ASU MBB: Evaluating Bobby Hurley Through Two Years
By Zach Pekale
It has been two years since ASU Basketball inked Bobby Hurley to a five-year contract to become the head men’s basketball coach. Now it is time to evaluate how Hurley has progressed the Sun Devils during his tenure.
To properly judge the Hurley’s growth with ASU Basketball, this evaluation will consist of several factors including: wins and losses, recruiting and program reputation.
Wins and Losses- Grade: C-
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Arizona State is sporting a 30-35 record under Hurley with a marquee win over a ranked Texas A&M team at Wells Fargo Arena. Of that mark, ASU is 10-21 in neutral site and away games. Some of these results are understandable given the caliber of some teams on the schedule but the Sun Devils haven’t made up the losses at home, where they are 20-14 with Hurley at the helm. Under predecessor Herb Sendek, ASU lost three home games in his final two years in Tempe. Hurley will need to pick up a few more wins away from Wells Fargo arena next season to have a chance at being competitive in the Pac-12.
Recruiting- Grade: B
I know what you’re thinking. How do back-to-back top-25 classes with five ESPN 100 recruits only draw a “B”? Well, factor in the transfers of wing Sam Cunliffe and forward Jethro Tshisumpa alongside forward Romello White sitting out with an academic redshirt. The ceiling was very high for the program last summer before Hurley finished the season with none of his top three recruits on the roster.
Despite the losses of Cunliffe and Tshisumpa, White’s return to the court will be highly anticipated as well as newcomers Kimani Lawrence, Remy Martin and Kenneth Wooten. These additions immediately address the team’s biggest needs in perimeter defense and a true low-post presence.
Program Reputation- Grade: B+
While missing the postseason twice has left a bad impression on Sun Devil basketball fans to begin the Hurley era, the two-time national champion has still managed to put Arizona State on the map. ASU has played on national television at the Barclays Center, Madison Square Garden and Rupp Arena since Hurley took over with a trip to Allen Fieldhouse looming.
The biggest concern through two seasons has been the startling number of transfers. The Sun Devils have lost six players to transfers (Andre Spight, Savon Goodman, Sam Cunliffe, Maurice O’Field, Jethro Tshisumpa and Andre Adams). While the Sun Devils have received a fair amount of national attention, the loss of several key players somewhat overshadows the progress made.
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Assessment
It is difficult to judge Hurley when he has not had a full roster to work with. The Sun Devils improved in conference play using a six player rotation and won a Pac-12 Tournament game for the first time since 2013. With a backcourt loaded with seniors and multiple four-star recruits coming in, it’s very possible Hurley takes a big step forward in Year Three.