Tommy Smith didn't know if Arizona State would beat No. 1 Arizona on Wednesday evening. He didn'tt know if jumpers will fall or rebounds would bounce the Sun Devils' way. He had no idea if key whistles would favor ASU.

But he knews this -- even before ASU dropped a 71-63 decision to the Wildcats in Tuscon -- all of it could have happen, and that is a gigantic difference from past seasons.

"This whole team is on the same page now," says Smith, ASU's senior forward. "We're playing well as a team. We know exactly what (head coach Rob Evans) expects from us on defense. If we defend, we are really good. If we don't, we're just another team."

	Jason Braxton and ASU are on pace to reach new heights under fifth-year coach Rob Evans.

For the most part, they have.

ASU (12-6 overall, 4-3 in Pac-10) still is very much in line for its first NCAA Tournament berth under Evans. He is in his fifth season and following a similar path to one paved at Mississippi, where Evans was 42-16 his final two years.

Slowly, a program has developed. In its first four years under Evans, ASU went 14-16, 19-13, 13-16 and 14-15. It made the NIT twice, in 2000 and '02.

"I think we have some experienced guys who have been here a while, guys who have just gotten better and better over time," said Evans. "Every game is a battle in this conference, but we've become a smarter team."

And, as numbers prove, a much better one at each end.

Heading into the Arizona game, ASU led the conference in shooting (49 percent) and blocks (4.94). Was third in scoring defense (65.7 ppg) and shooting defense (41.6). In winning eight of 10 entering the Arizona game, ASU had held opponents to 40.6 percent shooting.

All of it confirms Smith's contention about the importance of ball pressure and denial, about sticking your hand in a passing lane and putting a body on someone to corral rebounds.

"We're just a better team now in terms of being able to match up with someone like (Arizona)," said Smith, who's averaging 10.9 points and 6.8 rebounds and has done a better job of playing under the control Evans' demands. "It's important for us to play a game and then go onto the next and not think about things like the NCAA Tournament. If we take care of business, we're capable of some great things."

The potential is certainly not lost on first-place Arizona, which reclaimed the nation's top ranking this week. The Sun Devils beat Lute Olson's team 88-72 at home last year, ASU's first victory in the series since the 1994-95 season.

"This is far and away their best team since (Evans) has been there," said Olson before Wednesday night's game. "They are very sound. They have nice balance. They are very aggressive. And they have a great inside threat in Diogu."

Ah, yes. Ike.

Freshman center Ike Diogu's play is hotter than a summer day in Tempe. He is averaging a team-high 18.4 points and 6.5 boards, a 6-foot-8 mixture of strength and skill. Said Olson: "He's a big body that posts up well and can use both hands. They really look for him a lot. It's almost like every time down, he's going to get a touch."

It's an impressive bunch when you add Diogu's post play with the athleticism of Smith and the numbers of guard Curtis Millage (13.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg). ASU is also receiving solid play from sophomore guard Jason Braxton and senior guard Kyle Dodd.

The Sun Devils were without starting senior forward Donnell Knight for the Arizona game. Knight (6.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) was awaiting word on whether or not he passed a mid-semester exam. Knight, also troubled by painful knees, is one of several ASU players who have benefited from Diogu's presence.

"Ike is amazing," said Smith. "He just has God-given ability. ... We're all just very confident right now. Great things can happen for us."

This much, he knows.

Games of the Week

Hawaii at Fresno State Thursday It might not be a must-win for the Warriors at this point, but it would definitely help their cause in the WAC race. Hawaii is 1½ games behind Fresno State, and beat the Bulldogs 88-77 on Jan. 13. The Warriors are coming off a forgettable loss at San Jose State, which was 1-4 in conference entering the week. Arizona at Kansas Saturday Sophomore guard Salim Stoudamire is already just two 3-pointers shy of 100 for his career. Arizona returned to the No. 1 spot in both polls this week. "In terms of how we're playing, we are not even close to No. 1," said Wildcats coach Lute Olson. "We have not been as consistent as we have needed to be." Still, the Wildcats are 13-1 entering a game against Arizona State on Wednesday. Utah at BYU Saturday It's going to take some doing for BYU not to lead the Mountain West at its half-way point. The Cougars (2-0 conference) play their next three in the Marriott Center, where they have won 44 straight. Utah rebounded well from a loss at San Diego State, rallying for a 66-63 victory at UNLV. Wyoming at Colorado State Saturday Each began Mountain West play with 2-0 record, but the Cowboys are fortunate they're not 0-2. An overtime win against New Mexico was followed by a two-pointer against Air Force. They'll need to play much better against the Rams, who are 13-0 in Moby Arena this season.

Surging Cougars
BYU coach Steve Cleveland is correct. This isn't last year's team, and it deserves its own evaluation.

A few games into the Mountain West Conference schedule, here's an assessment: Outstanding.

The Cougars are 2-0 in league after defeating Nevada-Las Vegas in Provo and then winning at San Diego State. This, a BYU team that went 1-11 on the road last season, including 0-7 in Mountain West games.

"I had already put the (road woes questions) to bed," said Cleveland. "That's now a question for (the media) and not me. Bottom line is, we're just going to play every game.

"You guys have to report what you see and I understand that, but this team has now won five games away (from home) this season. I know last year's team struggled on the road and it was unfortunate. But this is a different basketball team."

A team which has found a capable point guard.

Terry Nashif is a 5-10 sophomore who can discover seams and create open shots for wings Mark Bigelow and Travis Hansen. Nashif has started the last three games and opened league play by clearly out-playing two seniors in Marcus Banks of UNLV and Deandre Moore of SDSU.

Nashif's emergence makes BYU that much tougher, considering the talented wings and a solid post presence in junior Rafael Araujo. The Cougars made their first seven 3-pointers in beating SDSU 80-69, easily dismissing an Aztecs team that had defeated Utah two days earlier.

"A lot of conference teams are going to come (to San Diego) and lose," said Bigelow, who scored 21 in each of the two league wins. "To go there and steal a win is huge for us."

Especially when you consider BYU has won a national-leading 44 straight at home, where it hosts Utah on Saturday.

"We're not talking about winning and losing," said Cleveland, whose team offers the Mountain West's top RPI at 14. "We're talking about execution, effort and confidence. In this league, you can't get too high after a win or too low after a loss. The next game you play, somebody is going to come at you with just as much zeal and talent."

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