Arizona State got lucky this off-season. Not too many
struggling programs are able to lure a respected head coach that
has made the NCAA Tournament the past five years and the
postseason in 12 of the last 13 years. Despite a
tumultuous summer that saw leading scorer Kevin Kruger leave for
UNLV, history shows that Herb Sendek will have the Sun Devils
back on track in no time.
***
Shawn
Siegel (CHN): How will you deal with the loss of last year's
leading scorer, Kevin Kruger?
Herb Sendek (HS):
Losing Kevin Kruger, especially in July, is tough. But we’ll
regroup and go on.
CHN: What
do you expect the strengths and weaknesses of
this year’s team to be?
HS: We will really
work on moving the ball and making it difficult for teams to
defend us. The beginning of the year will bring some challenges
as everyone gets used to a new system, but hopefully the
abundance of early season games will help the cause.
CHN: What should
we expect out of the incoming players. Who will make the biggest impact?
HS:
Jerren Shipp and Derek Glasser come from a
great high school programs and George Odufuwa and Christian Polk also are
very talented and are from great programs. All of them are going to have a
chance to make an immediate impact.
CHN: Talk about which coaches really helped you reach the level of
success you’re at today? Do you still keep in touch with them?
HS: All of
the coaches that you read about that I worked with and for
(Pitino, Barnes, Tubby Smith, etc.) have been important, but my
dad was someone who had a great influence on me because he had
the ability to be a great father and coach.
CHN:
Realistically, what are your goals for the coming season?
HS: Just to get
better every day and try and peak at the end of the year. We did
that at NC State in our first year there and it helped set the
tone for the summer and next season. We want our kids to have
fun and let the seniors know we want to win now.
CHN: Thanks coach
. Good luck.
