Heat Still On at Arizona State

At Cal State Northridge, the suspension of senior guard Trenton Cross for two exhibition games because he left a recruit at a party last month qualified as major turmoil.

But Arizona State, the Matadors’ opponent today at 1 p.m. in the University Activity Center in Tempe, is a program with much larger problems.

The FBI is investigating reports of point-shaving by at least three Sun Devil players in four games during the 1993-94 season.

Two current players--Reggie Hester and Eddie House--were arrested in August for stealing a compact disc player from a dormitory room. Charges against House, a sophomore point guard, were dropped. But Hester, a junior guard, is beginning a two-game suspension and will not play against Northridge.

Bill Frieder, the Sun Devil coach of eight seasons, resigned under pressure Sept. 10. The team was 10-20 last season.

Don Newman, most recently the coach at Cal State Sacramento, is the interim coach.

Arizona State figures to finish near the bottom of the Pacific 10 Conference standings despite the return of versatile senior guard Jeremy Veal, who averaged 18.7 points and 4.7 assists last season.

Northridge was 14-15 and runner-up in the Big Sky Conference tournament a year ago in Coach Bobby Braswell’s first season.

The Matadors are no taller than the Sun Devils, but three starters are back and several newcomers played well in two exhibition victories.

“Last year we talked about playing hard and having a chance on any given night,” Braswell said. “This year we have a legitimate chance to win every time we step on the floor.”