Suns, Sun Devils spark Phoenix-area basketball revival

Phoenix's Goran Dragic (left) and Arizona State's Jordan Bachynski have been surprise success stories.

Getty Images; AP

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Herb Sendek has Arizona State contending for its first NCAA tournament berth since 2009.

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So began the workouts, the miles run and weights lifted and body reshaped. Bachynski cut McDonald's from his diet. His favorite order consisted of four McDoubles from the $1 menu, cookies and a large soda. The last time he placed that order was around Thanksgiving, and the first burger made him sick.

Jordan Bachynski is averaging 4.4 blocks per game for the Sun Devils.

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Phoenix rounded out their rotation with the Morris twins, forwards Markieff and Marcus and guards Ish Smith and Eric Bledsoe, who often twinned with Dragic for a lineup driven by two point guards. Bledsoe is out with a knee injury but expected to return this season.

Suns coach Jeff Hornacek (left) has coaxed a career year from guard Goran Dragic.

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Dragic has been playing basketball without rest from when his national team training camp started in July, and yet, he does not welcome any break. The Phoenix-area basketball renaissance must continue without pause, he reasoned, as the Suns and the Sun Devils approach the postseason and the Golden Grannies dance like it's 1989 again.