ASU's Hurley caps 11-year tenure with upset over Kansas

Veteran coach's underdog team reflects his legacy of grit and culture

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In what may be the final home game of his 11-year tenure at Arizona State, head coach Bobby Hurley led his unranked Sun Devils squad to a 70-60 upset victory over No. 14 Kansas. The win encapsulates Hurley's time at ASU, defined by overcoming low expectations through intense, defense-first basketball and developing overlooked players into leaders.

Why it matters

Hurley's tenure at ASU has been marked by building a distinct program identity focused on tough, intelligent guard play and a refusal to back down, even against more talented opponents. This upset win over a traditional college basketball powerhouse like Kansas serves as a symbolic capstone to his time in Tempe, where he elevated the program's relevance and set a foundation for future success.

The details

In Tuesday night's game, ASU out-hustled, out-worked and out-coached the Jayhawks, holding them to just 29.2% shooting and forcing 17 turnovers. Senior guard Moe Odum led the way for the Sun Devils, scoring 23 points, dishing 6 assists and recording 3 steals, outperforming highly-touted Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson. Hurley's system and culture of toughness and accountability were on full display as his roster of lesser-known players and transfers banded together to pull off the upset.

  • ASU head coach Bobby Hurley has been with the program for 11 seasons, arriving in Tempe in 2015.
  • Tuesday night's game may have been Hurley's final home game as ASU's head coach.

The players

Bobby Hurley

The head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball team for the past 11 seasons, known for building a program defined by intense, defense-first basketball and developing overlooked players into leaders.

Moe Odum

A senior guard for the Arizona State Sun Devils, who led the team with 23 points, 6 assists and 3 steals in the upset win over Kansas.

Darryn Peterson

A highly-touted freshman guard for the Kansas Jayhawks, who was held to just 15 points on 3-of-18 shooting by the relentless ASU defense.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These kids care about the game, they want to play the right way. A lot of them are underdogs, like I always was... and they've never given up.”

— Bobby Hurley, Head Coach, Arizona State Sun Devils (on3.com)

“People don't know what me and Hurley talk about. He'd get in his dark places, and I'd text him the next day, like, 'Stay with us, coach. We're not giving up.' I feel like that really meant a lot to him, and he really meant a lot to me. He is the greatest coach that's ever coached me, and I'm going to war with him anytime... Without Hurley, there's no us.”

— Moe Odum, Senior Guard, Arizona State Sun Devils (on3.com)

What’s next

With the upset win, ASU's postseason hopes remain alive, though their path to the NCAA Tournament remains uncertain. The Sun Devils will await their conference tournament seeding and potential at-large bid in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Bobby Hurley's 11-year tenure at Arizona State has been defined by building a distinct program identity centered on tough, defense-first basketball and developing overlooked players into leaders. This upset victory over a traditional powerhouse like Kansas serves as a symbolic capstone to Hurley's time in Tempe, where he elevated the Sun Devils' relevance and established a foundation for future success, no matter what lies ahead for the veteran coach.