NCAA Basketball: Top 25 offseason winners entering 2024-25 season
No. 16 - Arizona State Sun Devils: Bobby Hurley goes all in
To preface, Bobby Hurley hasn’t been bad at Arizona State. However, he hasn’t had an earth-shattering successful tenure, earning just three NCAA Tournament appearances in nine years.
Even if Hurley received a contract extension through 2026 in the offseason, the doubts have begun to creep in considering the Sun Devils struggled last season, going just 14-18 (8-12) in its final season in the PAC-12. Now cemented in the Big 12, it appears that Hurley -- similar to Mike Woodson -- understands he is facing the pressure, putting all cards on the table entering the 2024-25 season.
To begin, the Wildcats were among the biggest winners on the recruiting trail, flipping five-star F Jayden Quaintance from Lexington to Tempe and four-star SG Josh Sanon from Arizona to Arizona State.
Then came the rippling effects from the transfer portal, landing notable mid-major names in BJ Freeman (Milwaukee), ​​Basheer Jihad (Ball State) and Alston Mason (Missouri State). All three were high-level scorers at their previous schools.
Also, look at Arizona State’s strong non-conference schedule, further indicating that Bobby Hurley is betting on himself to get this group back into the NCAA Tournament.
- Santa Clara, Grand Canyon, New Mexico, USC/Saint Mary's, Florida and UMass all on neutral sites.
— Cole Amundson (@playformarch) August 25, 2024
- Gonzaga on the road.
- Only four home "buy" games.
It's a big-time year for ASU. Bobby Hurley's group will not be ducking the competition. https://t.co/fHWw9xP5v6
It won’t be easy to get back to the Big Dance, especially considering their challenging non-conference schedule. However, it’s a clear talent upgrade in Tempe and if Arizona State makes splashes this season, they will have earned it thanks to being big-time offseason winners.