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Arizona State opens conference play at unbeaten Stanford

Jan 2, 2009 - 11:11 AM No. 14 Arizona State (11-1) at Stanford (10-0), 10:30 p.m. EST

PALO ALTO, California (Ticker) -- Arizona State is expected to contend for the Pac-10 Conference title this season. Getting off on the right foot against Stanford may be more difficult than first expected.

The 14th-ranked Sun Devils visit unbeaten Stanford in the conference opener for both teams on Friday.

Led by sophomore James Harden, Arizona State has won seven straight games, including Monday's 84-47 triumph over Central Connecticut State.

Harden is averaging 23.8 points and six rebounds per game for the Sun Devils, who were picked to finish second in the Pac-10 this season in the preseason coaches' poll.

Stanford was not expected to challenge for a conference title, but under first-year coach Johnny Dawkins, the Cardinal is 10-0 for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign.

Mitch Johnson had 14 points and eight assists as Stanford defeated Hartford, 69-55, on Tuesday.

Anthony Goods leads four Cardinal players in double figures at 18.4 points per game.

The schools split the two-game series last season. Arizona State's last win at Stanford was on January 6, 2005.