TEMPE — Arizona State men’s basketball is undoubtedly heading into a crossroads year in what will be the 11th campaign with Bobby Hurley as the leader of the program.
The 2024-25 team entered the season as a potential sleeper squad in the opening year as a competitor in the Big 12 – but ultimately finished with a mark of 13-20, which became the worst output of the Hurley era.
Mar 8, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley reacts during the second half at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images / Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Freshman stars Jayden Quaintance and Joson Sanon transferred out, as did the promising Amier Ali – virtually everyone else completed college eligibility. This development presented a rare opportunity for a coach to rebuild the roster that fits his exact vision – Hurley did just that.
The rebuilt 2025-26 Arizona State men’s basketball team had its debut in front of fans at a program-sanctioned ‘Moonlit Madness’ event on Friday night in Tempe, one in which Hurley pleaded with fans to continue to believe in the team despite significant changes that were made.
Mar 4, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley yells out toward his team during the second half against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images / Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
The challenge will be substantial for Hurley, as he is turning to multiple international players who have yet to play collegiate basketball. He is also taking a chance on numerous players who were with mid-major programs last season, although it is fairly simple to see a fair number of the transfer players translating to power-five basketball.
March 10, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Pepperdine Waves guard Moe Odum (5) dribbles the basketball against St. Mary’s Gaels guard Augustas Marciulionis (3) during the first half in the semifinal of the West Coast Conference tournament at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Among those players is point guard Moe Odum, who is set to be the first ‘pure’ point guard that Hurley has rostered in some time – the Pepperdine product averaged north of 14 points and seven assists per game a season ago, while Marcus Adams Jr. averaged over 16 PPG for Cal State Northridge last season.
The major challenge will be attempting to compete in a conference that potentially has as many as seven squads that are top-10 caliber heading into the 2025-26 season. The Arizona State season tips off on November 3.
ASU head coach Bobby Hurley speaks to the press at Weatherup Center in Tempe, Ariz. on June 4, 2025. / Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Read more on major takeaways from Arizona State’s clutch-time victory over TCU here, and more on why Arizona State fans should be feeling confident about the outlook of the season following the win here.
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