'It’s a terrible way to end it': ASU men's basketball loses last game before Big 12 Conference move
The Arizona State University Sun Devils competed in their last Pac-12 tournament Wednesday night, before they move to the Big 12 Conference in late 2024. The 11th seed Sun Devils faced off against the Utes of the University of Utah, the sixth seed in the tournament, culminating in a 90-57 win for Utah.
ASU’s star guard Frankie Collins led the Sun Devils with 20 points in the game. The only other player to break double digits for ASU was Kamari Lands with 11 points.
The Utes played a solid offensive and defensive game, with four players scoring 10 or more points, including a 22 point performance from senior guard Cole Bajema, scoring six three-pointers. The Utes other starting guard, Deivon Smith, was only one assist away from a triple-double, ending the game with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
Utah held ASU to a 31.4% field goal percentage and 15.8% three-point percentage. Utah more than doubled ASU’s field goal percentage at 59.3% and easily outperform at the three point line with a 46.2% three-point percentage.
The Devils had only six assists to Utah's 15, as well as being outrebounded with 36 to Utah’s 42.
ASU was outscored significantly in the first half 22-47, but were able to bring it a bit closer in the second half, again being outscored 35-43.
Head coach Bobby Hurley spoke on the team's disappointing performance.
“We didn’t do a good job. This is not acceptable for what my vision is for our basketball program. It’s just, it’s not. We’re not in a good place right now, and it’s a terrible way to end it. And, (I’ve) got to get back to the drawing board.”
This was a disappointing season for ASU, coming off of a year where the team made an appearance in the NCAA March Madness tournament, losing on a last second shot to TCU in the round of 64. Many important players that contributed to the 2022-2023 team either graduated or transferred to another school, forcing ASU to look for players from Junior colleges and smaller D1 programs.
With the revamped team, Hurley led the Sun Devils to a 14-18 record, tied with Stanford and USC for the second worst record in the Pac-12.
Though Hurley and ASU did agree to a new contract that would keep him as head coach until 2026, the contract has not actually been signed, meaning Hurley could leave for another team without any buyout.
The Sun Devils will look to improve upon this season in a brand new conference, after spending the last 46 years in the Pac 12.
