Monday night's 20-point win over Ratiopharm Ulm had a more profound meaning to ASU men's basketball head coach Rob Evans than just a nice finish to the Sun Devils' preseason.
The game was the first to be played by the Sun Devils since the passing of former head coach Ned Wulk, after whom the court at Wells Fargo Arena is named. Wulk passed away Saturday at the age of 83 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Wulk led the Sun Devils from 1958-82, and his 406 wins are the most by any ASU basketball coach.
"I told my team ... he was an ally of mine, and he was a very good friend not only to me, but he was a friend to Arizona State, to the Sun Devils' program and all the people in the Valley," said Evans, who suited up against Wulk while he played at New Mexico State from 1966-68. "He was just a gentlemen in everything that I ever knew. He's going to be really missed by me.
"I miss seeing his face when I come out of the gym. I told my team, wherever he is tonight, we want to make sure he is pleased with what we do because he built this program."
Evans pleased with lineup
Evans said after the game that the starting lineup he used in the exhibition - Keith Wooden, Ike Diogu, Jason Braxton, Steve Moore and Tron Smith - would probably also be the starting five when ASU takes on Arkansas-Little Rock in the season opener on Saturday.
If the two freshmen, Wooden and Smith, do find themselves in the starting lineup, it will be the first time since the 1990-91 season that two freshman started in the season opener. That year, Jamal Faulkner and Stevin "Headache" Smith were in the starting lineup, and the Sun Devils finished the year 20-10 and lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
"There are a number of different ways we can go," Evans said. "But I would say if nothing changes, that will probably be the lineup on Saturday, but things can change."
Goldman gets cover
Diogu and senior walk-on Brandon Goldman will grace the cover of Thursday's issue of Sports Illustrated on Campus. The 6-foot-8 Diogu is pictured holding a basketball over the head of the 5-foot-9 Goldman, one of the team's four co-captains.
The magazine's headline, "Little Man on Campus," previews the college season and talks about all things small in basketball.
"I think it was pretty cool," said Goldman, who is the shortest player in the Pac-10. "I think my hair didn't look too good though."
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
