Arizona State Sun Devils

THE LOWDOWN

Head Coach: Rob Evans
2003-04 Record: 10-17 (4-14 Pac-10)
Pac-10 Finish: 10th
Key Loss: G/F Jamal Hill (9.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Postseason: None

RETURNEES (returning starters in bold)
No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Yr.	Pts.
25	Jamie Andrisevic	F	6'9"	Sr.	0.0
45	Serge Angounou	F	6'8"	So.	3.8
1	Jason Braxton	G	6'2"	Sr.	7.1
5	Ike Diogu	F/C	6'8"	Jr.	22.8
34	Wilfried Fameni	F	6'7"	So.	4.2
13	Kevin Kruger	G	6'2"	So.	5.3
21	Stevie Moore	G	6'4"	Sr.	12.7
0	Allen Morill	F	6'7"	Jr.	2.7
23	Tron Smith	G	6'2"	So.	3.9
2	Keith Wooden	F/C	6'8"	So.	3.3
Complete 2003-04 Team Stats

FRESH FACES
No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.
20	Robby Alridge	G	6'1"
32	Craig Austin	F	6'10"
33	Tyrone Jackson	G	6'2"
12	Bryson Krueger	G/F	6'7"
11	Tim Pierce	F	6'7"

An unexpected tumble got in the way of some job security for Arizona State coach Rob Evans. The Sun Devils sank far below expectations and all the way into the Pac-10 basement, turning up the heat on Evans as he enters his seventh season on the job at ASU.

Evans' future will be the overriding storyline to this season. On paper, at least, he has some financial security. The remaining three years on his contract are worth nearly $2.5 million.

It's the roster, however, that will determine whether Evans will negotiate a buyout or fulfill promises he made a couple of years ago when he turned down a rich offer to take over as the head coach at the University of New Mexico.

His chances are hazy because of changes that hit both his staff and roster in the wake of last year's disappointment. Nonetheless, Evans sounds confident.

"This job will get done," said Evans, whose longtime assistant Russ Pennell resigned in March. "I like the kids we have. I like the progress we're making. I'm not going into this year worried about my job."

FRONTCOURT

Evans has one very good reason not to worry -- Ike Diogu. The junior center, generously listed at 6-8, led the Pac-10 in scoring and ranked second in rebounding last year despite facing constant double- and triple-teams. He set a Pac-10 record for made free throws (243) last year and shot 81.5 percent on the season. In his two-year career, he has averaged 20.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

This year, Diogu might get some help in the form of a healthy Serge Angounou, who is expected to finally be back at full speed after undergoing a difficult micro-fracture surgical procedure on his right knee two years ago.

Some experience might benefit sophomores Wilfried Fameni and Keith Wooden, who combined for 20 starts last season. Then there are two intriguing prospects at small forward in Tim Pierce of Oakland, Calif., and Bryson Krueger, a former Vanderbilt signee. Krueger left the Commodores before playing a game and spent last season at Yavapai (Ariz.) College.

BACKCOURT

Evans' job prospects could turn on whether he has finally signed a real playmaker. The haphazard Jason Braxton, who will be a senior, has never displayed the court sense or patience to get the ball in Diogu's hands at the right time and place.

In Tyrone Jackson, Evans might finally have his man. The 6-2 Jackson, who spent the last two years at Fresno City College, was a high school teammate of Stanford guard Chris Hernandez. Of the two, some scouts believe Jackson is the better player. For Evans' sake, he might have to be.

At shooting guard, the Sun Devils are hoping for a revival from Stevie Moore, a juco transfer who showed great promise early last season but then slipped into a funk and never recovered.

There also is some optimism about Kevin Kruger, the son of new UNLV coach Lon Kruger. During last season's late tailspin, Kruger displayed some heady backcourt skills. Evans believes Kruger is versatile enough to play both shooting guard and the point.

FINAL ANALYSIS

There is potential for a surprise, especially if Jackson is as good as the scouting reports. A key factor might be Angounou. There is still some uncertainty about whether he'll ever be able to run and jump the way he did before he blew out his knee.

Above all, the Sun Devils have to put themselves back into legitimate contention for the NCAA tournament or the end could be near for Evans.

The coach is confident he can restore ASU's flickering fortunes because he has a more experienced roster. He also has Diogu, a patient, smart big man who is a proven scorer around the basket.

"I feel like we now have the nucleus of a team that is ready to compete for postseason play, year in and year out," Evans said. "It may not happen, because you have to have some good fortune. You have to have a Serge Angounou not getting injured. You have to have things go your way. But I think we have the pieces in place."

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