It wouldn’t be fair to call what Herb Sendek’s boys have done this year smoke and mirrors.

Sendek is an elite coach and cosmetician, deserving credit for any overachievement.

But know this: ASU is going to have a tough time staying dolled-up this year.

As the season progresses and exposed flaws are more readily exploited, the Sun Devils may have to flip the script.

The answer?

Freshman guard Demetrius Walker.

The Sun Devils rank 21st in the nation in three point attempts, yet 204th in the country in scoring average. Certainly, scoring average is partially a function of ASU’s relatively slower pace. Though that makes its three-point attempt number more startling.

The Sun Devils have hoisted 444 three-point shots this year, 112 more than Stanford, who is second on the Pac-10 list.

Some advanced metrics reveal that the three-point shot can be the best in basketball, even if you’re chucking at a faster rate than Amy Winehouse on penny drink night.

ASU has shot close to 38 percent on the season from the three-point line, an above average percentage that should theoretically yield efficient offense.

But you don’t have to reference the “Chuckster” Charles Barkley’s overused, “live by the three, die by the three” adage to know that such one-dimensionality leads to, if not death, an unreliable offense.

In the Sun Devils’ six losses, they have shot a hair above 30 percent.

That’s not the scary part.

In five of the six games, ASU launched 20 three-point attempts or more.

The Sun Devils need an abort mission.

Enter Walker.

Hailed by Sports Illustrated as the next LeBron James when he was in the eighth grade, Walker survived the hype to become the 25th best shooting guard recruit in the nation, according to Rivals.com.

He led 5A St. Mary’s High, which graduated Channing Frye and Jerryd Bayless, to a state championship, scoring 27 points in the state title game.

Dude gets to the rack.

With junior point guard Jamelle McMillian out nursing plantar fasciitis in his left foot, the door has opened for Walker to help balance ASU’s offense.

Walker’s minutes have been up and down this season. He’s flashed an ability to slash to the basket and make athletic plays in transition. He’s also played out of control and with a tight leash, expected for a relatively raw freshman.

The Sun Devils, as currently constructed, could hang around in the conference standings until Washington awakes from its prolonged hibernation or any of the other underachieving teams pick it up.

It’s defense that is sound enough to keep them in most games.

Developing Walker along with fellow freshman guard Trent Lockett wouldn’t be an insult to Derek Glasser and fellow seniors, it would be a boon.

ASU has the floor spacing to let a player with Walker’s athletic ability thrive in the gaps.

It won’t always be pretty because he has isn’t yet particularly polished, but Walker needs the minutes and the offensive freedom for ASU to become a viable in the conference.

Time to take the kid gloves off.

Reach the reporter at nruland@asu.edu