Arizona State's Surprise Big 12 Tournament Run Ends in Blowout Loss

The Sun Devils' season likely marks the end of Bobby Hurley's 11-year tenure as head coach.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:05pm

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The 17-16 Arizona State Sun Devils saw their season come to an end on Wednesday, as the team lost to conference powerhouse Iowa State 45-16 in the second round of the Big 12 tournament. The loss marked the second to the Cyclones in less than one week, and likely closed the chapter of one of the more successful periods in program history under head coach Bobby Hurley.

Why it matters

This loss likely marks the end of Hurley's 11-year tenure in Tempe, where the coach took the program to three NCAA tournaments (four if the 2020 season did not get canceled), which expands upon a complicated legacy from the perspective of the fanbase.

The details

Arizona State's offense was simply suffocated by Iowa State's on-ball pressure that extended 94 feet, as well as the strategic traps that took place in the half-court setting. Arizona State failed to make a single three-point attempt in the first half, and turned the ball over 14 times. Iowa State held a 33-10 lead at the 2:51 mark when Anthony "Pig" Johnson was assessed a flagrant one foul with a hard takedown of an Iowa State player, while Massamba Diop was handed a technical foul, as was Bobby Hurley. Iowa State attempted and made six free throws, as well as connecting on a basket to build a 40-10 lead by virtue of an 18-0 run.

  • The loss marked the second to the Cyclones in less than one week.
  • Iowa State led 45-16 at halftime, which tied for the biggest lead any team has held at halftime in Big 12 tournament history.

The players

Bobby Hurley

The head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils, who has led the program for the past 11 seasons.

Anthony "Pig" Johnson

An Arizona State player who was assessed a flagrant one foul with a hard takedown of an Iowa State player.

Massamba Diop

An Arizona State player who was handed a technical foul.

Iowa State

The conference powerhouse that defeated Arizona State in the second round of the Big 12 tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Texas Tech watching Iowa State beat the brakes off of Arizona State in the Big 12 Tournament.”

— Anthony Totri (Twitter)

“Watching Iowa State lead Arizona State 33-10 with six upcoming free throws on a court that's showing me their free throw percentages. What a time.”

— Mick Shaffer (Twitter)

“Arizona State in full meltdown mode, down 33-10 against Iowa State and just got its second and third technical fouls of the half (two on players, one on Bobby Hurley). Things are going well.”

— Pat Forde (Twitter)

What’s next

This loss likely marks the end of Hurley's 11-year tenure in Tempe, where the coach took the program to three NCAA tournaments (four if the 2020 season did not get canceled), which expands upon a complicated legacy from the perspective of the fanbase.

The takeaway

The Bobby Hurley era at Arizona State has come to an end, with the Sun Devils' season-ending loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament likely marking the conclusion of his 11-year tenure as head coach. While Hurley's time in Tempe was marked by some successful seasons and NCAA tournament appearances, the program's inability to consistently compete at the highest level has led to a complicated legacy for the coach.