If you’ve spent any time at Desert Financial Arena lately, you know the vibe is... complicated. It’s early 2026, and the honeymoon phase of joining the Big 12 has officially collided with the reality of playing in the toughest basketball conference in America. Being a fan of Arizona State mens basketball right now feels like being on a very fast, very shaky rollercoaster. One night you’re watching them take No. 1 Arizona to the absolute wire in Tucson, and the next, you're looking at a conference record that makes you want to look away.
Honestly, the 10-7 start (and 1-3 in the Big 12) doesn't tell the whole story. It’s easy to look at the standings and see them sitting near the bottom at 13th and think the season is a wash. But if you actually watch the games—not just the highlights, but the gritty, ugly stretches—you see a team that is remarkably close to being a problem for the rest of the league.
The Bobby Hurley Era at a Crossroads
Bobby Hurley is currently in his 11th season. That is a lifetime in college coaching. We all know the book on Hurley: the fire, the technical fouls, the "Guard U" identity, and that incredible 2022-23 run where they won 23 games. But let’s be real. Coming off a 4-16 conference record last year, the pressure isn't just "there"—it’s practically a resident of Tempe.
This isn't just about winning games anymore; it's about proving that the Sun Devils belong in this new neighborhood. The Big 12 isn't the Pac-12. There are no "off" nights. When you have to play Houston, Kansas, and BYU in a single stretch, you find out very quickly what your roster is made of. Hurley’s tenure has always been defined by resilience, and he’s going to need every bit of it to navigate the next two months.
The New Stars Carrying the Load
If there is a reason to stay optimistic about Arizona State mens basketball, it’s the backcourt. Specifically, Moe Odum.
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Landing Odum from Pepperdine was arguably the best piece of business Hurley has done in years. The kid is averaging 16.4 points and 6.4 assists. He’s the engine. In that 89-82 loss to Arizona on January 14th, Odum was the only reason it stayed a game. He dropped 23 points and looked like he belonged on the same floor as five-star recruits.
Then you have the "Pig." Anthony Johnson (affectionately known as Pig) has been the secondary scoring punch they desperately needed. He’s putting up nearly 15 a game. Between Odum and Johnson, ASU has a backcourt that can score with almost anyone in the country. The problem, as it usually is in Tempe, is what happens when those two aren't on fire.
The frontcourt is a different story. Massamba Diop, the 7-foot-1 freshman from Senegal, has been a revelation. He’s averaging 14.6 points and nearly two blocks a game. He actually won a Big 12 "Starting Five of the Week" award recently, which is a huge deal for a freshman in this league. He’s raw, sure. He gets into foul trouble. But he gives them a rim protector they haven't had in a long time.
What the Numbers Actually Say
Look, stats can lie, but the trends for Arizona State mens basketball are pretty clear. They are scoring 80.8 points per game. That’s good! It ranks high nationally. They play fast, they get to the free-throw line (35th in the country in attempts), and they don't quit.
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But the defense? It’s a struggle.
They’re giving up nearly 79 points a game. In the Big 12, if you can’t stop people from getting to the rim, you’re going to have a long winter. They’re getting out-rebounded. They’re allowing teams to shoot over 40% from three-point range in some of these losses. Basically, they can score enough to stay in games, but they can't get the three stops in a row they need to actually win them.
Why the Arizona Loss Mattered
Usually, a loss is a loss. But that January 14th game in Tucson felt different. Arizona was ranked No. 1 in the country. McKale Center was a madhouse. Most experts expected a blowout.
Instead, ASU was within one possession in the final minute.
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That game showed that the "floor" for this team is much higher than people think. They didn't look like a 13th-place team. They looked like a group that could potentially wreck someone’s season in the Big 12 tournament. If Diop continues to develop and the bench—guys like Bryce Ford and Santiago Trouet—can provide more consistent secondary scoring, this team is going to pull off some upsets.
The Road Ahead: Can They Save the Season?
The schedule doesn't get easier. They have Houston today. Then West Virginia, Cincinnati, and a rematch with Arizona at home on January 31st. That home game against the Wildcats is circled on everyone’s calendar. If they can steal that one, the entire narrative around Hurley and this program shifts.
There’s also the recruiting trail to consider. While the neighbors down south are pulling in top-five classes, ASU is taking a different path. They’re leaning heavily on the portal and international finds like Diop and Andrija Grbovic. It’s a riskier strategy because it requires a total roster rebuild almost every year, but in the NIL era, it might be the only way for a program like ASU to stay competitive.
What Fans Should Watch For
If you're watching the Sun Devils over the next few weeks, don't just look at the score. Watch these three things:
- Massamba Diop’s Foul Count: If he stays on the floor for 30+ minutes, ASU usually wins or keeps it close. When he sits, the interior defense evaporates.
- The Three-Point Percentage: They’re currently shooting around 32.9% from deep. That has to get closer to 36% if they want to beat the top-tier Big 12 teams.
- Second Half Adjustments: Hurley is known for his halftime tweaks. This year, the Sun Devils have been a much better second-half team. If they can just start games with the same energy they finish them with, they’ll stop digging themselves into 10-point holes early on.
Arizona State mens basketball is in a weird spot. They aren't "bad," but they aren't "elite" yet. They are a dangerous middle-of-the-pack team that is still finding its identity in a new conference. Whether that’s enough to keep the fanbase happy—and keep Hurley’s seat from getting too warm—remains to be seen.
Actionable Steps for Sun Devil Fans:
- Track the NET Rankings: Since the Big 12 is so deep, ASU can climb quickly with "Quad 1" wins. Keep an eye on how they move after the Houston and Cincinnati games.
- Attend the Jan 31st Rivalry Game: If there was ever a time to show up at Desert Financial, it's the home stand against Arizona. Home-court advantage is the only way to survive the Big 12 gauntlet.
- Watch Massamba Diop's Development: He is a legitimate NBA prospect. Watching his footwork and rim protection evolve over the next month will be the most rewarding part of the season.