EMERGENCY BLOG: ASU Has A (Men's) Basketball Problem

(Photo by Wikipedia)

I'm about to tell you this even before the tournament ends, ASU will succumb in the Big IX Tournament and if the reports are true, Bobby Hurley will be dismissed as head coach after 11 seasons on the job....,

Wait, this man has been here for 11 years? This tells how dormant the ASU Men's Basketball is, he's been here that long, yet it seems as though it has been a short stint. Hurley's record as of this writing is 184-166 overall, 90-115 conference between the Pac-12 and Big 12. Yikes! They made the tournament three times over his tenure, only to be knocked out early. This Big IX tournament will be another chapter of discontent.

Don't get it twisted, I don't hate Bobby Hurley. Like Kyler Murray, I wanted him to succeed because he represented an Arizona team. It's hard to try to break a vicious cycle when the current is too strong and it will eventually carry you away. It seemed at times this season, Hurley reached his breaking point by getting upset at media or officials or players or personnel. Kansas State fired Jerome Tang for criticism on players. It's safe to say ASU is very lenient when it comes to its mens basketball program.

If you grew up in the Valley around the late 80's/early 90's like I did, you probably remember these Valley National Bank/Bank One commercials featuring the late Lute Olson and Bill Frieder. Both men were in situations where they needed to get VNB/BO involved. Also, Lute was portrayed as someone who was able to get everything he wanted without a hitch while Frieder often got the short end of the stick. There were a couple that showed Bill conquer Lute. This was not satire, this actually depicted how U of A (Lute) and ASU (Bill) were. Lute took the Wildcats and turned them into a national powerhouse of college basketball which continues to this day with Tommy Lloyd at the helm. ASU would make an NCAA tournament once in a while which does continue to this day. Arizona had some memorable moments and a national championship in 1997. What was ASU's biggest moment in the last 45 years? A point shaving scandal! Clearly, these two college basketball programs are not the same.

Here is some harsh truth that will be a tough pill to swallow....

Grand Canyon University Men's basketball has surpassed ASU on the totem pole. That's right, The Little Private School That Could On Camelback Road is more successful than the big A in men's college basketball. They made the tournament in the last two years and even have a victory under their belt. ASU women's basketball has enjoyed a come back from depths this season under first year head coach Molly Miller, who was featured on ESPN.

With the Suns enjoying a revival, ASU men's basketball is heading towards a flatline...well, they've been in one of 40 some odd years now. It will take a miracle to get them off the brink.

And, as I end this writing, the prophecy came true. ASU was blown out by Iowa State as Bobby Hurley...

(Okay, now both sports and wrestling media have no clue what the difference between resignation and getting fired. I also will not use the term "parted ways" because (bleep) that term. How about...) Separated amicably.

Whoever is the next coach for the Sun Devils, they are in a hole and hopefully, can get out of it.

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