ASU Basketball Season Ends -- Lord Have Mercy! -- in LA Smackdown; Arizona Up Next

Just last week, Arizona State laid a hurtin' on the Oregon Ducks over in Tempe, and the rematch looked favorable for the Sun Devils in the first round of the Pac-10 men's basketball tournament in Los Angeles. Not nearly enough horses to compete night after night in a top-drawer Division...

By Paul Rubin

March 10, 2011

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Just last week, Arizona State laid a hurtin' on the Oregon Ducks over in Tempe, and the rematch looked favorable for the Sun Devils in the first round of the Pac-10 men's basketball tournament in Los Angeles.

Not nearly enough horses to compete night after night in a top-drawer Division I conference.

Look at the pathetic line score of Ty Abbott, a senior shooting guard in what turned out to be his last game in a Sun Devils uniform:

One shot taken (and missed) in 34 minutes of action. That's ridiculous.

Coach Herb Sendek's team never did quit in the game, nor at any point in the season, but ASU did finish last in the conference for a reason.

On another, brighter (at least for the moment) note, the league champion Arizona Wildcats are about to take the floor against Oregon State, a team that seems to perpetually give them trouble.

The Cats did beat the Beavers in Tucson last week, but it wasn't easy, and this one probably won't be either.

Arizona could use a couple of wins in the tourney to solidify a higher seed in the upcoming NCAA March Madness. Here's hoping that Wildcats' star Derrick Williams stays nice and healthy out in LA, and sets himself up for a big run in the NCAA's before running off to the pros after the season.

We wish we could be out there enjoying the Staples Center and all the goings-on, but other stories call and we will watch the game later.

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