Arizona State's basketball season is over, or so we all thought. After finishing 13-19 and 15th out of 16 in the Big 12 Conference in 2024-25, the Sun Devils should be finishing the academic year and preparing for the transfer portal and summer workouts.
But apparently head coach Bobby Hurley wants his squad to keep playing and a brand new postseason tournament is offering that opportunity.
Hurley told reporters after ASU's 71-66 loss to Kansas State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on March 11 that the program will participate in the College Basketball Crown, an inaugural tournament held in Las Vegas from March 31-April 6.
A new kind of tournament. The new postseason reign in college basketball hits Las Vegas March 31 - April 6. Catch all the high-flying action only on FOX. @CBBonFOX @VividSeats @MGMGrand pic.twitter.com/HaR9bCHwP7
— College Basketball Crown (@CBBCrown) March 12, 2025
What is the College Basketball Crown? ASU set to face Nebraska in first round of brand new tournament
The College Basketball Crown will feature 16 teams from the Big East, Big 12 and Big Ten that do not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. It seemingly is meant to rival lesser postseason tournaments like the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). All games will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and aired by Fox Sports.
The official tournament bracket was released on Monday, not even 24 hours after the NCAA Tournament field was revealed. ASU is set to take on Nebraska in the first round on March 31.
The field is set. Two weeks from today it all goes down in Vegas. 16 teams. 1 crown. Tickets available via @vividseats now - https://t.co/VjK7Uctf7B pic.twitter.com/5sxdVoFdk7
— College Basketball Crown (@CBBCrown) March 17, 2025
The Cornhuskers (17-14) finished 12th in the Big Ten this season and earned marquee wins over four Top 25 opponents (No. 14 Creighton, No. 15 UCLA, No. 16 Oregon and No. 18 Illinois).
Hurley and the Sun Devils will have their work cut out for them in two weeks, however, that could be just enough time for some stars like freshman phenom Jayden Quaintance to heal up from injuries.
The team was ravaged by health issues, disciplinary action and just plain bad luck all year long. Leading scorer BJ Freeman was dismissed by Hurley in late February for conduct detrimental.
ASU and Nebraska are set to tip at 8:30pm ET on Monday, March 31 with the game being aired on FS1.