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Note he averaged 12 ppg as a freshman in the PAC10. Rivals 3 stars out of high school with offers from Arizona St., Indiana, Miami and Florida St.


Arizona State transfer picks UTEP

Arizona State transfer picks UTEP
By Bret Bloomquist / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 05/07/2008 10:42:59 PM MDT


UTEP men's basketball coach Tony Barbee has a simple yardstick for evaluating players.
"If you can't play, this isn't your place," he said. "If you can play, this is the place. You'll have a lot of freedom. We'll let you play."

Barbee's awfully sure that Christian Polk can play. Tuesday morning, Barbee and Polk announced the junior-to-be's transfer from Arizona State, where he averaged 12 points per game last year as a freshman.

Polk, a 6-foot-3 guard who can play either the point or 2-guard position, had four 20-point games as a freshman and he hit a game-winning 3-pointer in Arizona State's 67-64 victory over Iowa that year. His numbers dropped to 3.5 points per game this past season.

Former Sun Devil coach Rob Evans recruited Polk out of high school in 2006, but Herb Sendek replaced Evans before the 2006-07 season.

"I don't have any bad blood, I communicated really well with the coaching staff" at Arizona State, Polk said. "But I was recruited by Rob Evans, and I didn't fit in as well (under Sendek).

"I like coach Barbee's offense, it allows you to make plays. I think I'll fit in well there."

Polk will have to sit out next season as per transfer rules.

While he is a different type of scorer than current UTEP star Stefon Jackson, Barbee sees similarities.

"He reminds me of Stefon," Barbee said. "He's a talented scorer like Stefon. They are a little different. Christian is a little more creative off the dribble ... Stefon looks to get the ball in space and go over you. But they are very similar, very talented scorers."
Jackson's future with UTEP is uncertain, as he is assessing his NBA draft stock and also has been charged with a felony for hindering apprehension or prosecution.

"I'm not saying coming in I'm going to take his role," Polk said. "We're different players. I'm just ready to do what the team needs me to do to win."

He is the second player to sign with UTEP this spring, joining New York City point guard Blaise Ffrench from Holy Cross High School.

"He'll bring us much-needed depth at the backcourt position," Barbee said. "He's a winner. His high school team won big. They made it all the way to the state championship game. That's what we want to keep adding to this team -- players with a track record of winning."

Obviously, the biggest coup of the offseason would be getting Jackson to return for his senior year. Barbee wouldn't comment on the guard's legal status, but he is optimistic Jackson may not stay in the NBA draft.

"He understands with the depth of this draft, it's unrealistic he'd go in the first round," said Barbee, noting that he encouraged Jackson to take advantage of a rule that allows college players with remaining eligibility to declare for the draft, not hire an agent, work out with NBA teams, assess their value, and still have an option to return to college. "But this is all a great experience for him."


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not too worried...

What does the BCS have to do with basketball?

HFvictory wrote:What does the BCS have to do with basketball?

By far, the best question ever posted on ponyfans.

By far one of the most naive. BCS has a stranglehold on the financial competitiveness of all athletic programs in America. Every single sport in women's and men's athletics is directly impacted by the huge financial windfall created by the BCS.

Stallion wrote:By far one of the most naive. BCS has a stranglehold on the financial competitiveness of all athletic programs in America. Every single sport in women's and men's athletics is directly impacted by the huge financial windfall created by the BCS.

First of all, I could care less about women's sports. I'd rather SMU still have a world class track team.
Secondly, you know exactly what BCS stands for. Stop drinking the cool-aid and buying in to this crap. It's a failed, unfair football bowl system. It's not, and never will be about basketball or any other sport. Much less women's.
If you wan't to talk about misappropriated funds, look no further than Article 12, or whatever the h it was called. Stop being so naive.

Ooohhh...someone calling Stallion naive. This could get interesting. The pot finally being brought to task by ...the Kettle???? Stay tuned.

Bring it.

Stallion wrote:By far one of the most naive. BCS has a stranglehold on the financial competitiveness of all athletic programs in America. Every single sport in women's and men's athletics is directly impacted by the huge financial windfall created by the BCS.

Talk about naive....obviously you missed the announcement from AzST (yes the same ASU that this transfer left) about dropping mens tennis, mens swimming and wrestling due to budget concerns. You really need to get a better grasp on the financial windfall from the BCS and what programs it really effects.

are you drunk? I'll stand 100% behind my original comment w/o changing a word.

Stallion wrote:are you drunk? I'll stand 100% behind my original comment w/o changing a word.

??????? Why do you even suggest I am drunk. Really very immature comment on your part and just shows shows how overall you lack the maturity to fully grasp what is involved for many schools to be in the BCS. Not all of these schools are 40,000+ institutions with a wealthy alumni base.

This school you specifically referred to just dropped 3 athletic programs to save money. Tell me again how the BCS has in your words "a stranglehold on the financial competitiveness of all athletic programs in America. Every single sport in women's and men's athletics is directly impacted by the huge financial windfall created by the BCS."

ASU is in a budget crisis as are many schools involved in the BCS for football. The carryover you claim to other programs isn't what you claim it is due to the demands placed on programs to keep up with the spending that is demanded upon them to attempt to be competitive in the BCS.

Not putting a dog in the fight I would just say that I would prefer SMU receive or share in a $17,000,000 Bowl game check (or 2or 3) than receive or share a $750,000 Bowl game check (or 2 or 3).

Due to limited time, I'm not interesting in pursueing HF Victory's silly argument that BCS schools receiving 50-60-70-80-90 and 100 Million dollars of revenue under the BCS system does not have a negative effect on all Athletic sports. Any moron can understand the argument.

Stallion wrote:Due to limited time, I'm not interesting in pursueing HF Victory's silly argument that BCS schools receiving 50-60-70-80-90 and 100 Million dollars of revenue under the BCS system does not have a negative effect on all Athletic sports. Any moron can understand the argument.

So explain to this moron why ASU is cutting 3 programs to save money?

Obviously you do not want to address the issue further, because you are clueless to the reality. Not all schools in the BCS are thriving athletic programs with tons of cash. A huge misconception out there because people see what is going on at UT, TAMU, etc. They forget how much of the building is from alumni participation. OkieSt could not do a fraction of what it is w/o Pickens support.

So, I'll ask again, why do you think ASU is cutting 3 programs from its budget even though it is getting this huge windfall from the BCS as you claim. Answer that one simple question please.

I'll wait.

nm