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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.
Tom Hardon (00:30)
Happy New Year Sun Devil fans and welcome to the first episode of 2026 for Echo from the Buttes. I'm your host Tom Harden standing in for David Hellman. With me as always, around the table I have Andrew Hazlett, Austin Bundy and Ihab Dean. And first off, I just want to kick it off with how'd you guys ring in the new year? Let's go around the table starting with Andrew.
Andrew Hayslett (00:53)
Yeah, I did absolutely nothing on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day. But to be honest, I wish I had more stuff for you. My family did a celebration, I think the 30th it was, but nothing on the actual New Year's Eve, New Year's Day. Just slept, pretty much.
Tom Hardon (01:16)
A true man of culture enjoying the ultimate relaxation. Austin, how about you?
Austen Bundy (01:21)
Well, I was ⁓ working on New Year's Eve, but otherwise family and I, we stay up till midnight, ⁓ watch the ball drop and just watching football any of the other hours of those days on New Year's Day. Thankfully it was off, so yeah, just a lot of relaxing. So that was nice.
Tom Hardon (01:40)
And what was your New Year's Eve celebration?
Aya Abdeen (01:44)
Bye.
got to celebrate the New Year's Eve with my best friend from high school. She recently got married in Flagstaff just a few days ago, in which I am so happy for her. And it's just really nice getting to spend the New Year's Eve, getting to watch a countdown with two of my best friends that I got to know from high school, and especially my sister who FaceTimed me on my phone. While I was about to capture the countdown, but it was even nicer getting to celebrate it with my sister.
as well. So it was also my dad's birthday on New Year's Day so I got to go out to a steak house and celebrate his birthday.
Tom Hardon (02:24)
That's very awesome. Sounds like a great celebration all around for everybody. Sun Devils had a little bit of a New Year's plan for themselves playing in the Sun Bowl over in El Paso on New Year's Eve. And it wasn't the end to the season that many of us were hoping for a 42 to 39 loss to Duke. Many thought that if the Sun Devils were going to lose to the
eventual ACC champion. It would have been in a playoff game, but making it to a bowl game and getting getting the season that the Sun Devils did with the injuries that that kept mounting up all season long. It's really a solid accomplishment and gives a lot of building for 2026 and beyond. Austin, I want to start with you. We got a really solid performance out of
Jeff Sims in his swan song in his collegiate career. ⁓ Was this something that you were anticipating he would have, or what did you take out of his performance?
Austen Bundy (03:38)
Honestly, the level that Jeff Simms played up to looked very similar to the Iowa State game that we saw him play. ⁓ I was impressed at how high a level he was able to play. all for a little bit there, I thought, he's actually going to do this. He's going to pull off a swan song and go out on a high note. I mean, unfortunately, he did throw that game ceiling interception at the end. It was not exactly how we wanted to go out, but it felt a little bit more.
closer to the true Jeff Sims experience, a la the Jameis Winston experience, just the Sun Devil version. He got a little bit of everything. He was killing them on the ground. He had some really deep, accurate throws. And then, of course, some heartbreaking turnovers ⁓ in the most inopportune moment. ⁓ I mean, don't think any Sun Devils really should be anything but proud of the team that showed up, considering there were 16 starters or 16 starter caliber players that were not present and did not
play in the Sun Bowl, whereas you were going up against the Duke team that only had four guys out and you were practically playing the entire championship roster that they had. So the fact that they were, ASU was winning for a majority of this game and playing some really good football, second, third, beginning of the fourth quarter, I feel like ASU fans have nothing but pride and nothing but hope going into next season, especially the fact that Kenny Dillingham could get guys who were not on the starting roster, not playing.
a ton of meaningful minutes during the regular season to go out there and play their butts off. ⁓ It should show anybody in the transfer portal to show any of these recruits that may be on the fence about where they want to go in 2026. It should show them that there is a culture of winning here. There is a culture of not giving up. And this is the type of program that even if you are not an NFL caliber player yet, Kenny can turn you into something. Kenny can mold you and show you your potential and
ASU is just a, it's going to be a premier program. think a lot of fans should really take pride in the performance, take pride in how much this program rebounded as much as it felt like a regression year from the playoff performance a season ago. ASU rebounded, feel like from injuries, from losing Sam Levitt, from Jordan Tyson not playing a full year.
and eventually him not being able to play in the the bowl game now going to the NFL draft. ASU I think is still on the rise. This was an upward trajectory year. There's a lot of resilience that they showed and any other team, I feel like any other ASU team prior to the Kenny Dillingham era would have folded and put up a much worse performance than we saw if they even reached a bowl game.
Tom Hardon (06:23)
Absolutely, I agree with you 100 % on that. I want to take this one to you. The shootout score, what does this tell you about the road forward for the Sun Devils, who is still slated to return and who is hopefully coming for 2026?
Aya Abdeen (06:48)
You know, that's a great question. mean, we have found that so the Sun Devil fans have found out from Chris Cartman of Sun Devil. So is that they have got most of their offensive offensive end. And while they're still looking for the defense alignment and linebackers to fill for the departing seniors and some of the players who are, you know, entering the transfer portal, the Sun Devils definitely got got their quarterback replacement with with Bollie.
who is coming in from Kentucky and they also found a wide receiver from Washington as well, who has grown up as a Sun Devil fan, which is pretty fascinating to see. And they also added in the running back David Avid, a transfer to ASA from Villanova where he rushed for 923 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman. And in 2024, in 687 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games.
as a sophomore in 2025 so it's very I mean like this speaks into a lot of resilience the Sun Devils have gone through as a group from the start of the season to and yet in the Sun Bowl even though it was a heartbreaking loss as Austin put it explained it mostly there's still a lot to be proud of for the Sun Devils team for basically years to come
Tom Hardon (08:12)
Well, let's talk about David Avid a little bit. Andrew, I'm going to take this one to you. An FCS transfer coming in to ASU. Is this camscadaboo 2.0?
Andrew Hayslett (08:23)
It very well could be. Listen, Sean Iguano might be the best position coach on this team. He consistently produces a thousand yard ⁓ running backs year in and year out. He can develop guys. He is the guy to develop guys. And that can ⁓ transfer into this, this kid from Villanova. Villanova was a very good team in the SCS last year.
made it all the way to the semi-finals. I believe that we can see a Kam Skadabu-like rise of going from FBS to college football, or FCS to college football star on a national stage. It is 1000 % possible with Sean Aguano as the running backs coach.
Tom Hardon (09:13)
Yeah, I absolutely agree with that as well. The minute I saw his name come across and saw he was coming from Villanova, I drew the comparison immediately to Skadabu coming over from Sacramento State. And I have nothing but high hopes for his development for 2026. And hopefully he stays in Tempe for the rest of his college eligibility. ⁓
We talked about the quarterback of the future in Cudderbully. This gives the Sun Devils three pretty solid options going into camp next year with Jake Fetty and Cam Dyer. Austin, to you, is there anybody who is a standout ⁓ favorite to win the starting job for the 2026 season?
Austen Bundy (10:03)
I'm not necessarily gonna put my money on anybody just yet. I'd like to see how they, first how they fit in with the locker room, how they fit in with the rest of the guys. ⁓ I would like to think coming from the SEC, somebody like Bollie is gonna have the edge over someone like Fetty, ⁓ but you never know. I mean, look at what happened in Ohio State, Julian Sayen coming out of nowhere and I mean.
He almost beat Will Howard out for the starting job last year. I mean, it just came down to experience and a little bit more grit and resilience coming out of that camp. You could very well see the same thing with Fetty over Bollie this time around. But you're not going to go and grab somebody like Bollie out of the portal just so that he would be competition in camp.
or somebody that you're going to settle for as a backup if you really wanted Feddy to be the starter. ⁓ I think Bollie will be the week one starter just out of the fact that you don't go into the portal and spend that kind of money as much as he is a bargain quarterback if you think about it. Just compare it to what Sam Levitt may or may not make at a Texas Tech or a Kentucky wherever he decides to go. ⁓
But you don't go and get an SEC caliber quarterback like that. You don't go and pick up somebody like that in the portal if he's not your ideal week one guy. If he's not the dude you want under center orchestrating your offense. mean, more power to Kenny if he can figure out how to unlock another gear, another level out of Jake Fetty. And he turns out to be the starter week one and it pays off. ⁓ Cause at that point you have a good problem, but you also have to
be wise to the fact of the the John Madden mantra of if you have two quarterbacks you don't have any quarterbacks. So I am leaning would lean towards the SEC guy but I'm not going to guarantee that I'm not going to say that this is definitely going to happen but you don't go into the portal and pick up somebody like a bully if you're not aiming for him to be there week one at Mountain America Stadium calling shots.
Aya Abdeen (12:26)
Definitely. I agree with you on that. in to what Austin has said, it comes down to experience as well. Quarterback, I forgot to mention his first name and it was, it's Cutter Bowley, like knowing that he has tons of experience with, during his time with Kentucky. I mean, it's going to be really interesting ⁓ spring training camp to see how it all goes.
Tom Hardon (12:26)
Yeah. ⁓
Aya Abdeen (12:56)
to how it all turns down into who will be starting the quarterback. It may be that if a bully is injured, Fetty might have a chance to step up while in case if he deals with an injury or something like that. But other than that, it's going to be really fascinating next few months in Tempe for sure.
Tom Hardon (13:17)
Yeah, I'm excited to ⁓ see how the spring practices go and see how everybody looks during the spring scrimmage. ⁓ it's, know, still got a ways to go before there. Still got some holes left to plug. ⁓ Andrew, I'm going to kick this one to you. Is there anybody still on your list that you're looking as a positional need for the Sun Devils to finish out in the portal?
Andrew Hayslett (13:43)
There's a lot you want to get. Just I'm going to say yes, a lot. ⁓ Offensive line, I think is ⁓ something you want to get. Even though the offensive line did look good in the Sun Bowl, you still want to get a few guys in there and experience instead of playing younger guys like a champ Westbrook's. I know got his first start and looked good. You have Helton in their ⁓ pool as well. Those guys are a good
core but you're going to seven guys is the rotation that Kenny Dillingham likes to get. I don't see seven guys on this this offensive line yet. I'd like to get a receiver or two still. I think you want to get someone to compliment Jaylen Moss. You know you got that kid from Washington coming in. I like what I see out of him but outside of Moss I don't feel like there's any
sort of target that's really developed from the portal last year. Derek Uesabio, he's a guy who's been developing, but he wasn't from the portal. So I still want to get one or two more because you have Jordan Tyson gone. Everyone knows that, but you also have Malik McLean going. Malik McLean was pretty much in every down receiver for the Sun Devils last year or close to it. And he's a guy that you're going to have to replace.
and I don't know how you do that at this point. ⁓ Tide end, think is one possibly that you might want to get. Kamari Anderson, I don't know how what the staff feels of him because you lose Shaman Mateer and Cameron Harple in the tight end room. We'll see what Kamari Anderson is. I love.
AJ Ea, I believe he will get his red shirt so he'll be a red shirt freshman next year. That's a guy I'm looking that could break out next year. He is very talented on the offensive side of ball. ⁓ I'm gonna talk more because there's more defensive stuff too. ⁓ Really in the secondary, I think is somewhere where you need to go because they've only landed one quarterback so far and you're losing.
Tom Hardon (15:53)
you
Andrew Hayslett (16:07)
Keith Abney, Zevion Alford. I don't know about Miles Rouser yet. think at this point he's staying. If memory serves me right, I don't think he declared for the draft. You can correct me if I'm wrong.
Tom Hardon (16:08)
Thank
Yeah, I'm with you. don't think he's declared yet.
Andrew Hayslett (16:23)
⁓ Jevon Robinson as
well in the secondary. So those are a lot of key pieces that I think for secondary, ⁓ maybe a linebacker to maybe a few defensive linemen. And then the final piece for me is going to be kicker spot. I think with Hazy Scomas leaving Karsten Kiefer. Yes, he's on the roster. I don't think he's the guy that you want to have kicking for you next year. I think he's adequate as a backup, but you're still going to need someone to.
Tom Hardon (16:41)
Thank
Andrew Hayslett (16:52)
to kick for you to fill that role that Hazy Scoma said. You don't want to have something that it was in the 2024 season where you rotated for three different guys. That's not a recipe for winning. As Austin said, when talking about quarterbacks, two quarterbacks, you have zero. Three kickers, you have zero too. So you want to get a lot of guys.
Austen Bundy (17:16)
At quarterback there you talking about Caleb Chester from Texas the one they've landed Yeah, I think that's a good pickup for them I mean getting a little little peach bowl revenge there to steal in somebody from the Longhorns But I mean he's a true freshman six foot one 179 out of Missouri City, Texas I mean that's solid you're getting somebody young that that they're gonna be able to mold and hopefully turn into that that top safety top secondary top of
Andrew Hayslett (17:20)
Yeah.
Austen Bundy (17:42)
type of player that you they desperately needed this year. ⁓ Like you said, they need to plug a few more holes on that side of the ball and the portal. I trust they're going to, but that's a good start for them to go and pull somebody from the SEC, especially from Texas.
Tom Hardon (17:59)
Absolutely and you're talking about talking about kickers and you one kicker that was visiting tempe this weekend matin vigani from ucla uh solid solid percentage as a kicker so fingers crossed that you know that the sun doubles can land him or find somebody who is going to be very you know who's going to be productive out of the portal
We'll step away from the gridiron for right now and we'll turn to the hardwood. ⁓ Both men's and women's basketball have been in action over the ⁓ last week and change since we were last on the air. Women's basketball opening big 12 play against Utah with a 69-68 win. ⁓ I want to kick this one to you and tell us what you saw coming out of that big 12 opener.
Aya Abdeen (18:47)
So this Sun Devils women's basketball team has always been resilient and consistent on the big 12 opener against Colorado. They have started out the game with a lead and they haven't even looked back since. mean, is what Molly Miller, I mean, Moimir loves to see, you know? So see how the Sun Devils women's basketball has defended from the-
Tom Hardon (19:07)
you
Aya Abdeen (19:15)
defensive end, turning it into points. This is what their identity has been known for since the start of the season. And have they been continuing their grit and fight? That's what I literally love to see. And they started off with a high note on there, but it's a conference play and it will continue to get really challenging for all of those teams throughout the next few weeks of the season to determine.
to determine how, where the Sun Devils will end up. Like if they end up in a spot in the NCAA tournament, that would be a big accomplishment in Molly Miller's first season as head coach. But the next two games was really like a test that they have faced. Starting with the road on Utah, they have one by one point over the Utes, like one day before 2025 ended. And then just...
Just yesterday, they have lost their first game of the season to BYU Cougars. There was a lot of challenges that they have basically faced as well. Like yesterday, what I've noticed, looking at the stat sheets, McKenna Brackens, the Sun Devils' leading rebounder, she was only limited to two rebounds, but she scored in double figures and...
And the bright spot for the Sun Devils is Gabby Elliott's scoring. She has scored 21 points on 50 % from the field. And the Sun Devils will need a lot more from the bench throughout the next few games. If they want to get into the NCAA tournament, then they would need a lot. they got, even though the conference play is going to get really challenging, they still have lots of ways to go. They could be problems for big 12 teams over the next few weeks for sure.
Tom Hardon (21:12)
Thank you for correcting me that there was another game on the schedule with Colorado. That's why we have everybody fact-checking each other. that first loss of the season yesterday against BYU, ⁓ yes it does sting a little bit, but looking back ⁓ at the most recent rankings that I see, Arizona State received eight votes in the AP poll.
Is the needle going to move a little bit to get the way to some levels a little bit of respect? I want to go around the table. We'll start with Andrew on this one.
Andrew Hayslett (21:49)
With these last two games no on like if you're some devil's fan, it's unfortunately to say because a Win-in-a-loss against those two teams isn't like Isn't gonna do it after winning all those non-conference games It's got to be a long winning streak beating someone. That's a real surprise like an Iowa State TCU Texas Tech one of those teams that people say
yeah, this team is a top team in the Big 12. And if ASU can compete and maybe steal one of those games, then the needle might get moved at this point. But for now, I think people are going to underestimate Arizona State, who I think will be a tournament team at the end of the year.
Tom Hardon (22:38)
Awesome. We'll turn to you. What do you think the movement upward or downward looks like after the Sleight of Games?
Austen Bundy (22:46)
think Andrew hit the nail on the head there. They're going to have to go streaking again. I mean, yeah, they just went 14 and 0, and they probably should have gotten a little more respect from that than they got. But like Andrew said, you got to beat a ranked team, but you got to do it in the midst of a four or five game winning streak, something that's going to boost their record, boost their standing in the NIT. Sorry, the NET ranking, something that's going to get them.
more and more eyeballs on national television because you need to beat those teams that are already expected to go to the tournament. ASU is not expected to go to the tournament, but they're one of those teams that would be on the bubble of the bubble if I can create that. ⁓ yeah. So a team where you wouldn't necessarily think
Tom Hardon (23:29)
Create a way.
Austen Bundy (23:35)
They would be a bubble team, but they're going to be on the edge of the conversation of getting onto the bubble and having the committee have to consider them at the end of the year. But you're going to need some of those resume building wins to offset some of these losses, especially against a team like BYU. You need to take down the teams that you're going to see in the bracket already instead of the ones that are also there fighting for those bubble spots are fighting.
to have their own resume builders. I think ASU will make it in the top 25 at some point this year. I do not think it is one of these things that's out of the question now that they finally have a loss. I think they are fully capable on going on a four or five game winning streak, including one against a ranked team that will raise their national profile and get people seriously watching and take Molly Miller seriously in her new role here.
Aya Abdeen (24:31)
I agree with what you have said as well, Austin. Adding in to what you have made, both of you, Austin and Andrew, Descendables will also face TCU, who also has Olivia Miles, who is known for a triple double machine on Sunday. Like before that, they get to face University of Central Florida nights at home on Wednesday, and then they get to have...
Tom Hardon (24:31)
I have a friend here.
Thank
Aya Abdeen (24:56)
their first actual, I actually meant to their second actual test facing the TCU Holden Frogs on the road on Sunday. Knowing that the Sun Devils had a challenge playing on the road, especially after yesterday's game, the first real test to building on to that success is facing TCU Holden Frogs. Whether they'll get a win or not, I mean, at the end, that TCU also lost its first game of the season.
to Utah on the road yesterday, in which they have allowed its most points of the season, especially after starting off on a high note. So it's going to be really interesting ⁓ to see how they'll continue to build on as well.
Tom Hardon (25:41)
I just said it, ⁓ the upcoming games for the Lady Sun Devils Wednesday at home against UCF, then traveling on the road to number eight ranked TCU. We will have all the action of those games, ⁓ both on Devils in Detail, and we will recap the UCF game on our show later on this week. Turning over to the men's side of the court, Bobby Hurley's squad did open up their
Big 12 play against Colorado at home and guys correct me if I'm wrong but this is kind of looking like the same old same old we've come to expect over the last few years.
Aya Abdeen (26:23)
Yup. mean, there was one of the highlights by one of the players who had a monstrous dunk yesterday, which it's one of the highlights for sure. But, but there is a lot to uncover, which even though they lost by seven points, which is still a good sign, but there is definitely a lot of work that needs to be done for sure. Especially after falling to Colorado at home. I mean,
The conference play is not over yet for a men's basketball team as well. for both for both women's and men's basketballs The conference play can be a real test to see how to determine how the season will go for you know, both of these teams and It's going to be really interesting to see how men's basketball will continue whether they'll continue to build on to the momentum or Will they collapse?
We will just have to find out for sure.
Austen Bundy (27:25)
I still think we're in for one upset this year. As much as they're playing the type of basketball we thought they were going to once we finally got into conference play, I still think the Sun Devils are going to pull off one ranked upset this year and get people going. Just because, I mean, that's what happens with a mediocre team and especially someone like ASU where you have these expectations of like beat the teams that you're supposed to beat. And then when you have a game where, okay, we can sit back and just let them...
Tom Hardon (27:25)
Andrew.
Austen Bundy (27:50)
lose to whatever TIA big team that's coming in that's going to wreck them and all of a sudden it's this close game in the second half and they pull off some ranked win over an opponent that it's like you have no business winning at all and then we go back into this cycle of we got our hopes up and then we're let down and then it just keeps going round and round again.
Tom Hardon (28:08)
Andrew three players fouled out ⁓ in yesterday's game. Is that a? That's obviously a discipline issue in my opinion. What do you think about that?
Andrew Hayslett (28:20)
Yeah, it seems like they're taking after their coach a little bit. We know Bobby Hurley as I I wouldn't say lack of discipline as a coach, but he's known to yell at the refs often.
Tom Hardon (28:36)
I believe
the polite way to put it is he has a fiery personality.
Andrew Hayslett (28:40)
Yeah, and I'd like the players to take more after his son, who's a coach on the team as well, and embody that personality of more of a calming personality than being a one that's fired up, yelling at everyone type of a personality. We'll see.
I think if it continues, it's obviously gonna be the downfall of this team. If you have your key guys fouling out and you are down one of your starting forwards and ⁓ Santiago, Truett, ⁓ you're gonna, you can't foul out. That's gonna hurt your depth. And when you're down on the depth, that's where you have to be especially careful and not to foul out.
Had this been a game where everyone's healthy, you say, okay, it's not good, but it could be worse. with one of your key players being out, it's just even more frustrating.
Tom Hardon (29:57)
Yeah, there's really ⁓ no good excuse for that many players fouling out. Again, ⁓ my novice knowledge of basketball, but seeing three guys foul out, that's immediately a red flag for me. Hopefully something that does get eliminated or at least more reigned in going forward.
tough game coming up for ⁓ the man at BYU, number 10 ranked BYU on Wednesday this week, and then coming back home to host Kansas State. Let's go around the table. We'll start with Aya, your expectations for ⁓ these next two games.
Aya Abdeen (30:42)
For the men's team, I would expect them to work to get back on the offensive end, getting aggressive, having better hot starts. ⁓ I mean, for the Thunderbolt men's basketball, there has to be a lot of work that needs to be done. Even though they still had one of their best runs in a tournament in Hawaii earlier this season, they still need to work on a couple of things such as getting
getting back on the defensive end and limiting points and especially like getting hot on the offensive end and having hot starts. Then for the women's basketball, the last game against BYU, they were out rebounded 25 to 54. Literally. And that's not a way to win a game if you rebound like this. So I expect the Sun Devils women's basketball team to get back on the defensive end.
and take better care of the basketball and shoot well. Like in the second half, they were cold on the field. There are some things that Molly Miller needs to talk to the group about. But other than that, I'm excited to see what women's basketball has in store for sure.
Tom Hardon (32:01)
also pick this one you and your expectations for the ⁓ the upcoming games for both men's and women's
Austen Bundy (32:07)
I'm not worried about the women. I think my expectations are to get two out of two wins there. I think Molly Miller is gonna coach them up. They're gonna learn from their mistakes. I don't think they're gonna stay down for long. ⁓ I do not have many worries when it comes to this team going forward. Sure, they're gonna lose games, but I have the higher expectation that they're going to lose a lot less than they're going to win this year. ⁓ As for the men...
Honestly, like you would look at these next two games against BYU in Kansas State and you would say, okay, BYU just survive and then go and try and win the Kansas State game at home. I'm going to flip the expectation here and just, like what we talked about that the season preview, if there's going to be a game that they need to win in order to say we're not a dead in the water team, it would be this BYU game, especially since they're a top 10 team. I'm going to shoot my shot here and say they're going to win the BYU game.
And then they're going to lose the Kansas State game because that's just how the Bobby Hurley Sun Devils do it. They'll win against these big teams and then they'll go and lose the games that they ought to handle. No problem.
Tom Hardon (33:10)
the script I liked it. ⁓ Andrew same question to you.
Andrew Hayslett (33:14)
I don't think Austin's wrong in the fact that they're going to get an upset this year on the men's side. think push it back about a month or so. I think it's too early in the season for that. And Austin's normally the pessimist. I'll be the pessimist for once here. I think ASU women's, they're going to go 1-1 TCU. Good team. And I don't think the men's team can be anywhere close to BYU. I think.
They'll just get blown out of the water. And for the Kansas State game, it'll be close, but I think it'll be a loss. think it'll be similar fashion to Colorado, close down to the end, back and forth. But we'll see. They can prove me wrong or they can prove me right.
Tom Hardon (34:03)
I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna side with Austin here. I'm gonna say you know women are gonna gonna sweep the week in there on their side men Honestly, it's kind of like throwing darts ⁓ I'm gonna say that they get not quite blown out by BYU, but it's not gonna be it's gonna be one of those games where it's too little too late and it's a
It's a seven or eight point loss. then I think flip the script and get the win over Kansas State. But it'll be a one or two point margin. That's my outlook for the men's in their upcoming schedule. We'll kick it from the hard court over to the ice. Hockey has been in action for ⁓ the last two weekends.
Aya Abdeen (34:46)
I mean.
Tom Hardon (34:55)
Andrew, you were highly tuned in to the series at Dartmouth that the Sun Devils split. I'll let you take it away on this one. us your takeaways from that weekend in New Hampshire.
Andrew Hayslett (35:09)
Yeah, it was kind of like what the past few road series have been for the Sun Devils, going back to Duluth, going back to North Dakota, a convincing win one game and a convincing loss the next game. It's a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde team. The only difference this week or that weekend was the loss was the second game in the series versus the win. ASU was able to get the win on ⁓ Saturday evening in New Hampshire against the Big Green.
Tom Hardon (35:18)
Thank
Andrew Hayslett (35:39)
just dominated. Potter scored the top line looked really good as per usual. The coach power set it on Saturday night's press conference. He believes that they are the best line in college hockey. They scored the most points out of any to any trio on any team in college hockey. You can mismatch players. No one comes. Michigan Michigan has a trio that comes close, but
Cruz Lucius, Bennett Shimick, their top two in points in scoring for the NCAA this year. And they're, they're, deliver. On Sunday, that wasn't the case. Only one goal from that top line coming from Colin Potter just kind of got what they were doing well. They just didn't do on, didn't do well on Sunday. Simple, like if you were to ask me,
Take away the jerseys, take away the names, put these teams nameless, faceless. I would have said, ⁓ the team that won Saturday won Sunday. Because they were both very convincing wins. But at the end of the day, two different teams on two different occasions that didn't look like, each team looked like two different teams.
So that's kind of the story of ASU season thus far. But getting these top 10 splits, these splits on the road against top 10 teams helps the NPI ranking a lot. We saw them go from the low 30s to the mid 20s on that weekend, which if you want to make the tournament, you have to do, you have to get those key splits on the road against those really good teams and then beat up on the bad teams.
Tom Hardon (37:12)
Thank
Andrew Hayslett (37:33)
which they did in the Desert Hockey Classic.
Tom Hardon (37:36)
that they did where the Dartmouth series was a tale of two games that was not the story this past weekend from Mold Arena. Friday night saw the Sun Devils hosting Alaska Anchorage in the nightcap of the Desert Hockey Classic and a very convincing 7-2 win over the Seawolves. And that's a team that, had they given the Sun Devils any challenge?
you would be coming out of that game thinking, okay, that's gonna really, that's gonna be a defining moment. Even if the Sun Devils have pulled out a close four-three win, that's a game that's gonna leave you scratching your head and wondering what this team brings to the table. But instead, exploded for seven goals and highlighted by Colin Potter's first career hat trick, this team was firing on all cylinders, got a great 22 save effort.
out of San Alurban and just the top line is like a well-oiled machine like you said the ⁓ highest scoring line in college hockey for my money the only line that really compares is Minnesota Duluth the the max plant and zam plant Jason Chagabay line but you know these guys have proven that they are equals of the task of going against those ⁓
those top flight lines and then taking advantage of the lesser lesser teams that they really need to win against. And Saturday, yesterday's championship game was a was against Air Force and that came after a surprising eight to eight to two victory for for the Air Force Falcons over Michigan Tech. I I thought that Michigan Tech would be facing off against the Sun Devils in the championship game.
Andrew Hayslett (39:29)
mixed two of us.
Tom Hardon (39:30)
That was not the case. was instead the Falcons who spoiled the Sun Devils start last year to open the 2024-25 season by stealing an overtime game up in Colorado Springs. But once again, it was a very, very solid all-around effort. Two goals by Carmelo Crandell. Colin Potter extended his goal scoring streak to five games on the season.
took home yet another trophy, third straight Desert Hockey Classic Championship, fifth straight in season tournament. And you and I both got a chance to speak with Coach Powers and Bennett Shimick and Carmelo Crandall after the game. winning these trophies doesn't get old for the guys, but it's now time to start winning the right trophies. Would you say that's the case, Andrew?
Andrew Hayslett (40:25)
Absolutely. Winning three Desert Hockey Classics in a row. Awesome. That's something before they started the Swing Street, they didn't do. They hadn't won whatever, I think the first five, six, something like that Desert Hockey Classics. They weren't able to do that. And now having done that three times in a row, that's something, hey, we're a good team. We can win our own tournament. Winning up in Lake Placid, the Adironic winner.
invitational and then the icebreaker tournament in Tempe this year says just furthers that. Especially with coach powers saying that the tournament is going to go on hiatus for a few years on last night's presser with other commitment scheduling commitments got to fulfill other things. Winning the desert hockey classic.
It means a lot to these guys. And now you just got to take that, it in the NCHC conference tournament at the end of the year, which they were eliminated in the semi-finals against Denver. And if you win that tournament, you make the NCAA tournament and have a shot at the national championship.
Austen Bundy (41:46)
Do we know what scheduling ⁓ commitments he was referring to that are going to force the desert hockey classic into hiatus?
Tom Hardon (41:55)
Nothing has been officially announced yet, but I've been piecing together a little bit on my own with St. Thomas joining the NCHC, bringing the membership up to 10 teams. That has an impact on overall scheduling and then commitments with big 10 teams dating back to the pandemic impacted.
2020-2021 season where ASU played all on the road, I believe that will be a factor in those scheduling commitments as well. There are some return games that are owed by teams like Wisconsin, teams like Michigan State. That's why you saw Ohio State come and play over Thanksgiving weekend. That was considered an owed trip by the Buckeyes.
Austen Bundy (42:38)
I think that's gonna in the long run benefit ASU's Not just there's get the value of their schedule the strength of their schedule going forward But I think that's just going to be overall a better thing for the program to see some of those bigger names Especially this big 10 teams coming been to 10 beats gonna sell a lot of tickets and it's gonna get a lot more eyeballs on the program going forward
Tom Hardon (42:58)
Absolutely going up against the top flight competition across college hockey with with big with the Big Ten as ⁓ as potent as they can be seeing how Michigan is holding on the top spot in the NPI rankings as we speak Arizona State currently sitting at number 24 Andrew is what as Andrew was mentioned earlier If you don't if the Sun Oaks do not come away with the NCHC championship and therefore the auto bid from the conference
to be safely in the tournament as an at-large the Sun Devils need to get on to about that 12 to 13 line to avoid getting knocked out by any bid stealers coming from Atlantic Hockey for sure and historically the CCHA conference, but really any conference can produce a bid stealer. This year's looking like Hockey East is going to be one of those bid stealing teams.
with only UConn in the top 15 in the NPI rankings as we speak. Usually you would see teams like Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern peppering the top 20, but that's not the case this year. Go ahead.
Andrew Hayslett (44:11)
Yeah, I want
to I want to kind of piggyback off of that in in these two tournaments ASU's played in ASU's missed out on the top team and the NPI in both which I think could be a detriment to the Sun Devils down the road and not playing Michigan Tech and especially Quinnipiac and the icebreaker is Quinnipiac is a gonna be ⁓
an NCAA tournament team in all likelihood, barring a meltdown by them down the stretch. And just playing those teams, even if you lose, that helps your NPI versus playing your Alaska Anchorage's who by winning it helps your NPI, but the NPI has a huge weight on strength of schedule. Alaska Anchorage has not done very much.
this season. have what, six wins, five wins, something like that? Three wins right now.
Tom Hardon (45:11)
313 and 0. We
rank 58th in the NPI.
Andrew Hayslett (45:17)
They're probably not going to get to double digit wins this year. Playing them instead of a Michigan Tech.
I would have full confidence in the Sun Devils to beat Michigan Tech and Air Force in a given weekend. That could be the difference at the end of year is not getting the draw of the top teams in the NPI at the end of the day. Which, if that's the case, it will be interesting to watch if the Sun Devils will be in any other tournaments next year on who they play.
Tom Hardon (45:51)
That is always a possibility of future tournaments, we will not find that out until...
looks like April when the when the rest of the schedule comes out following the national championship. But what we do know is the Sun Devils upcoming schedule this weekend, Friday and Saturday, the Sun Devils will play host to the Miami of Ohio Red Hawks. Sun Devils did travel to Miami earlier this season, but this is going to be a very much different, ⁓ much different Miami team than
the team that the Sun Devils faced earlier. you remember earlier, Miami was starting out at the gate very hot. They were undefeated at one point in time and the Sun Devils split over Halloween weekend. This is a weekend series that the Sun Devils should be able to, need to be able to get a sweep. Miami is sitting right behind the Sun Devils at number 30 in the NPI.
Andrew, is there anything that concerns you about that series after what you saw this weekend?
Andrew Hayslett (47:03)
Not really.
Miami was able to get one of a win over Ferris State in their, I believe the Great Lakes Invitational is where they played last weekend. But that was a different team that was just coming off a sweep of Ferris State in the beginning of the year. This team is kind of, as you said, Tom, kind of just sat there and won a few games, lost a few games.
This hat if you're the Sun Devils you have to be thinking sleep six points That's what you need because over time wins versus Brit regulation wins means something and and all these the the NPI and the conference seedings so getting those extra points extra
extra points in these games mean a lot. if you're able to do that, that advances your NPI and season points total, an amount that could be significant. You could be hosting ⁓ instead of going somewhere in NCHC tournament, because that's huge. Having games at home versus going on the road, that means a lot in terms of
how you feel you can win because the crowd at Mullet, it's a great crowd. That's been established. Without having that crowd in your back and going to someone who does have a tough place to play, like in North Dakota, who's up near the top, Western Michigan, near the top. ⁓ Denver, another tough place to play.
you'd rather be at home 1000 % than going on the road to start the tournament.
Tom Hardon (48:42)
Absolutely.
absolutely I'm in complete agreement with you. My only concern at least in the short term is the health of goaltender Connor Hasley. He did take a ⁓ pretty solid knock to the head towards the end of Saturday's game. In post game comments, Coach Powers did say that
there did not appear to be any injury concerns. However, from my vantage point, I did see him kind of shaking his head a lot indicating possible injury, but we will wait to see how this week's shakes out and who gets the nod for Friday's game. ⁓ We'll take a quick snapshot at the NCHC standings.
Arizona State currently in fifth place, chasing Western Michigan for that last posting spot. We'll run down from top to bottom. North Dakota leads the conference with 25 points in the standings. Denver right behind them with 24. Minnesota, Duluth in third with 21. Western Michigan with 17. Arizona State with 12. St. Cloud nipping at the heels with 11.
Omaha and Colorado College are tied for seventh with nine points and Miami comes in ninth place with seven points in conference play.
Andrew Hayslett (50:09)
Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how that goes down the stretch and then just kind of piggyback what you said earlier, Tom, about injuries. Johnny Waldron went down with an injury as well in the Saturday game. So that means if he's out and then your trio of McGurn, Dowden, Back stay injured and aren't able to play this weekend, that means you'll see the debut of Tony Achille for the season.
And we'll see what he can do. He hasn't played all year. I'd imagine he'd slot somewhere as a left wing. ⁓ I'd imagine Carmelo Crandall might get the jump up to the second line from the fourth line. and Achille will fill in there.
Tom Hardon (50:58)
Yeah, as you mentioned with Beck McGurn and Dowd being injured, Powers did say during postgame that Beck is expected to be out for a little bit more intermediate term, no clear timetable on when he is set to return to the lineup, but optimistic that Sean McGurn and Anthony Dowd should be returning sooner rather than later. So giving some hope to regain that depth for the Sun Devils.
Austen Bundy (51:26)
I got a weird question for you. Is Daud related to the Nick Daud in the NHL?
Tom Hardon (51:32)
I don't believe there was any relation there, he is the son of Jim Dowd, who enjoyed a quite lengthy NHL career.
Austen Bundy (51:39)
I just always thought I'm a Capitals fan, so I just always see Nick Dao and I'm like, wait, is there any relationship to them? mean, Nick Dao did go to St. Cloud State. Is there anything there? And I just never really took the time to look it up.
Tom Hardon (51:51)
Yeah, I'm fact checking as we speak, but I don't believe there is any any relations in Nick Dowd, just just to Jim Dowd.
Andrew Hayslett (51:59)
There's a handful of guys that have had fathers play in the NHL. Joel Schellberg's one of them. Ty Nash. Colin Pollard's mom played professional hockey as well. Am I missing anyone, Tom?
Tom Hardon (52:11)
and as an Olympic
medalist.
Austen Bundy (52:13)
Is Ty Nash, that Rick Nash's son?
Tom Hardon (52:17)
Tyson Nash's son.
And then not to mention, Josh Doan played for Arizona State now with the Buffalo Sabres. And at one time, Austin Lemieux, son of Mario Lemieux, was part of the hockey program back in the Oceanside days.
⁓ confirmed there is no relation to Nick Dowd so sorry to burst your bubble there Austin would have been quite a would have been quite a small world but had to had to burst that particular thought I think that that just about does it for this week's episode any ⁓ any last minute walk-in topics from we'll go around the table if anybody has anything else to add
Austen Bundy (52:38)
Well, it's not as small as the world as I thought it would be.
over here.
Tom Hardon (53:00)
seen a lot of shaking heads for those not watching on video. So with that, we will go ahead and sign off for this episode. I'd to thank everybody as always for listening and thank you guys for being part of the show. For Austin, for Andrew, for Aya, I'm Tom. And as always, them hell devils.
David Howman (53:17)
you