3 Spender Dinwiddie, CU (10.0) 10. , Oregon, 1990-1991, 26.6 , CU (10.0) 4. , UCLA, 1985-86, 25.9 Jon Gilling, ASU (9.2) Individual Career History

Bachynski, Jordan

Total 3-Point F-Throws Rebounds Scoring Season gp-gs min/avg fg-fga pct fg-fga pct ft-fta pct off def tot avg pf fo ast to blk stl pts avg 2010-11 24-0 240/10.0 24-49 . 4 9 0 0-0 . 0 0 0 20-40 . 5 0 0 17 39 56 2.3 29 0 6 14 20 1 68 2.8 2011-12 30-13 522/17.4 63-109 . 5 7 8 0-0 . 0 0 0 53-97 . 5 4 6 40 79 119 4.0 61 1 5 33 41 5 179 6.0 TOTAL 54-13 762/14.1 87-158 . 5 5 1 0-0 . 0 0 0 73-137 . 5 3 3 57 118 175 3.2 90 1 11 47 61 6 247 4.6

Colvin, Chris

Total 3-Point F-Throws Rebounds Scoring Season gp-gs min/avg fg-fga pct fg-fga pct ft-fta pct off def tot avg pf fo ast to blk stl pts avg 2011-12 27-17 709/26.3 59-166 . 3 5 5 17-52 . 3 2 7 55-87 . 6 3 2 12 55 67 2.5 65 3 108 93 0 28 190 7.0 TOTAL 27-17 709/26.3 59-166 . 3 5 5 17-52 . 3 2 7 55-87 . 6 3 2 12 55 67 2.5 65 3 108 93 0 28 190 7.0

Felix, Carrick

Total 3-Point F-Throws Rebounds Scoring Season gp-gs min/avg fg-fga pct fg-fga pct ft-fta pct off def tot avg pf fo ast to blk stl pts avg 2010-11 30-8 436/14.5 50-128 . 3 9 1 9-44 . 2 0 5 30-40 . 7 5 0 19 29 48 1.6 44 0 30 24 13 14 139 4.6 2011-12 29-27 955/32.9 102-242 . 4 2 1 38-121 . 3 1 4 63-85 . 7 4 1 33 84 117 4.0 75 2 38 68 22 32 305 10.5 TOTAL 59-35 1391/23.6 152-370 . 4 1 1 47-165 . 2 8 5 93-125 . 7 4 4 52 113 165 2.8 119 2 68 92 35 46 444 7.5

Gilling, Jonathan

Total 3-Point F-Throws Rebounds Scoring Season gp-gs min/avg fg-fga pct fg-fga pct ft-fta pct off def tot avg pf fo ast to blk stl pts avg 2011-12 30-18 728/24.3 69-165 . 4 1 8 53-129 . 4 1 1 21-28 . 7 5 0 10 44 54 1.8 60 0 52 43 4 11 212 7.1 TOTAL 30-18 728/24.3 69-165 . 4 1 8 53-129 . 4 1 1 21-28 . 7 5 0 10 44 54 1.8 60 0 52 43 4 11 212 7.1

Pateev, Ruslan

Total 3-Point F-Throws Rebounds Scoring Season gp-gs min/avg fg-fga pct fg-fga pct ft-fta pct off def tot avg pf fo ast to blk stl pts avg 2009-10 20-0 166/8.3 15-29 . 5 1 7 0-0 . 0 0 0 11-17 . 6 4 7 17 20 37 1.9 21 0 8 10 13 4 41 2.1 2010-11 30-8 368/12.3 39-82 . 4 7 6 0-0 . 0 0 0 12-25 . 4 8 0 26 34 60 2.0 48 0 15 22 24 7 90 3.0 2011-12 29-12 483/16.7 54-99 . 5 4 5 0-0 . 0 0 0 24-37 . 6 4 9 23 67 90 3.1 66 2 21 46 30 7 132 4.6 TOTAL 79-20 1017/12.9 108-210 . 5 1 4 0-0 . 0 0 0 47-79 . 5 9 5 66 121 187 2.4 135 2 44 78 67 18 263 3.3 ASU basketball putting its faith in Bachynski 9/24/12 1:36 PM

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ARCHIVE | EMAIL | TWITTER Craig Morgan has covered the Arizona sports scene for the past 18 years for The Arizona Republic, East Valley Tribune and FOXSportsArizona.com. Like 55

Arizona State wants Jordan Bachynski to become more than a household name. It wants the 7-foot-2 center to become part of your family. That's why the school will offer a life-size cutout or poster of the basketball player this fall that will serve as a growth chart for kids.

It's a clever piece of marketing that ASU hopes will spur greater interest and better attendance for the men's basketball program. But the move is anything but contrived, because Bachynski is the authentic article -- from his faith right down to his size 14 shoes.

"He's intelligent. He's hard working. Jordan Bachynski spent two years on a Mormon mission in a largely Spanish-speaking area near Miami before arriving at He's articulate. He's fun. He has an ASU. (US PRESSWIRE) incredible wife and family, and he can pull it all together and change the world," said Bachynski's mission president, Nathan Hale. "I'm a big fan of Jordan Bachynski."

Athletes who wear their faith on their sleeves often draw rolls of the eyes from the jaded media and public. It's not that we don't admire religious dedication; it's just that we too often encounter athletes who preach their values and then fail to exhibit them in their daily behavior.

Once in a while, an athlete comes along who walks the talk. Former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is one. Coyotes Captain Shane Doan is another. And so is Bachynksi, who emanates wisdom and maturity belying his years.

"I love sharing my faith," said Bachynski, who is Mormon. "I'm not saying you need to become Mormon. That's up to you. I'm just informing people about what I believe. If people want to find out more, they're more than welcome to ask me."

Like many Mormon boys and girls, Bachynski learned to share his message of faith on a two-year mission. Four years ago, he was assigned to largely Spanish- speaking neighborhoods in the Miami area, where he saw a different kind of happiness than he'd ever experienced growing up in Alberta.

"In Miami, I dealt with humble people in tough financial situations and not living in the best conditions. It made me realize there's a lot more to life than possessions," he said. "We are so focused on making the millions of dollars and having nice cars and nice houses that we've forgotten what true happiness is and how to be thankful for what you have.

"These people come from countries where they don't have political and social freedoms, but they have food on the table and each other, so they're happy."

While Bachynski remained open to everyone he met, not everyone was receptive to his testimony.

"I remember talking to people and have them just go off on me -- get really rude and mean," Bachynski said. "Some of the things they said I had to look up in a Spanish dictionary, because I didn't know what they meant. I actually got an urban dictionary to understand some of the things they were saying. My vocabulary definitely grew."

Once in a while, he'd connect. One man turned his life around, joined the church and eventually persuaded his skeptical and critical mother to join as well. Another left a prominent and violent gang to do the same.

"Those are the moments that make it all worth it -- all the spitting in your face and the door slamming and the long days where no one listens to you," he said.

These days, Bachynski is selling a second message. He wants more fans at ASU games. At an ASU basketball fan conference last month, Bachynski told season-ticket holders: "I was a missionary for my church. You can be a missionary for ASU basketball."

Because of his faith, Bachynski's greatest impact could come in the LDS community. ASU basketball alumnus Roger Detter has been working with local groups on a http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/pages/print_landing?blockID=763111& Page 1 of 3 ASU basketball putting its faith in Bachynski 9/24/12 1:36 PM

volunteer basis for the past few years, attempting to market ASU athletics. One of those groups includes LDS leaders around the Valley.

"The LDS community is so family-oriented and sports-oriented, so it seems to be a perfect fit with ASU basketball," Detter said. "Jordan could be a perfect role model, because he has a lot of the attributes families look for in their kids."

While Hale is certain a lot of those qualities were honed on Bachynski's mission, he's also certain that many are the product of his strong family upbringing and a natural Like 4 Send ability to connect with others. Sun Devils 101: Part 5 - 02.15.12 "When we send kids out into the streets, we're hopeful of creating connections with people," Hale said. "But all Jordan had to do was walk down the street, and he was the pied piper with kids shouting and dancing around him, trying to high-five higher than they ever thought possible.

"His ability to connect became magical because of his stature."

Bachynski's message wouldn't carry as much weight if he hadn't shown great progress over the second half of last season, when he scored in double figures in seven of his final 13 games. Nonetheless, he is eager for the challenge.

"I think it's great to unite communities, and I'm all for having more fans at basketball games," Bachynski said. "But the best way to convince people to try things is by building personal relationships. I'm honored that ASU is willing to trust me with this."

TIME'S A-WASTIN': After sitting out as a freshman, Jahii Carson eager to make up for lost time at ASU.

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