University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Battles Arizona State at Noon Saturday in The Barn
12/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game No. 8
MINNESOTA (2-5)
vs.
Arizona State (4-2)
DECEMBER 2, 2006 • 12 p.m.
Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minn.
Television: FSN - Dick Bremer, PBP; Jim Dutcher, analyst
RADIO:
Gopher Radio Network - Mike Grimm, PBP; Kevin Lynch, analyst
STORYLINES
• The Gophers will be under the direction of interim head coach Jim Molinari following Dan Monson’s resignation on Thursday. Molinari owns a 218-167 head coaching record over 13 seasons at Bradley (11 years) and Northern Illinois (2 years). Molinari becomes Minnesota’s 15th head coach.
• Minnesota head coaches are 11-3 in their first game on the bench.
• The Gophers lead the series 3-1 (including vacated games). Minnesota defeated Arizona State 85-79 in overtime last season in Tempe.
MATCHUP
Minnesota will try to get back in the win column this afternoon when it faces Pac-10 foe Arizona State. The Gophers enter today’s game with a 2-5 record while the Sun Devils own a mark of 4-2. The Sun Devils last played on Tuesday, November 28, defeating Northern Colorado, 66-51. They have won three in a row, including a 67-64 victory over Iowa in Tempe on November 25.
SCOUTING the Sun Devils
Arizona State began a new era in November as Herb Sendek took over as the new head coach of the Sun Devil program. The 2004 ACC Coach of the Year, Sendek spent the last 10 years as the head coach at North Carolina State, leading the Wolfpack to nine postseason appearances, including NCAA Tournament berths in each of the last five seasons. Sendek takes over a team with three returning starters, led by Pac-10 All-Freshman Team forward Jeff Pendergraph. He closed the 2005-06 season strong, averaging over 12 points and six boards a game over the last 17 games. Senior forward Serge Angounou and junior guard Antwi Atuahene also returns from the starting lineup. Perhaps the most welcomed addition is freshman guard Christian Polk, who leads the team in scoring at 18 points a contest through the first six games. Another freshman, guard Jerren Shipp, has also contributed heavily, averaging 12 points a game.
