Arizona State Coach Hurley Admits 'Too Late' to Turn Season Around

Sun Devils Struggling at 11-11 Overall and 2-7 in Big 12 Play

Feb. 1, 2026 at 10:15am

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Arizona State men's basketball coach Bobby Hurley expressed doubts about his team's ability to turn around their disappointing 11-11 season, saying it may be "too late to put things together" after the Sun Devils' latest loss to rival Arizona.

Why it matters

Arizona State has struggled mightily this season, failing to build on their NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023. Hurley's comments suggest the team may be running out of time to salvage the season and make a push for postseason play.

The details

In the 87-74 loss to Arizona, the Sun Devils were outshot, outrebounded, and outscored in the paint. Hurley acknowledged his team had played about as well as they were capable, but lamented missed free throws and rebounds that could have made the difference. Arizona State is now 11-11 overall and just 2-7 in Big 12 play, with a 1-5 record on the road.

  • The Arizona State Sun Devils lost to rival Arizona on Saturday, February 1, 2026.
  • Arizona State is 11-11 overall and 2-7 in Big 12 play so far this season.
  • The Sun Devils will travel to Salt Lake City to play Utah on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

The players

Bobby Hurley

The head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball team since 2015, with a career record of 179-162 at the school.

Arizona State Sun Devils

The NCAA Division I men's basketball team representing Arizona State University, a member of the Big 12 Conference.

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What they’re saying

“It's kind of too late to put things together, I would say. But, more or less, we've been scrappy. We compete. We've beaten Texas, beaten Oklahoma, beat Santa Clara. Close games. Fortunate to win a couple of them. We've kind of done as good as we can do.”

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

What’s next

The Sun Devils will look to bounce back in their next Big 12 matchup against the Utah Utes on February 4th.

The takeaway

Hurley's comments suggest Arizona State's season may be slipping away, raising questions about the program's direction and the coach's future if the team fails to turn things around and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2023.