ASU Athletics: Top Storylines for 2017

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Sep 24, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky looks on against the California Golden Bears at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 51-41. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

2016 was an up-and-down year for ASU Athletics, while some programs exceeded expectations, others disappointed. Here are the top storylines to watch in 2017.

2016 was an interesting year for Arizona State. Sun Devils had a lot of coaching changes in numerous sports while some over-achieved.

The sports that generate the biggest interest, football and basketball, had their ups and downs.

Todd Graham’s football team were coming off a season in which they couldn’t match lofty expectations and were looking to prove doubters this season.

That didn’t come to fruition as Sun Devils faltered losing six games in a row and missing out on a bowl game finishing 5-7.

The men’s basketball program were wrapping up their first season under head coach Bobby Hurley after a surprisingly successful non-conference season.

Pac-12 play was a much harder challenge as Arizona State finished 5-13 in conference play and going one-and-done in the Pac-12 Tournament.

The women’s basketball team was on a completely different trajectory.

Head coach Charli Turner Thorne led one of the most successful Arizona State teams in school history finishing as co-champions of the Pac-12 and earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their highest seed ever.

Unfortunately ASU ran into a women’s basketball powerhouse, Tennessee, and fell to the Lady Vols in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament, saying goodbye to one of the most successful senior classes in school history.

Other teams failed to really make a mark.

ASU softball endured a tumultuous season which ended in the regional round of the NCAA Tournament.

The baseball team struggled as well as they were also eliminated in the regional round.

Volleyball, under first-year head coach Stevie Mussie, finished 12-20 and resulted in the abrupt departure of Mussie.

Soccer, in large part to a young group and injuries, finished 6-11-2 leading to the resignation of long-time head coach Kevin Boyd.

Despite a lot of negativity surrounding ASU athletics, in its first year of existence, the women’s triathlon team won a national championship.

Under Greg Powers, ASU hockey team made the jump to Division I last season and is in the midst of their first full season in DI.

Time to put 2016 in the past and turn the page to 2017.

Here are some of the top storylines of 2017 for ASU athletics.