Arizona State Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Sun Devils

Season Outlook

Head coach Bobby Hurley has steadily been building the Arizona State program up from a rocky start in his tenure. His teams could not score above a 50 percent winning percentage during his first two seasons, before finally finding modest success during seasons three through five (all of which featured winning records and two of which involved NCAA Tournament appearances via the First Four).

Those who have put their trust in coach Hurley have been patiently waiting for that trust to be graciously rewarded for five years now. Amid the oddest of circumstances (driven by the Coronavirus), this 2020-21 season might finally be coach Hurley’s chance to pay back his loyal trustees. He arguably has the best and most dynamic roster he has ever had; all potential excuses are off the table this year.

He has a great senior lead guard – potentially the best in college basketball – in Remy Martin. That great senior lead guard has a great senior sidekick in Alonzo Verge. He has the best recruiting class he has ever had, one that includes plenty of star power via the likes of Josh Christopher and Marcus Bagley. His team, and especially his bench, is filled with experience and chemistry from the past few seasons.

The only somewhat viable excuse coach Hurley has at his disposal is that the PAC-12 conference is as strong as it has been in years. It may not quite be at the “conference of champions” status Bill Walton loves to declare it as, but it is filled with even-filled rosters that make up one of the deepest conferences in college basketball.

Expectations for Arizona State Basketball should be as high as they have ever been under the tenure of coach Hurley. Again, he undoubtedly has the best team he has ever had during his time with the Sun Devils. Will that team be able to surpass what should be a difficult-to-conquer PAC-12 conference? Only time will tell, but ASU fans should feel extremely confident as they wait for that time to come.