:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22984963/20130302_gav_sv5_005.0.jpg)
Arizona State head basketball coach Herb Sendek will face a familiar foe tonight, as his team looks for its second victory of the season. The Sun Devils face the Redhawks of Miami (Ohio), a team Sendek coached for three seasons during the mid-1990s.
Sendek guided the Redhawks to the NCAA tournament in 1995, and complied a 63-26 record while in Oxford, Ohio. Tonight, Sendek faces his former team for the first time since leaving Miami for the NC State job in 1996. Here is your game preview.
Game Time: 7 PM
TV/Radio: Pac-12 Networks/ Tunein (Link)
Miami Update
The Redhawks had a good showing, but fell to No. 21 Notre Dame last Friday night 74-62. Miami shot 43 percent from the field and was led in scoring by sophomore guard Reggie Johnson, who finished with 22 points. The Redhawks also outrebounded the Fighting Irish 30-27 and finished the game with 15 assists to 12 turnovers.
Miami returns four starters from last year's squad that won nine games last season and went 3-13 in the MAC. The Redhawks are led by senior forward Will Feder, who was named to the Mid-American Conference East Division Preseason Team. Fedor averaged 11.6 PPG and 5.3 RPG in 31 games last season.
The four returners coming back from last season accounted for 56.4 percent of the team's scoring and and 53.6 percent of the team's rebounding a season ago.
Arizona State Update
The Sun Devils were victorious in their season debut last Friday night, topping UMBC 96-61. The backcourt duo of Jahii Carson and Jermaine Marshall combined for 38 points and Jordan Bachynski added 12 points and 15 rebounds. Arizona State led by 17 at halftime, but UMBC pulled to within 11 in the second half.
The Sun Devils attempted 44 free throws in their season opener, the most attempts for the Sun Devils since 2003. A dozen players saw action for the Arizona State in the victory, including freshmen Chance Murry and Egor Koulechov.
What to Watch
Senior guard Jermaine Marshall put up 19 points against UMBC while still recovering from the effects of Valley Fever. Marshall played 27 minutes and shot 5-11 from the field including 3-7 from beyond the arc. Together, Marshall and Jahii Carson make up one of the best backcourts in the nation. The two combined for 39 points, seven assists, five steals and just three turnovers against UMBC. It is going to be fun to see these two guards build chemistry and continue getting to know each other on the court.
Prediction
The Redhawks won just three games in the MAC last season. This team should not present problems for the Sun Devils. However, with the way Miami played against Notre Dame, the Redhawks are not going to roll over for Arizona State. Don't be surprised if this game is close at the half with Arizona State pulling away in the final 20 minutes. Arizona State 85, Miami (OH) 61