Glasser leads ASU to win at the Garden

27Nov'09 Congratulations to Derek Glasser, Arizona State senior guard, who led his team to a 71-52 defeat of LSU to take 3rd place honors in the pre-season NIT at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Sun Devils trailed 34-27 at the half, but held the Tigers to a paltry 2-for-17 shooting coming into the second half.

Glasser put in a career high 24 points, and received high marks from TV color analyst Bobby Knight, who praised his intelligence, determination, and concentration. He observes the game and it sinks in to what he is doing, noted Knight.

Arizona State coach Herb Sendek is a member of the Center for Sport and Jewish Life advisory board.

In a contest for first place honors, Duke's Jon Scheyer (also previously highlighted here at JewishSport.org) had 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists to help lead Duke to a 68-59 win over UConn. Scheyer was named Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Mazel tov to Derek and Jon, and our best wishes for a great and memorable senior season to both!

Mazel Tov, Josh Pastner                Apr '09

The Center for Sport and Jewish Life extends best wishes to Josh Pastner, a member of our National Advisory Board, on his recent appointment as Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Memphis. Pastner, who spent the past year as an assistant to head coach John Calipari at Memphis after 6 years as an assistant to Coach Lute Olson at Arizona, was named to the position by the Memphis athletic director within days of the departure of Calipari, who has been named the new head coach at Kentucky. For the skinny on the making of the newest Jewish coach to join the head coaching ranks, click here.

Israel to Semi-Finals in Davis Cup Play!

2009 Israel stunned Russia in Tel Aviv to a quick 3-0 score, advancing to the semi-finals in Davis cup play where they will face either Spain or Germany.

Following wins in singles by both Dudi Sela (currently ranked 35 on the ATP Tour) and Harel Levy, the doubles team of Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich beat the Russian team of Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6 and 6-4 to i-make history by advancing to semi-final play for the first time in the history of Israeli tennis.

Dudi Sela Advances to Fourth Round of Wimbledon Play

2009 Israel tennis player Dudi Sela beat 15th seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain 7-6 (8), 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 to advance to the fourth round of Wimbledon, where he faces world no. 4 ranked Novak Djokovic.

For Sela, this is the first time in his career to reach the 4th round of a Grand Slam event - As the Jerusalem Post noted, Sela credited both the crowd which gave him a good deal of support, and former Israeli great Amos Mansdorf for his help. "Last week Mansdorf gave me a lot of tips - like take the ball early, come in more. I think I came in to the net a lot and that was the key to the win."