To say that it's NCAA tournament berth or bust for the ASU basketball team is absurd.
I still remember a game last season that offered an influential moment for the rising program.
Coach Herb Sendek, sprinting up and down the sideline in his finely tailored black suit, began yelling at the zebras. Then, when enough was enough, Sendek earned a second "T" before throwing up his hands, inciting fan reaction as he left the court.
That moment, archived for future replay all season long, provoked much more. It was the start of ASU basketball becoming relevant.
Now that we know freshman phenomenon James Harden will be back for his sophomore season, there's plenty to be excited about, including future NCAA appearances.
But if the Sun Devils fall short in 2008, worry not. The NIT offers a fine platform for a program on the rise.
Let's appreciate what we have here, for there were far too many seasons when the man in charge wouldn't raise his arms, disgusted with defeat.
