For most of the previous three decades, Arizona State men’s basketball was defined by inertia. Administrators, coaches and players came to Tempe intent on changing the trajectory of the program and left shaking their heads at what seemed a hopeless cause.
Coach Bobby Hurley changed that by using a variety of techniques, including a willingness to play almost anyone anywhere. It’s something most of his predecessors avoided for what seemed like a good reason:
It was difficult enough to win at ASU, so why go looking for trouble?
Hurley, in his fourth season, has made the Sun Devils relevant both locally and nationally.