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The only podcast covering all things Arizona State athletics! We bleed maroon and gold, and love talking about the Sun Devils no matter what sport.
David Howman (00:01)
Welcome one, welcome all to another episode of the Echo from the Beats podcast. I am your host David Helman joined by Tom Harden and Andrew Hazlett. And it is ⁓ batter up time. is the time of the year where we're watching baseball, we're watching softball and the Sun Devils are right in the thick of things as we get into the postseason era. ⁓ We got a lot to talk about on this episode.
and the championship aspirations for the Sun Devils in two sports that right now are kind of sort of coming to fruition. We're having big years in both these sports. ⁓ It's a great time to be a Sun Devil fan. It's always a great time to be a Sun Devil fan, of course, as we all know here at Echo from the Beats. But right now it's especially rewarding because we're winning. We're climbing the big 12 leaderboards.
⁓ And it's great in general, Tom, Andrew, I know you guys are both fired up for the start of the Big 12 tournament this week in surprise, right? Surprise, Arizona?
Andrew Hayslett (01:05)
Yeah.
Tom Hardon (01:05)
It
is, yes.
David Howman (01:08)
Yeah, I know it's, you know, I'm not gonna make the drive all the way from Northeast Oklahoma, but you guys are both gonna be there, is that correct?
Tom Hardon (01:18)
Yeah.
Andrew Hayslett (01:18)
Yes,
nice to have it in our neck of the woods instead of Dallas last time, which I did love the Arlington Globe Life Field venue. It's a very good stadium.
Tom Hardon (01:31)
⁓ It's nice.
David Howman (01:31)
Yeah, what
stadium is it in Surprise?
Tom Hardon (01:34)
It's Surprise Stadium. It's where the Rangers and Royals have their spring training. So there's still the Rangers connection. don't know if there's, I'm not sure if there's any kind of contractual deal with the Rangers, why the Big 12 hosted it at Globe Life Field last year. And that's why it's transitioned to Surprise this year to keep that Rangers tie. But if there's no connection, it's a nice coincidence.
David Howman (01:39)
Gotcha.
I guess you could say if there's not a connection, would be a surprise.
Tom Hardon (02:07)
I see what you did there.
David Howman (02:10)
Yeah
But of course, the Big 12 baseball tournament begins this week. ⁓ ASU played themselves into a good spot. They were able to get a 2-1 series win over Houston. And in the process, they're also now the three seed in the Big 12 tournament. ⁓
Tom Hardon (02:29)
Thank
David Howman (02:35)
Thoughts takeaways from that series against Houston? Because it was a little, you know, they finished in a tie for that third spot with UCF, but due to tiebreakers, were, ASU was ahead of the Knights. there were some touch and go moments in this series. Andrew, what were your main takeaways as we wrapped up the regular season?
Andrew Hayslett (02:56)
It kind of feels like basically pretty much every other big 12 series for the Sun Devils two wins and a loss. All the road series were two wins and a loss. There were two home series where it was one win and two losses and then one where it was a sweep.
Sun Devils couldn't figure out how to sweep teams and you see why you see that low RPI for ASU and I think that's part of why they're so low is they couldn't finish off these these poor teams look like a Houston ⁓ in Arizona. Granted those those were on the road but but you should be taking three if you're a good team you should be doing that.
gotta beat up on those bad teams. The home results, you like to take two from every one, the two you didn't, but this just kind of feels like a microcosm of the rest of the season. Pitching at times is suspect, hitting's usually good. There's nothing new to report. It's kind of the same old same old.
Tom Hardon (04:16)
the scene.
David Howman (04:16)
Well,
and you mentioned like two wins and a loss on the road, but ASU did, I think this is the first year since like the 80s where they've won, am I correct? Every road series, Big 12 series? Road conference series. So you say there's nothing new to report, that is something new.
Andrew Hayslett (04:32)
Road Conference Series, yes.
That
is something new and I do want to mention they did win or tie every road series which midweeks don't count because they're one game that doesn't count as a series with the only road non-conference series being the one at Oklahoma where they split and technically the Arlington Globe Life series was neutral site not on the road.
and again against three different teams, so not a series, but they did lose all three games there. kind of a little caveat there, but something to note.
Tom Hardon (05:23)
Yeah, it was 1982, the last time the ASU program won all of their conference regular season series. as an addition to on top of that, this is inclusive of home and road series. This team went six and one in series deciding rubber matches. it showed the resilience that this team had.
in not taking a loss on the chin and rather learning from that series opening or second game loss and being able to piece things together on Sunday. A lot of that credit goes to Cole Klecker who emerged as the strong Sunday starter basically from the beginning of March. He was as steady a
a pitcher that as Arizona State had all season long outside of Friday starter Cole Carlone. What I will say about the Houston series is it showed some of the depth in the pitching that I was waiting to see how much of that would start to start to become clear down the stretch, namely Colby Guy going five innings on Friday and Jaden Alba having his best best outing of the year.
five and two thirds in Sunday's Andrew and I have talked about this privately and I've been a little bit of a Jaden Alba doubter throughout the year. So I was incredibly pleased to see how well he pitched on Sunday to get the series win.
Andrew Hayslett (07:07)
Yeah, Alba was a starter last year too and that was by far the best start of his career. What he threw on Saturday. But with the caveat, Houston isn't the best team. don't want to, everything's not all sunshine's and rainbows, everything's not all bad. It is good to see that he's pitching his best at the best time. You want to get hot at coming into these playoffs where trophies get handed out. I don't know about you too,
I like seeing trophies. Another guy offensively that I do want to talk about, Dom Smaldino, he's hot. He's had six home runs in the last five games, I want to say, if memory serves me correctly off the top of my head. He surpassed his...
last year's total of single season home runs. He was a guy I thought in the preseason would be a really powerful hitter for the Sun Devils, have a similar season to what Landon Harrison is currently having, which I think we'll talk about that momentarily, but he's broke out as of late with his power and I think that's a welcome sight for the Sun Devils.
Tom Hardon (08:22)
And
not to mention tying a program record with three home runs and last Sunday's win at home against Oklahoma State.
David Howman (08:32)
I want to go back to Jaden Alba because I was I personally was a little surprised that he wasn't the one that started on Sunday or that he was the one who started Sunday instead of Cole Clacker. ⁓ My guess is that has something to do with how they plan to approach the Big 12 tournament. Is that probably accurate?
Tom Hardon (08:57)
I think some of it also is the fact that it was a Thursday through Saturday series. I've been saying Sunday's game as well, but it was really a Thursday through Saturday. I think it was lining guys up and ensuring that there was an appropriate amount of rest for your big arms. We only saw Carlone go an inning and two thirds in Friday's game.
whether that was, I believe it was really more precautionary than anything, but I think just the offset series played into how head coach Willie Blomquist lined up his starting rotation for the weekend.
Andrew Hayslett (09:44)
I think I agree with what you're thinking David. I don't know anything for sure, but I would have to imagine by not throwing Klecker Saturday, save him for Thursday. He hadn't pitched Carlone on a Thursday all season long in the...
Three yeah, three opportunities you've had to do so with the Easter series the BYU series now this the series you haven't done that so Moving him up to Thursday would be unlikely at this point that that's probably not gonna happen so the move would have to be
push Klecker back because quite frankly you don't want to throw one of your other pitchers that you don't have as much confidence in as those other two guys. Those other two guys have put up consistent outings for the most part all season long and I think having those guys go 1-2 is possibly ⁓ the sweep is what you want to do.
David Howman (10:52)
Well, and also with the with with how impressive Alba looked. And, you know, you mentioned Andrew how he was a starter last year and then injuries kind of got in the way and complicated some things before his injury. He was it looked like he was starting to turn into a veritable Sunday option for the Sun Devils last year. So I was very excited about him at that point. And then it was very sad to see how things kind of got off the rails as the season went along. ⁓
If he's kind of getting now at this point, getting back into that rhythm and becoming more of a guy that they have now, you've got three options you feel really good about. Colby Guy was the one who got the start earlier this weekend series as well, and he looked decent. You know, not to the point where you're necessarily throwing him out with everything on the line in the Big 12 tournament. But again, going back to the depth that they have there.
Personally, I feel really good about it. Only thing that I would have questions about and I know other people on Twitter have been talking a lot of a lot about it as well is the closer Derek Schaeffer and if they get into a situation where games on the line winner go home and Schaeffer is the one that's going out there. How do you guys feel?
Andrew Hayslett (12:11)
I don't know. I don't know what the right answer is.
Tom Hardon (12:13)
I'm.
I'm not disillusioned by him. ⁓ He's still the ninth inning stopper that I would want to send out there, but I think ⁓ Sean Fitzpatrick has really thrown his name into the ring as a guy who is worthy of being able to be thrown out there against lefties and righties alike to lock down the save in the ninth.
Andrew Hayslett (12:43)
I think if you move Schaefer off the roll, think Taylor Penn's the guy to move in. When he was in the bullpen full time before he was starting, he was really effective. I think we might be seeing that again with his recent appearances. He's gotten better as of late coming out off that starting roll. I think the bullpen's what he's made for. And I think you might have a guy that...
is a back end guy. I don't know if I'd pull Schaefer for him at this point because Schaefer, when he's on, he can throw 10 scoreless outing innings in a row. You've seen that at points this season with him. So you can't forget about that regardless of whoever you're throwing in the Big 12 championship game after you throw Carlone, Klecker and Carlone probably.
You'll see, don't know what the option is for that third potential game, if it's Alba or if it's Guy who was the preseason Big South ⁓ pitcher of the year last season in 2025, I ⁓ think you can't discount that. There's a lot of moving parts right now for this team, which...
To me, it isn't necessarily a good or bad thing. It's something you have to look at and say, this is probably gonna be what the team's success or failure might be at this point.
David Howman (14:21)
I mean, it's gonna be really interesting to see how these things shake out, especially because, you know, at this point, we pretty much know, you know, ASU is gonna be in the tournament, but how they do in this Big 12 tournament is going to be, going to speak volumes about what they do in the NCAA tournament. ⁓
Andrew, mentioned earlier, like mentioning RPI, they're not as high as their record might suggest. They're 48th right now, according to D1 Baseball and RPI. ⁓ You would think that number three seed of the Big 12 would be quite a bit higher than that. ⁓ D1 Baseball also put out their tournament projections Monday morning. ⁓ As of right now, they're projected as the three seed in the Alabama Regional. ⁓
that would see them facing Jacksonville State first in a regional that includes Alabama and also Long Island as the four spot. ⁓ So there's definitely a lot to be gained or potentially lost in this Big 12 tournament. ⁓ can they do it all? Can they win the Big 12 with where they're positioned right now in this bracket? I mean, obviously they can, but like, can we realistically expect that?
Andrew Hayslett (15:43)
I think it's realistic. Big 12, you've seen no team kind of be dominant this season. You might say Kansas is the best team, but no, Kansas got beat up by West Virginia. You've seen West Virginia at points look rocky this season. Arizona State, we've talked about, hasn't had the ability to close off a series. They have only done that once. You look down the list of Oklahoma State, they were very cold to start.
Big 12 play that that could always come back Anything can happen because because that's baseball at the end of the day. There's a lot that can't happen I do like the slot that they got that three slot playing at night. I think is a huge advantage Get out of the hot weather with with the 8 p.m. Scheduled starts. I think it's optimistic that they'll start actually start at 8 p.m. On Thursday, but we'll see but
I do like that because you're out of the heat, playing in the cool. I think that's an advantage with that. And you're also playing Cincinnati who's an East Coast team. That's more time that they have to adjust. An 8 p.m. start for them, that's 10, I believe they're East Coast.
Tom Hardon (17:03)
Yeah, since that is Easter, so that would be 11 o'clock from what they're used to.
Andrew Hayslett (17:10)
That's an extremely late game for them. That's going to be tough. And then you'll face West Virginia in the later of the two games if you win. Assuming West Virginia does win. They could always be upset by whoever wins the game to get into there. So I'm not saying that's a guarantee. But you could probably face West Virginia. And again,
David Howman (17:34)
likely that
they're meeting with West Virginia if they beat Cincinnati.
Andrew Hayslett (17:38)
Again, another East Coast team, another later game. believe that's that's a six o'clock start, if memory serves me correct. But regardless, it's definitely the two of the later games. So again, you'll be out of the heat, out the worst of it playing at night. I think that's a good advantage to the long longevity with because a lot of these teams aren't going to be used to this Arizona heat, which
I last I checked this high 90s weather for surprise, you could always be surprised, no pun intended, and get triple digits. We're recycling jerks here.
David Howman (18:12)
I already made that joke.
Tom Hardon (18:16)
It's worth recycling.
David Howman (18:18)
It was
pretty good. We can use it a second time.
Tom Hardon (18:24)
And when you're looking at the RPI, you know, it's a perfect opportunity for Arizona State to climb the ladder and bolster that resume when it comes down to selection. I think it's selection Monday instead of selection Sunday. But the point remains, you're playing the Cincinnati team that is 22nd in the RPI have not played Cincinnati this season. So there's the unknown factor for both sides. Like you guys have said,
Cincinnati coming east to west. It's the exact opposite that we see for when Arizona traveled to play, ⁓ traveled to play Cincinnati last season in football. The time zone give, time changes give and the time changes take away. this is going to be a detriment to those East Coast teams who are getting slotted in to the later time slots. For Arizona State being, obviously being based here, being, not having to worry about
how many hours they are apart from regular playing time, this is a ready-made opportunity for the Devils to take full advantage of a team that, I'm not gonna say that Cincinnati won't be prepared for this game, but it's going to be a major adjustment that is an X factor to watch out for.
David Howman (19:46)
Yeah, and I think it's especially, it plays into their strength throughout this entire tournament because obviously like we've talked about, Cincinnati is an East Coast team. West Virginia, again, most likely is the team that they face if they win. That's an adjustment for them. But you also look at like the top half of the Big 12 right now, the top like quarter of the Big 12.
And I mean, it's not really that huge of an adjustment for Kansas, but it is somewhat of an adjustment. They are playing in a different environment than they are typically used to. But then the number four seed is UCF, and they're also coming from the East Coast, and that's going to be a big adjustment for them. it really, you know, I think it's probably likely in the event that Arizona State goes to the Big 12 title game, they're probably running into Kansas. ⁓ It would be
it would take quite an upset for it to be anybody else at that point, the way that the bracket is stacked right now. And of course, ASU and Kansas haven't played this year. And that would create quite the interesting matchup to see how things go there. Because like we said, both teams have had stretches this year where they've looked dominant, and then they've had stretches where they certainly have not. ⁓ And also at that point, then you're
You're not really running into so much that issue of the time change, even if it was a lot for Kansas, because they've already been out there for several days, played several games. Then it really just comes down to which of these teams is better than the other.
Andrew Hayslett (21:23)
Absolutely.
David Howman (21:24)
So I'm not saying, but kind of saying.
Tom Hardon (21:29)
know, if the games all go to chalk, the Friday semifinals would be Arizona State and West Virginia and Kansas versus UCF. UCF did lose all three games at Kansas, but looking back at the schedule, there's really, outside of the opener on April 10th, that was the only game that, again, not diving into box tours, just looking on the surface level.
UCF played Kansas pretty closely in their weekend series. So I don't think it's too much of an upset if the Knights were to knock off the Jayhawks, especially in, again, that earlier time slot, which is going to be a 430, 431st pitch. That's a prime night game back in Orlando. They're used to playing.
in that time slot, even if you're already out in Arizona, fully adjusted to being on Mountain Time, you're still in that mindset of like, you know, yeah, this is 730 back home. This is not much different than what we're used to.
Andrew Hayslett (22:37)
I do want to add it's hard to beat teams four times in a year. We saw that last year when ASU lost to BYU after having swept them in their regular season in pretty convincing fashion. and you look at UCF as a very good team. We saw that as a few weeks ago in Orlando and yeah.
You can't write anything off because it's baseball. Upsets happen more often than some other sports. I don't think we'll see a Kansas-West Virginia ⁓ finals. That's my prediction right now.
David Howman (23:25)
Well, who will we see then? Take it a step further.
Andrew Hayslett (23:28)
Oh, you're throwing me on the spot here. We'll say UCF West Virginia. And I'll take West Virginia. I do think West Virginia is the best team in this conference right now. Will we?
David Howman (23:31)
We know it won't be Kansas and West Virginia.
Andrew Hayslett (23:49)
but the best teams also don't always win, so I could be wrong.
David Howman (23:54)
Tom, I'm gonna put you on the spot now, it's only fair. I guess you could say it's a surprise.
Tom Hardon (23:57)
I'm
just I'm gonna go Go out on a limb here and say that Arizona State and West Virginia are gonna play a 42 winning game and The big 12 officials are just gonna say you know what we're not gonna play on Saturday This game is the championship. Sorry to whoever comes out of semifinal number one Too bad so sad
David Howman (24:21)
⁓
If that happens, I will give you every single cent to my name. You heard it here. That's a deal. I think we're getting ASU Kansas. ⁓ I just, feel it in my bones. ASU Kansas in the big 12 title game and ASU is going to win it. ⁓ And there'll be the second Sun Devil team in the last.
Tom Hardon (24:31)
I just love the chaos.
David Howman (24:50)
what is it, three weeks now to win a Big 12 title because of course pivoting to the other team that's having a moment right now, Sun Devil Softball. And we haven't been on to talk about it since it happened and so many other things have happened since, but ASU Softball won the Big 12. I mean, was, I mean, they had a good year. were ranked most of the year, but it was also...
a loaded Big 12 on the softball side. And I think they were an underdog for every game throughout the tournament and they upset multiple teams. Of course, it started with upsetting the team that is down to the south of us. We don't need to say what their name is, but they did. The Sun Devils knocked him out of the tournament, which is always a fun time. I would have been fine if that was the last game that they played to end the Wildcats run.
and then they don't want to get another game, I'll take that. But then they kept on going. They went all the way to the Big 12 title game. They played Texas Tech, who was, I believe they finished the regular season ranked fourth in the country and they beat them and they won the Big 12 and ⁓ got a favorable spot in the tournament.
I know like we don't necessarily cover softball as much as we've covered baseball. ⁓ But guys, how much were you paying attention to softball up until their big 12 tournament run this year?
Andrew Hayslett (26:26)
was keeping an eye on them. always try to keep an eye on every single sport at ASCO, regardless of level. It's always good to see, okay, how each team's doing. I was a little surprised by the run, but not totally surprised because they had beat good teams before. They played Oklahoma State. I was at the first
game of that series where they won that game in walk-off fashion and they went down to Tucson won a game there didn't win the series but they played they beat some good teams in there in the regular season so it isn't too surprising
Tom Hardon (27:12)
Yeah, like Andrew, I kept an eye on softball throughout the year. I didn't religiously watch every single game. I watched as I could. But certainly during the conference tournament and ⁓ beyond, I did make a point to at least tune in for part, if not all of the games. And when you look at this team coming out of the conference as a sixth seed with an 11 and 13 conference record,
It would be easy to write the Sun Devils off on the surface and say, this team doesn't really stand much of a chance, you see it all the time in every single sport. doesn't matter how regular season records are completely off the table when it comes to postseason time. It's how hot a team is when it comes down to
tournament time and this team proved that they are, if not the hottest, certainly one of the hottest teams across the country in the softball landscape.
Andrew Hayslett (28:19)
⁓ Yeah, on their Big 12 run, do want to add they beat the number three team in conference, number two team in conference, and the number one team in conference. And they went through two of the best pitchers in the conference as well in Ruby Malin and
David Howman (28:19)
and go ahead.
Andrew Hayslett (28:40)
exactly how to pronounce the text. The tech pitchers named Najiri Kenadi, think, is something like that. But two good pitchers, the top three seeds, was very impressive.
David Howman (28:55)
Yeah, and it turned out to be a good bit of like showing that they're battle tested because then they go into the tournament and they go into the regionals and what do they do? They win the whole thing. They win and they're moving on to the super regionals. They were in the same regional as Texas A &M, which was really fitting because Texas A &M's coach, of course, is Trisha Ford, who preceded.
current ASU softball head coach, ⁓ Megan Bartlett. And, you know, the last time ASU went to Super Regionals was last year, Tricia Ford coached at ASU and she decided I'm going to go take the money at Texas A I'm going to have a better opportunity there in the SEC. And here she is not getting to the Super Regional and ASU is going instead. So it was a, it was really, really satisfying not only because
Obviously ASU beat A both times in the double elimination. When it came to that second time around, it felt really the odds were in their favor because A would have had to beat them twice. ASU never even lost in this regional ⁓ and they were able to, I think Megan Bartler did a really good job of managing the pitch count for all of her different pitchers as well. ⁓ know, Kenzie Brown, their like star pitcher.
had some action in the win over A ⁓ but not so much to the point where she's not going to be ready to go for the next level, which by the way, the super regionals now they're playing against Texas. So they're staying in the state. They're just going from College Station to Austin. ⁓ And fittingly, ⁓ Megan Bartlett came to Arizona State from Texas where she was an assistant for two years. So was a little moment of ASU exercise their demons against their old coach.
And now their new coach gets to exercise some demons against her old school.
Tom Hardon (30:55)
At what point do we just call the state of Texas Tempe East? I mean, come on.
David Howman (31:06)
Yeah, no, it's I mean, because because you obviously you have the big 12 title win over Texas Tech. Football we know owns Texas Tech. They, you football should have beat Texas in that ballgame. We don't need to relive that, but we all know what should have happened. ⁓ So but I'm really excited. It's the best of three round in the Super Regionals. Texas is a great team.
to be clear, they're a one seed in this bracket, ⁓ in this section of the bracket, they're going to be very, very tough to beat. ⁓ But again, like we said, ASU has beat some good teams. They beat some good teams throughout the year. They beat a lot of good teams to win the big 12 title. They beat a really good, very expensive A roster as far as softball financial standards go. ⁓
They're here for a reason and they're of the quality that they can actually contend against the Longhorns.
Tom Hardon (32:12)
Just the level of excitement seeing when Brooklyn Ulrich hit that grand slam to walk off for the Mercy Rule win. The announcers in the booth said it, not three pitches before, as Brooklyn was coming to the plate. Grand slam walks it off for the Mercy Rule, and what does she do on a 2-0 count? Knocks it over the right center field wall for that grand slam walk off.
It was a very team of destiny feel. As soon as she stepped to the plate, but just the whole game long like. That you know the ladies were out to prove that the first two wins weren't just a fluke that they were the the team to beat. In this bracket that Texas A had to go through them. To advance not.
Arizona State looking into catching Texas A off guard. The ladies, Megan Bartlett, full marks to her for having this team in that right mindset of knowing that this is our game and we're going to win it. There was no doubt as I was watching the game yesterday that the ladies were, that they knew they were going to win this game.
David Howman (33:36)
Yeah. And, and like you mentioned the grand slam walk off mercy rule win, which every single word in that phrase is just so much fun. Like you could not write a better way to win the regional than that. It makes it a little bit sweeter knowing the Brooklyn Ulrich, the one who hit it. She's, she's an Arizona native. She played at red mountain. She transferred to back to Arizona state from Marshall to come play for the hometown team.
to have that moment, to be the hometown hero and accomplish not only a grand slam, but now your team is in the super regionals. You're that much closer to a national title. Again, like you said, Tom, know, team of destiny, like you can't write a better story than that particular moment. And it was so much fun. And speaking of Megan Bartlett too, you know, was a lot of...
When Trisha Ford left, there was a lot of like downer sentiment for ASU softball. It's like, well, we've been winning, but we've just lost Trisha Ford. Like, how are we supposed to come back from that? Megan Bartlett comes in. This is her fourth year. So the first year she, they went 22 and 26. After that 20 and 31. So rough couple of years rebuilding the team. But then last year, they're 35 and 21. They go to the regional.
They don't advance out of the regional, but they get back to the tournament. And now fourth year, second year being in the tournament, they're going to the super regionals. Like the way that Megan Bartlett has rebuilt this program in a fairly short amount of time, given where her fan sentiment was when she got here, ⁓ it's really impressive. And when you also think about, you know, like women's basketball this last year, the Molly Miller effect, how much excitement there is around that program.
between women's basketball and softball, two of the flagship women's programs here at Arizona State, they're both in great, tremendous spots right now. The future is very bright for both of these programs. And I'm really, really looking forward to and excited to watch these next three games and always horns down and especially, I live out here in Oklahoma, so it's especially horns down.
where I live and so it's always nice whenever ASU does play Texas because I know just on that virtue a lot of the people I live around will be cheering for ASU just out of spite.
Tom Hardon (36:16)
You'll love to see it. Bring more onto the wagon.
Andrew Hayslett (36:17)
I do want to
add David to your point. You talked about how women's basketball doing well, how softball doing well, and arguably the other big women's sport, volleyball, also doing very well, multiple ⁓ NCAA appearances as of late. Your big three women's sports are all ⁓ doing big things.
David Howman (36:44)
Right, yeah, and mean, you know, it all, a lot of, it's not just the women's sports either, like we're seeing it all around ASU too. You know, obviously football's been pretty good. We just got through talking about baseball. There's a lot of excitement around Randy Bennett and the men's team now, and he's put together one heck of a transfer portal class. And even managed to have a press conference.
which some people said it couldn't be done, but he did it. And it just, it all comes back to me to Graham Racini, the athletics director. He's doing such an incredible job of finding ways to support these programs. And, you know, we know it's a tough job because, you know, ASU, the number of varsity level sports that they sponsor is significantly higher than any other Big 12 program, I believe.
higher than the national average. So it's hard to find resources to properly support all these different programs, but they keep doing it. And they keep doing it without it being done at the expense of football, at the expense of basketball. Desert Financial Arena is getting renovated. They're starting ⁓ this month, they're starting, ⁓ I believe it's a four-year renovation program. ⁓ We just heard about the...
the new training facility that football is getting. ⁓ Baseball this year went to 34 scholarships and they were one of the first teams, first baseball programs in college to do that. Graham Racini is not just making excuses. He's not saying, well, you know, we can't be great at everything. Like there are championship Sun Devils in football, in baseball, in softball, in women's basketball, in volleyball, and they're all competing at the highest level. And it's really, really exciting.
feels very rare to see that level of competence and success and leadership coming from the athletic director's office right now.
Tom Hardon (38:51)
And it's not just in words and promises. Graham Racini is out there in action getting his hands dirty and doing whatever it takes to support these programs. Whether he's speaking at luncheons, at banquets, whatever, or even something as little as driving golf carts around and shuttling the fans from stop to stop around the football stadium.
personal story opening up opening game of football season last year. My girlfriend and I were walking from from our hotel to to the north side of the arena and it was a hot day. Who who else should roll up in a golf cart and offer us a ride then Graham himself. I mean seeing that level of just commitment action. Call it what you want, but you know, seeing that that level of dedication from your athletic director.
And when the fans are seeing it, that speaks incredible volumes. It lets everybody know the investment that is coming from the top. And it's, like I said, it's not just words.
David Howman (40:07)
And he's, I think this also gets overlooked, but he's really tall. And I think that's part of it. You need to be a really tall individual to have success. I've always said that as someone who's 6'4". So I know we're all tall here.
Andrew Hayslett (40:12)
Bye.
As
Tom Hardon (40:23)
I think we're...
Am I the resident short one at 6-3?
Andrew Hayslett (40:26)
someone who's six, as a six four person, Graham Racini makes me look short. I'm like, I'm like, wow, this is what, this must be what average people feel like in terms of height.
David Howman (40:34)
he's, yeah, I'll look up to him, figuratively and literally.
This is what Tom feels like.
Tom Hardon (40:49)
I needed my booster seat.
David Howman (40:53)
We gotta get a little phone book for you next time. ⁓
But Tom, now that we've given you the business, ⁓ I do want to throw it to you because also another thing that we have to talk about is Sun Devil Hockey got their schedule formally unveiled. Tell us more.
Tom Hardon (41:15)
Yes, hockey's schedule just came out within the last three, four hours. And we've known the conference schedule for quite some time, since for about a month now. There's the same 24 games on the conference schedule. ⁓ Get a home and home series with Omaha, the designated rival for the Sun Devils for the foreseeable future. And the other repeat,
series on the schedule are home and homes with Denver and Minnesota Duluth. But today the final piece of the puzzle was announced with the non-conference schedule and for fans who have followed hockey the last few years it is a departure from what we've grown accustomed to seeing. No more big name programs like Michigan, like Penn State coming to Mold arena this season. Instead it's
opening with a series at Lindenwood, a fellow member of the ⁓ independent ranks that Arizona State was in up through the end of the 2024 season. that's a big move for Lindenwood attracting a big name program like Arizona State. Lindenwood's come here so many times to play over the years. Arizona State, quote unquote, owed the series to Lindenwood. So it's nice to see.
Nice to see them going to the st. Louis area to open the season at the beginning of October the home opener will be against Holy Cross a member of the Atlantic hockey America conference who has been right there in the in the conversation for Atlantic hockey champions losing out to Bentley in the last couple of seasons for an automatic bid to the national tournament not a world-beater as far as recognizable name
to casual hockey fans, but still a team that is going to be ⁓ a player and should be primed to make that first tournament appearance in the coming years. Then back in...
Andrew Hayslett (43:22)
D-d-d-d-d-
Tom Hardon (43:28)
Yes, he does. That is correct.
So, know, potential a little bit of homecoming there. Then, back to then the next series is at UMass Lowell, a team that's come here to play. They were actually the home opening series, the final season at Oceanside in the 21-22 season and most recently came out here to play in the Desert Hockey Classic.
in the 24-25 season. Arizona State makes the trip out east to Lowell, Massachusetts for a weekend series mid-October. And the final... Go ahead, Andrew.
Andrew Hayslett (44:10)
And
that's an Anthony Dowd revenge game too, as he played for the Sun Devils last year.
Tom Hardon (44:15)
It is absolutely. Yes,
yep, so a little rematch for Anthony there. And then the final non-conference series will take place over Thanksgiving weekend and much to my chagrin, also at the same time as the 100th playing of the Territorial Cup. But Alaska Anchorage will be coming down to play over Thanksgiving weekend. Again, the independent ties.
Alaska Anchorage was here this past season for the Desert Hockey Classic. A team that Arizona State is very familiar with and this schedule while on the surface doesn't look like anything to write home about. And you would be right, the highest ranked team in the NPI last year was Lindenwood finishing at number 37. The teams want to combine 51, 83.
and two in the regular season. But these are still going to be critical games that coming off of a season like the Sun Devils had last year. This will be really a way to kind of reboost that sense of morale in the locker room, especially with such a massive overhaul going through the transfer portal. And Andrew, we're talking about
Talking about ties with David Himevich and Anthony Dowd newcomer Olivier Hood transferred in from Lindenwood So that opening the series will be a homecoming for him when the season starts on October 2nd
David Howman (45:57)
Yeah, who would have thought, right?
Tom Hardon (45:59)
There you go. left it sitting there on a tee for you.
David Howman (46:00)
You know, I...
You, you, if you're just gonna not to go back to the previous point, if you're just gonna softball it in there, like I, I can't not. I was really trying not to, but I...
Tom Hardon (46:15)
I'd say
you knocked it out of the park.
David Howman (46:20)
Hope so.
Tom Hardon (46:22)
I think I don't think we talked about it on our last show either. I think this happened in between episodes, but ⁓ Colorado College in Arizona State will be having a rivalry trophy that will make its debut this season. It'll be awarded in December. ⁓ It will be awarded to the ⁓ winner of the regular season series between the two teams.
⁓ So Arizona State really likes their trophies and it'll be another one to add to the collection.
David Howman (47:05)
Now the one thing I want to touch on this is it's going to take us on a tangent so I apologize in advance but December 28th and 29th is the Quick Trip holiday face off and for those who haven't looked at the schedule on Reddit it's not the Quick Trip you're thinking of it's Quick spelled K-W-I-K Quick Trip and I just today found out that that's a thing that exists Quick Trip
Andrew Hayslett (47:05)
at.
David Howman (47:35)
Because again, everybody knows Quick Trip, QT Quick Trip, the best gas station store in the United States. ⁓ You may not know, they're based here in, what's that?
Tom Hardon (47:46)
Not named Bucky, the island. The
best gas station not named Bucky is All Hail the Beaver God.
David Howman (47:53)
Look, Bucky's
is a whole separate thing, okay? Bucky's is Bucky's. QuickTrip clears everybody else. QuickTrip is great. I also feel a sense of loyalty because they are based here in Oklahoma where I now reside. ⁓ you literally have to go out of your way to go to a gas station that's not QuickTrip here. So to see this...
this disgusting poser.
Andrew Hayslett (48:25)
which is also a gas station, I may add too.
David Howman (48:26)
which is also a gas station
and then I did some digging by the way and in states where QuickTrip with a K operates where there's also a OG QuickTrip those stores are named QuickStar so like at least they know their place in the packing order
but it's still very infuriating that we're gonna have to listen to the announcers saying the quick trip holiday face off and then you're gonna see whatever their stupid logo is go up there instead of the classic red and white QT logo that we all know and love. So rant over, thank you.
Tom Hardon (49:05)
We'll just call them the team real quick, Trev.
David Howman (49:10)
That's exactly what it is. And it's so upsetting. I got so irrationally upset when I saw that. At first I thought that somebody had made a massive spelling error on the ASU press release. So I'm glad it wasn't that. But it was possibly worse. I don't know. It was very upsetting.
Tom Hardon (49:29)
It's very disarming not
to see the proper quick trip.
David Howman (49:33)
Yeah.
Which, and now all I can think about is how we need Quick Trip to sponsor some sort of, big 12 something or other. We've got the Texas Rangers owning the baseball tournaments. Where's Quick Trip in all of this?
Tom Hardon (49:54)
The time is right. The time is right for it to happen.
David Howman (49:54)
I don't know.
The time is right. I'll see if I can run into the CEO out here.
Tom Hardon (50:03)
A nice little happenstance visit.
David Howman (50:07)
Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah, I'll channel my inner Taylor Swift and be a mastermind and make it happen. I know you got that. Andrew, don't think that you're, I get the sense you're not a Swifty. You didn't pick up on that one.
Tom Hardon (50:19)
Beautiful. Beautiful.
Andrew Hayslett (50:26)
now. Bye.
Tom Hardon (50:31)
uncultured uncultured
Andrew Hayslett (50:32)
I did not pick up on that. Yeah,
I've been called that many times before. That's not new.
Tom Hardon (50:40)
It's alright, it's not a cult, we won't make you get a bedazzled jacket or anything yet.
David Howman (50:46)
yet. Yeah, we'll give you time. You'll work up to it. But yes, hockey schedule was released. And outside of those two days in December, it's gonna be a great time.
Tom Hardon (51:01)
Well, lots of room for improvement over over last season performance and honestly the non conference schedule will set a nice base level to work with before going into the conference schedule starting Halloween weekend at Saint Cloud.
Andrew Hayslett (51:18)
You gotta win I think at least four of those games I have to say right now None of those first three teams really moved me but two two games on the two series on the So you if you split those you're fine, I think five would be the optimal number well six is the optimal number Let's be real you'd like to win all six, but five five you gladly take as well
Tom Hardon (51:42)
Absolutely, 100 % agree.
David Howman (51:46)
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to seeing how things play out. Like you mentioned, Tom T, with so much of the shuffling of the deck with this roster, so many changes. ⁓ It also kind of feels like, maybe this isn't entirely accurate, but it feels like the first real, like, prove it moment.
for Coach Powers, like it feels like with the hockey, so much of it has just been this gradual rise for the program. ⁓ And now it's like, okay, we've established, you
He knows what he's doing. The team is good. Now they've had a setback. So I'm really curious to see how he navigates it and how it all comes together once they actually get on the ice. ⁓ And to pivot to our last sport and our last topic for the night on that same theme of building and rebuilding through the transfer portal, we already talked a little bit about women's basketball and the impact that Molly Miller had in her first year. ⁓
getting some buzz now too for some of the moves that Miller and her staff have made in reshaping their roster heading into year two. Their transfer portal class was recently ranked number four in the nation by USA Today. They've brought in some really talented players. They already had Ruby Whitehorn who I guess technically isn't considered a transfer because Tennessee had
kicked her out of the program. Essentially, she joined ASU officially ⁓ during the season, but she didn't play for the team. ⁓ But she's an incredibly talented player. They got Reshonda Jones, who was an all-Big Ten, all-defense player for Michigan State this last year. ⁓
El Orion, ⁓ Avery Lauer, a few different players that have been mid-major stars, incredibly effective outside shooters, ⁓ Maddie Morrison as well, and built a really talented team. Of course, they also have some players returning from last year, Makena Brackens being the biggest name on that team, ⁓ Eloisa Caera also coming back. ⁓
Andrew Hayslett (53:40)
you
David Howman (54:01)
And they've built a really good team and ⁓ ESPN in their way too early top 25 for women's basketball also ranked ASU as number 23. So the buzz is really starting to build for this team. Of course, they were in the tournament last year as a first four participant. ⁓ We got a taste of what Molly Miller can do. And now it's she's building on that in much the same way that Kenny Dillingham has built on his early success in football.
and turned it into big recruiting wins. it's, things are shaping up very well for repeat performance for women's basketball.
Tom Hardon (54:40)
David Matty Morrison is the name that that stood out to me over 20 points a game at Central at Central Michigan Mac player of the year, but you when you get four top 100 Transfers coming in that that in itself is big and you just look at the look at the aggregate numbers that That those four bring in 57, you know 57 points a game 19 rebounds eight assists, you know, it's It's undeniable the
just the wealth of skill that Molly Miller is bringing into this program. And that's not even counting the high school recruiting class, which is also ranked in the top 25. So Molly Miller is doing a lot of things right for women's basketball and creating a lot of momentum to build off of last year's first four appearance and go even farther, farther and farther into the tournament.
was able to get to this year.
David Howman (55:45)
Yeah, big things happening here in Tempe ⁓ all across the sports. And of course, if you want to know more about any of those players, we did do a full roster breakdown of the women's basketball team, the new look women's basketball team, which you can read over at EchoFromTheBeats.com, as well as coverage of baseball, of softball from these two gentlemen. One of them very tall, one of them, ⁓ you know.
Tom Hardon (56:12)
average.
David Howman (56:13)
Average maybe a little bit below average depending on who you talk to Definitely the shortest one on here, but for my tall Kings Tom Harden and Andrew hazlett ⁓ I'm David howman. It's been fun talking with you guys. We got to do it again sometime Until the next episode of echo from the beats Force on devil nation as always give them hell devils