Sendek praises McKissic; stresses rebounding and ball handling

(Photo: Nick Krueger/WCSN)

Glowing in a white ASU polo, khakis, and white Nike running shoes, Herb Sendek spoke to the media Tuesday.

The Sun Devils’ coach was not allowed to talk about the team’s weekend scrimmage against Saint Mary’s because of NCAA regulations; however, he did highlight many team details as the season opener screams closer.

Not citing the scrimmage in his statement, Sendek stated his team is turning the basketball over way too much.

This is a facet of the game that Sendek stresses every day in practice, and as captain of the ASU basketball ship, continues to try and steer his team away from.

Coach Sendek also stated, “We must address our rebounding.”

Although this team has a plethora of new basketball players it still stands true that Arizona State was  116^th in the NCAA standings for rebounding.

Shortly after the coach talked about the team’s insatiable need to grab the basketball off the backboard he said, “The two guys that consistently distinguish themselves as difference makers are Jahii [Carson] and Jordan [Bachynski].”

“They’re the two most unique guys we have. At the point guard and the post,” Sendek said.

That’s quite interesting if you think about it. Two of the features that Sendek said needed improvement, were the two features that Carson and Bachynski’s positions are commonly thought to be in control of; rebounding and taking care of the basketball.

But that is why basketball is a team game, as well as why the Sun Devils need more than two or even six players to contribute on a nightly basis.

Sendek said if the season started tonight the starters would be Jahii Carson, Shaquielle McKissic, Jermaine Marshall, Jon Gilling, and Jordan Bachynski.

One of the players that now have the spotlight gravitating toward them is McKissic after his offensive explosion in the Maroon and Gold scrimmage.

“Shaquielle has been our biggest positive and most consistent surprise,” Sendek said. “The one thing that elevates him on our team right now is his elite athleticism.”

“He’s physically there,” Sendek continued.

McKissic may be in the figurative starting lineup at the moment, however when one goes beyond that Sendek stated he does not yet know how deep his player rotation will travel this season.

The coach said it is largely because there has not been a lot of consistent separation between players on a day-to-day basis.

“We are going to have to have the rubber meet the road, in terms of carving out our roles and expectations,” Sendek said. “Because I still think we have a team where if you would go around the room they would all think they are playing more minutes than they actually will and exist. So that reality is going to set in here in the next week.”

So essentially the coach is saying it’s about to get real.

The grind is about to get real. The season is about to get real and just about everything else in between.

The NCAA may not want us to think that the scrimmage took place Saturday between Saint Mary’s and Arizona State was real but as Sendek said, “I learn something new about my team every day.”

Whatever happened in a gymnasium may be under lock and key but it is apparent that there are in fact new things being learned every day. Pretty soon it will be Nov. 8^th and time to put all that education to use.

 

 

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