KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Even before acknowledged having “one year left,” just like many of his incoming transfers last June, ASU coach Bobby Hurley knew his time in Tempe could be winding down.
That feeling didn’t appear to change Wednesday, after ASU was blown out 91-42 by Iowa State in an Big 12 Tournament second round game. Hurley entered the Big 12 Tournament subject to reports he would be replaced, and he reflected on his tenure afterward even as he said at that point that he didn’t know what might happen.
ASU made the announcement later Wednesday that it would not renew Hurley's contract.
“It's been a long road. It's been a special time,” Hurley said. “I had two of my kids graduate from ASU. I've had the opportunity to coach some fantastic young men and had some terrific moments over the years. It’s a great university, great administration, president
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“I don't have any regrets. I laid it out on the line the best that I could every night. That’s what I told the guys. I know they did it for each other this year and I did it until the last buzzer sounded.”
When the last buzzer sounded, the Sun Devils were 17-16, having gone 4-16 in the conference regular season and 1-1 in the Big 12 Tournament. That modestly exceeded preseason expectations, when ASU was picked to finish last in the 16-team league, while ASU also played what Kenpom rates as the 14th overall toughest schedule in Division I.
But beyond the wins and losses, Hurley said, were a group of guys he said provided him one of his most enjoyable seasons as the Sun Devils’ coach.
“it was a pleasure to coach these guys,’ Hurley said. “They cared. They played their hearts out for me every game. They showed up to practice with a good attitude and worked hard and cared about each other, and those are the things that as a coach, you have tremendous appreciation for.”
Joined at a postgame press conference by guard Moe Odum and forward Allen Mukeba, Hurley said Odum was an “amazing” story because of adversity he has overcome, while Mukeba has been battling diabetes.
““The guys that we put together were a lot of underdog type of guys. These kids have tremendous character. They fought for each other all year. …. We played a lot of quad one and quad two games. And for us to have a winning record, I think these guys should be proud of that. I'm very pleased with them, and I'll always have fond memories of coaching these guys.”
The Sun Devils’ season ended with a thud, however. They scored just 16 points in the first half against an Iowa State team that figures to be far better seeded in the NCAA Tournament than it was a No. 5 in the Big 12 Tournament.
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley is seen on the sidelines during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
ASU shot just 31.9% and coughed up 23 turnovers that led to 25 Iowa State points. Odum had just two points on 1-for-6 shooting.
“I think our guys came out with a great level of energy and intensity from the start,” Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger said. “We knew it was going to be important to try to speed them up and score from our defense, and our guys did a glreat job there.”
ASU had ranked sixth in turnover margin during Big 12 regular-season game, at plus-0.5, but Hurley said Iowa State’s physicality was overwhelming.
“They really swarmed us,” Hurleys said. “We got the ball in some really tough areas of the floor against a really good defensive team, and you just can't afford to do that.”
