ASU basketball notes: Tummala's intelligence, Holder's FTs
- ASU reserve forward Sai Tummala has balanced a lot this season.
- Freshman point guard Tra Holder has a knack for getting to the foul line.
- Sophomore forward Savon Goodman has confidence in his jumper.
LAS VEGAS -- Sai Tummala won't be the best player in this week's Pac-12 Tournament -- he might not even play -- but the Arizona State junior forward might be the smartest.
Tummala recently found out he scored in the 80th percentile on his Medical College Admission Test, which one day soon might help pave his way into medical school. That Tummala -- a Phoenix Brophy Prep product -- found time to study for the MCAT in the middle of basketball season is fairly remarkable.
"Every single time I've been on an airplane with him, no matter how late at night, everybody else's light may be off and they're catching a few zzz's, but Sai's light is on and you check what he's studying and it's anatomy, it's chemistry or he's reading a medical book,'' ASU coach Herb Sendek said.
Tummala's work load this semester: Neurobiology, Organic Evolution, Biochemistry, an Organic Chemistry lab and a thesis project. His grade-point average: 4.0.
How did he do it?
Tummala spent nearly six months preparing for the MCAT. He took a prep class. When time allowed, he tried to study four to six hours a day. On basketball trips, he studied on the bus or plane, in the team hotel or wherever else he could. Social life? Not so much. Girlfriend? No time.
"When you play a Div. I sport, it's expected to consume your life, and it's kind of year-round,'' said Tummala, who wants to go into orthopedic medicine. "You don't always want to (study), you're tired, you've had a hard day of practice, but you have to find a way to get it done."
On the court, Tummala has made the best of a difficult road. After high school, he spent one season as a preferred walk-on at Michigan. From there, he played at Salt Lake City Community College, where he was a third-team NJCAA All-American. In two years at ASU, he has yet to crack Sendek's rotation, but he's never lost his love for the game, or his belief that his time will come.
"I think (my basketball journey) has taught me the value of sticking with what you want to do," said Tummala, an athletic shooter who has played in 14 games this season. " I never really thought about quitting. I love playing basketball. It's always been a part of me. It's not always the funnest thing to do because, like everything else it wears on you, but no matter what, I've always found the passion to play."
HOLDER'S FIRST SEASON
Point guard Tra Holder became the fourth ASU freshman under Sendek to be voted to the Pac-12's All-Freshman team. He joins former guards Jahii Carson, Trent Lockett and James Harden.
"Obviously, Tra settling down and grabbing a hold of that point-guard spot was a keystone for our team's improvement,'' Sendek said. "The point-guard position is so important, both offensively and defensively. When Tra kind of had his breakthrough, I don't think it was a coincidence our team did as well. His play has been outstanding for a young player at that position."
Holder averaged 10.1 points over the regular-season's final 14 games. Entering Wednesday's Pac-12 Tournament opener against USC, he averages 7.1 points and 3.6 assists.
An area in which he has excelled: Getting to the foul line. Despite missing two games (did not play-coach's decision), Holder ranks second on the team with 131 free-throw attempts. He's made 71 percent.
"There are some late-game situations and it's always around bonus time,'' said Holder, who draws a team-high 5.5 fouls per 40 minutes. "I guess the way I use my body around defenders (helps). I know one part is when a defender hard-hedges (around a ball screen), a good way to get a foul is to keep going in a straight line because they're coming out hard, trying to get the steal."
GOODMAN'S RANGE
In his first season out of junior college, Savon Goodman has done most of his work inside. In fact, according to hoop-math.com, 77.8 percent of the sophomore forward's shots have come from close range. But that's starting to change.
Over the past two weeks, Goodman has stepped out and sank 16-18-foot jump shots, making him a versatile scoring threat.
"I definitely feel more comfortable,'' said the 6-foot-6 Goodman, who's averaging 11 points and seven rebounds. "When I catch the ball, (opponents are) used to me driving. (California guard) Tyrone Wallace took a charge against me (last week) because I was trying to force it in there on the drive. Sometimes I just have to settle and take that 15-18 foot jump shot and take it with confidence."
