Washington men's basketball coach Lorenzo Romar said that you needed a baseball bat and the National Guard to stop ASU junior forward Ike Diogu.
It turns out that quick guard play and a lack of aggressiveness by Diogu are just as effective.
It could have been a wake-up call for most of the country to the talents of Diogu and ASU. Both hit the snooze button.
The CBS regional audience saw a team that had trouble getting its offense set, typically waiting until the shot clock reached single digits before starting a play.
Washington, which was coming off a 91-82 loss to UA, clearly showed that it is in a class of its own with the Wildcats. The Sun Devils are still on the outside looking in.
Diogu's line seemed impressive enough -- 14 points and 13 rebounds -- but all of his points came on dunks and layups. His perimeter shooting, a facet of his game that separates him from one-dimensional college big men, was nowhere to be found.
After a 27-point performance against Oregon State, Diogu's game has dissipated over the last three games. Against Oregon, Diogu needed two free throws in the closing seconds to reach double digits. He shot 4 for 10 from the field against Washington State.
On Sunday, Diogu's free- throw shooting -- or lack thereof -- was put in the spotlight. Entering the game, Diogu had made 161 free throws, easily the most in the country. Only six others have attempted as many as Diogu converted.
Against Washington, Diogu missed his only attempt.
"That's the way it's been about the past eight ballgames," ASU coach Rob Evans said. "I don't know what the answer to that is. I'm going to leave that alone."
Diogu's answer was simple.
"I guess I wasn't being aggressive enough," Diogu said. "That's the bottom line."
ASU's -- and Diogu's -- game could have been summed up by one play.
With the clock running down in the first half, Diogu was wide open after a perfectly executed give-and-go with sophomore guard Kevin Kruger. Diogu fumbled the pass, and a momentum-changing dunk became a turnover.
"I guess it's just not concentrating," Diogu said. "You've got to score those points in close ballgames, and we just didn't get it done."
It's too bad most of the country was watching.
Reach the reporter at ASUHoodzow@gmail.com.
