After a tenure of 11 years, a 185-167 record, three NCAA tournament berths and a legendary amount of technical fouls, the ASU men's basketball program has elected to move on from head coach Bobby Hurley.
The announcement came just a few hours after ASU's 49-point loss to Iowa State in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament, setting a record as the largest margin of defeat in the tournament's history.
Although entering a new era of Sun Devil basketball history will be a difficult journey, many want to see another turnaround in Tempe, where once-dormant programs like football and women's basketball experienced rapid success after changing who ran the Xs and Os. Whether on grass or hardwood, defying expectations is the crux of Sun Devil culture.
The Sun Devils have the pieces, notching two top-15 wins against Texas Tech and Kansas this season. But these turnarounds take work, and considering how this coaching change was thought to be a long time coming, restoring the men's basketball program is no exception.
READ MORE: Opinion: Bobby Hurley has done great work for ASU, but it's time to look for another coach
Let's not mince words: ASU is not a basketball school. Athletic Director Graham Rossini's football-first modus operandi will remain a constant given the success of head coach Kenny Dillingham's program (not to mention his massive payday a few months back).
That being said, Hurley was able to manage with the resources he had. Recruiting was his strong suit — he netted several 4- and 5-star recruits over the years, helping him reach a program-high No. 3 in 2018.
Granted, maintaining the talent was an issue that plagued Hurley's tenure, a concern that needs to be addressed with the right successor.
Fortunately, ASU's recent realignment to the Big 12 eases the onerous task of recruiting. The NCAA's premier basketball conference offers blue-blooded competition and an unparalleled spotlight, attractive to players and coaches alike.
Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun and New Mexico head coach Eric Olen have been tapped for Tempe's hottest job, both rising coaching stars in the mid-majors, as well as demonstrating success in turning around programs without Power Four resources.
Additionally, Saint Mary's head coach and Arizona native Randy Bennett has emerged in the coaching search, demonstrating consistent success in the West Coast Conference and boasting several appearances in March's Big Dance.
Take ASU women's basketball head coach Molly Miller — charismatic coaches with successful pedigrees can attract talent, consequently creating a winning culture.
Under Miller's leadership and a roster largely reconstructed via the transfer portal, ASU women's basketball is back on the map, evidenced by student attendance records, a dominant home record and a likely increase in the ever-important NIL war chest. There's no reason hiring the right head coach on the men's side couldn't beget similar results.
READ MORE: ASU women's basketball thrives in first season under new leadership
Retention matters as well. Although ASU will likely have to regroup and rebuild next year's roster through the portal, there are some studs from this year's team that need to be kept in the maroon and gold.
Redshirt sophomore forward Santiago Trouet has seen steady improvement throughout the season, offering offensive intangibles that would prove invaluable to the Sun Devils' next coach. Sophomore guard Noah Meeusen is a defensive menace on the perimeter and has the potential to run a Big 12 offense. A very possible offensive leap next season would pay dividends for ASU.
But above all, the priority lies with freshman center Massamba Diop. At 7-foot-1-inches tall, the Senegal native has defined the Sun Devils' defensive identity — elite rim protection, the ability to guard one through five, as well as a serviceable shooting touch, making Diop key for the program's success next season, and an unpolished gem in the eyes of NBA scouts.
Unfortunately, Diop's breakout year will make him a target for elite programs, meaning ASU will have to dig into its purse to keep his talents in Tempe. Considering Diop's strong relationship with assistant coach Nick Irvin, maintaining some coaching stability will be a necessary endeavor. Nevertheless, #35 is well worth the cost of admission.
These changes could very well be the difference maker in avoiding a slow rebuild. Although quick turnarounds aren't common (even if Dillingham and Miller might make you think otherwise), there's no need for fans of Sun Devil hoops to settle, especially given the flashes of talent this season's squad showed.
Beyond the starters and the sideline, the University is beginning to see the power of the purse, a spark plug for some short-term success in the men's program.
Sun Devil alum and NBA MVP James Harden has grown increasingly outspoken in his efforts to increase ASU's NIL arsenal, giving the athletic department more spending power in recruiting and retention affairs.
The long-overdue, multi-year $100 million renovation of Desert Financial Arena is slated to begin in May, offering an aesthetic improvement that could help a currently drab game atmosphere. Rossini's concrete commitment to change demonstrates to players, coaches and fans that ASU basketball won't be neglected, beginning to pen a new chapter with ideally more success than the last.
The rebuild of ASU men's basketball is still in its infancy. There are abstractions, what-ifs and roadblocks galore. It's no hyperbole that ASU basketball has seen better days.
That being said, basketball is nothing if not a game of runs. With a few more timeouts, changeups and adjustments, the Sun Devils could find themselves with some upward momentum of their own come next season.
Editor's note: The opinions presented in this letter are the author's and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Henry Smardo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at stroeste@asu.edu and follow @samtroester on X.
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Sam is a junior studying political science with a minor in business. This is his second semester with The State Press.
