Sendek Begins Life After Harden

Arizona State coach Herb Sendek knew the James Harden era in Tempe would last a maximum of two years. Harden returned to school after a sparkling freshman season and exceeded that first year, leading the Sun Devils to their first NCAA tournament appearance in six years and earning first-team All America honors. Now Harden is gone along with gifted senior forward Jeff Pendergraph, leaving Sendek with a major challenge heading into next season.

A five-man recruiting class along with the return of improving point guard Derek Glasser should keep ASU competitive but remaining in the Pac-10's first division won't be easy.

"We're working on that right now, it will continue to evolve for us," Sendek told FanHouse. "Some of those questions will best be answered once we're practicing, to see how guys play together. We will have a better understanding of their strengths, areas of improvement and I think that will evolve for us next year as we move forward. At this time it's hard to pinpoint precisely how all those things are going to come together. I do think we're going to have to rely on that (class for immediate contribution and I think it's a step toward improving our depth, something that was an issue for us at times last year."

Sendek admitted the Sun Devils will rely heavily on their recruiting class, headed by shooting guard Demetrius Walker, perhaps the heir apparent to Harden, and combo forward Victor Rudd. Sendek promised not to put any additional pressure on his freshmen or expect a Harden-type first season. Arizona State will be a team that lacks star power initially but may prove to be a formidable opponent by season's end.

The loss of Harden, a projected top-five pick, and Pendergraph, likely a second rounder, robs Sendek of 34 points and nearly 14 rebounds per game. Glasser emerged as one of the conference's top point guards as his junior season progressed while sophomore sharpshooter Rihards Kuksiks will have an expanded role. Sendek is excited about the task of continuing the growth of Arizona State basketball.

"I don't think we are going to ask any one player to be James or Jeff for that matter," he said. "Once again I think our team is going to have a very different look. We have different personnel, guys that we are going to try to integrate into our system. We're not looking at it as one-for-one proposition. I think we're looking at a much more holistically. We're looking at it from a team standpoint and I think we'll be different. It is a big [recruiting] class and there will be a learning curve. Every year we welcome new guys, exciting freshman into the league into college basketball and that's one of the things that stirs interest and it help keeps it exciting."