ARIZONA STATE BASKETBALL

ASU AD: Herb Sendek is still our guy for 2014

Mar 19, 2014, 8:26 PM | Updated: 8:26 pm

LISTEN: Ray Anderson, ASU Athletic Director

After a 69-66 double OT upset of No. 2 Arizona in Tempe, Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson said head coach Herb Sendek had the program moving in the right direction.

The team has gone 2-5 since then, leaving some ASU fans wondering if changes are going to be made to a team that will look very different next year without key players Jahii Carson, Jermaine Marshall and Jordan Bachysnki.

But Anderson says the disappointing finish to the season hasn’t changed the opinion of the eighth-year Sun Devil coach.

“Herb is a good coach and when he was the parts he can put them together and do a really, really good job,” Anderson told The Dan Bickley Show with Vince Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “What matters right now is that he’s our coach for 2014.”

Sendek last took ASU to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, where the sixth-seeded Sun Devils beat Temple before falling to third seed Syracuse.

“I’m certainly going to put all the support I can behind him to the extent that we can help better the program, the approach, and the results,” Anderson said. “We’re going to look for nothing but positives going forward and I’m personally confident that Herb is the guy and he will be the guy for us in 2014.”

Anderson, who was named the ASU athletic director in January before officially taking over in February, believes more time is needed to properly evaluate the coaching staff.

“For the folks on the edge who doubt that, we want them to come around and give us their support,” Anderson said. “They don’t have to agree with us per se, but certainly give Herb, and me as the athletic director, an opportunity for a year together.

“Remember, I just came in a month ago. I think I’d like an opportunity for us to work together for a year going into 2014 and see what kind of progress we can make as a partnership for men’s basketball. I’m confident that the next season will show additional progress and we can allay some of the concerns that folks have that we’re not as good as we can be. We will be better.”

Arizona State Basketball

Jadrian Tracey...

Associated Press

Oregon captures final Pac-12 Tournament championship with win over Colorado

Oregon secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by defeating Colorado 75-68 on Saturday night, ending the Pac-12 basketball era.

2 days ago

Arizona State basketball coach Bobby Hurley...

Jesse Morrison

State of the Sun Devils podcast: What is the future of Bobby Hurley at Arizona State

On the latest edition of the State of the Sun Devils podcast, the guys discuss the future of ASU men's basketball coach Bobby Hurley.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What is Bobby Hurley’s future at Arizona State?

On the latest State of the Sun Devil podcast the guys react to the end of men's basketball season, and wonder what the future of the program will be and how the offseason will unfold. Plus, reactions to football's pro day.

3 days ago

ASU football field...

Dan Bickley

Arizona State reaches rock bottom at end of Pac-12 stay

Rock bottom is mostly a metaphor, a cliché for sports teams that have fallen and can’t get up. But you can find it on the map at ASU.

4 days ago

Michael Crow, Arizona State University president...

Kevin Zimmerman

Now would be a good time for Arizona State to hire an athletic director

Who's to make a decision on Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley without an athletic director? Michael Crow must make a decision soon.

4 days ago

Utah guard Gabe Madsen (55) fouls Arizona State center Shawn Phillips Jr. (9) during the first half...

Arizona Sports

Bobby Hurley: ‘I failed miserably’ in Arizona State’s Pac-12 Tournament loss to Utah

Arizona State's basketball season ended in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas after the team started 4-0 in conference play this year.

5 days ago

ASU AD: Herb Sendek is still our guy for 2014