It doesn’t have to end this way for Hurley…

Has the fate of Bobby Hurley already been decided? 

I wrote earlier in this space that extending the contract of the Sun Devil basketball coach was the prudent move, given all the missteps across central campus with the basketball program. Predictably, the Arizona Wildcat fans agreed with me. Nothing like a little back-and-forth fun between the two sides. I didn’t go to either school, so I have no dog in the fight. Don’t care either way, but I do believe he should be given a two-year extension. 

A big cigar basketball booster called me today about Hurley. “I want him to stay as our coach; he’s done more with less.” I don’t disagree. A bad building, an extremely difficult conference, and a lack of resources/commitment compared to the other Big 12 teams point towards an expected breakup in the next week or two.

It doesn’t need to end this way. 

Hiring a head coach from Utah State is no guarantee of finally turning this program around.  The new face/voice will need to go through the learning curve of coaching in the Big 12, as Arizona State is playing on an uneven court. Programs like Houston, Arizona, Kansas, BYU, and Iowa State already have an arena, financial resources, huge support, history, tradition, and heritage. Playing from behind off the court isn’t a good place for Arizona State to be. Hurley has done more with less, in my opinion. Sitting in the bleachers, not on press row, or dropping in on practices, I see progress rather than failure. I watched a strong start to the season, followed by a thud with losses to Oregon State and Colorado (twice this season).  

Would an upset win on Saturday at Iowa State shift the winds of change? How about an unexpected deep run next week in Kansas City at the Big 12 tourney?  

Is it really cut and dried that he is out? It doesn’t have to end this way…