He can’t describe it through words. He’ll try, but he can’t. He just feels it.

Every now and then, ASU senior Jeff Pendergraph said he senses a good “vibe” that surrounds his team. Usually, it translates into success.

Lucky for Sun Devil fans, he felt it leading up to his team’s first round matchup with Temple in the NCAA Tournament.

Not even President Obama’s prediction of a first-round ASU exit could dampen the senior’s mood.

“[Obama]’s not on ASU so he can’t really speak for us,” Pendergraph said Thursday, according to NCAA.com. “He’s just an East Coast guy, and [he has] the East Coast bias, so that’s alright.”

Pendergraph said the chartered cross-country flight to Miami was much more comfortable than the economy-class trips he’s used to taking. He also described his pleasure upon seeing American Airlines Arena for the first time.

“All the buzz of the tournament and seeing banners everywhere and finally knowing that we made it to the tournament – it's a really good feeling to have,” Pendergraph said.

It’s real now.

Every game could be Pendergraph’s last in the maroon and gold.

All the excitement and all the hype from the past two seasons will finally come to a head Friday in Miami.

When the sixth-seeded Sun Devils take on 11th-seeded Temple, it will mark the realization of several things: The dream Pendergraph never thought was possible after his freshman year; The confirmation that Sendek has rebuilt the ASU basketball program in such a short period of time; And the culmination of a couple of storied Sun Devil careers in Pendergraph and sophomore guard James Harden, who is expected to leave for the NBA Draft.

“I'm really happy for Jeff Pendergraph, our lone senior,” ASU coach Herb Sendek said. “Jeff has been through all kind of ups and downs and has stayed the course and had his career-best year. So I particularly rejoice at the opportunity that Jeff has, and certainly all the players.”

Though only one Sun Devil has experienced the NCAA Tournament (junior center Eric Boateng was on the 2005-06 Duke team that lost in the Sweet 16), Sendek is no stranger to the Big Dance. He’s been a part of two Final Four coaching staffs under Rick Pitino and made six trips as a head coach.

Sendek is 5-1 in first-round NCAA Tournament games as the head man and went as far as the Sweet 16 with North Carolina State in 2005.

He also countered Temple coach Fran Dunphy in the past, during the 2000-01 season opener when Sendek’s N.C. State team handed Dunphy’s University of Pennsylvania squad a 77-64 defeat. More than eight years later, the two will face off in what will surely be one’s season ender.

“[Sendek]'s just a guy that I have admired as I've watched his work over the years,” Dunphy said. “I certainly know his pedigree and what he's been through and how successful he's been.”

For Sendek to keep his first-round success going, Harden will most certainly need to be at the top of his game.

Harden’s counterpart, Temple senior guard Dionte Christmas, reportedly said “80 percent” of ASU’s offense runs through Harden. The statement evoked a sense of bewilderment from Dunphy.

“When Dionte speaks, I listen but I don't always believe,” Dunphy said. “Eighty percent? What's that about? James Harden is a hell of a player. I wish he were the only guy on Arizona State that we had to worry about, but they have a number of players who are very good.”

Namely, Dunphy mentioned Pendergraph and junior guard Derek Glasser. Harden, however, said he will be more assertive in both scoring and distributing after getting shut down by USC in the Pac-10 Conference tournament title game.

Offensively, Dunphy said his team should be prepared for Sendek’s matchup zone defense. Christmas said ASU’s zone reminded him of the defense Temple played his freshman year under coaching legend John Chaney.

Healthwise, Sendek hinted that ASU will be back to full strength after being without sixth man Jamelle McMillan for the Pac-10 tournament last week.

“Jamelle continues to make progress,” Sendek said. “He's doing much better, and we're hopeful that tomorrow when we evaluate how he feels, he'll be able to give us some minutes.”

Reach the reporter at
alex.espinoza@asu.edu