Let’s face it. ASU athletics haven’t been much fun this year. Football had its worst season since 1994, women’s volleyball and women’s soccer each struggled mightily down the stretch after hot starts, women’s basketball is off to its worst start in years, and men’s basketball just got stomped at home by UA.

There’s plenty of time for the basketball teams to regroup, but as of today ASU sports as a whole have been underwhelming so far this year.

Never fear though, as the best is yet to come.

First off, baseball begins in only three weeks. The focus has been on the sudden “resignation” of legendary head coach Pat Murphy, but the fact remains that this team is loaded. The Sun Devils have won three straight Pac-10 titles and finished No. 3 in the country last year. With seven returning starters in the field, a pitching staff led by everyone’s favorite Australian senior Josh Spence, and an experienced coaching staff led by head coach Tim Esmay, the baseball team should once again win the Pac-10 and finish in the top 10, if not top five.

And how about softball? The girls on the diamond were National Champions in 2008 and advanced to the Women’s College World Series last year with a team of almost all underclassmen. Now with former freshman sensations Hillary Bach and Katelyn Boyd a year older, along with the return of junior outfielder Lesley Rogers and junior third baseman Krista Donnenwirth, the softball team should easily earn its fifth-straight WCWS berth.

But wait. We’re not done with dominating spring sports. Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams are elite-caliber programs to be proud of. The women were national champions in indoor track and field in 2007 and 2008 as well as outdoor champions in 2007, while the men won the 2008 indoor national championship as well.

This year, All-Americans dot both rosters. Senior distance runner Brandon Bethke, senior throwers Ryan Whiting and Jason Lewis, and senior sprinter Joel Phillip all won All-American honors last year and will lead the No. 7-ranked men into the indoor season.

On the women’s side, junior Dominique’ Maloy, sophomore Kayla Sanchez and senior Jasmine Chaney all return after garnering All-America honors in the 4x100 relay.

But wait, there’s more.

ASU’s only reigning national champion, women’s golf, begins its title defense on Feb. 8. Led by All-American sophomore Carlota Ciganda and freshman prodigies Jennifer Johnson and Larissa Eruera, women’s golf has a legitimate chance to win back-to-back national championships.

And even that’s not the last of the good news — among the sports with seasons already started, wrestling and water polo are both ranked in the top 25.

So here’s where we stand: Baseball, softball, women’s golf, men’s track and field, and water polo will each finish in the top 10. Heck, most of them already are in the top 10.

So keep your heads high, Sun Devil fans. The best is yet to come.