Arizona State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bobby Hurley
Opening Statement…
“Obliviously it’s a fantastic feeling. Just everything we’ve been through, you reflect on the whole journey and there were a lot of ups and downs along the way. Just really excited for the kids, they wanted it badly. I think we put together the type of season that was more than deserving of this opportunity and it was just a lot of joy and happiness in my house today. It was great to see the guys get to celebrate, and all the work they put in. We’ve had our backs against the wall probably since the Bay Area. We have been almost playing for our season since then, so it’s good to be able to take a deep breath and it’s onto the next step, preparing for Nevada. Des and Warren are going to be involved in that scouting report.”
On Desmond and Warren playing against former team Nevada…
“Yeah, I mean I haven’t had a chance, I mean it’s ironic that it played out the way it did. I haven’t’ had an opportunity to get their feelings on it. It was chaos in my house. Everyone dispersed. I’ll get their thoughts as we go. I don’t know how much more motivation you need, really, you’re in the NCAA tournament. Yeah, it is a subplot, certainly, of a storyline certainly for the NCAA Tournament.”
On improving ASU Basketball over the last three years…
“When I had the board up in my living room and I was looking at what coaches I had and which players were going to stay and it was the first year of the portal, it was almost like we were starting from scratch. It’s been a long journey, I’m happy for guys like DJ Horne, Alonzo Gaffney, and Jamiya Neal, guys who have been with me now for multiple years, in addition to the guys that put us over the top from the transfer portal, and our freshman. I’m thrilled for everyone involved, certainly for the guys and all the work we put in. We were at ground zero two years ago. It’s been a two-year journey and it’s just exciting that we have the opportunities in front of us.”
On importance of Pac-12 Tournament win against USC…
“You can talk about a lot of different games that fit that description. I touched on it, it goes back to the Bay Area. We knew we had to win those two. It was must-win games for our season and the guys stepped up. We were just trying to win everything we could. At Arizona, the USC game was definitely a significant game. I personally, I didn’t share this with the players, but I felt a ton of pressure that whole day to deliver a good performance and we needed to win that game in order to have a legitimate chance to play in the NCAA Tournament.”
On how it felt to jump in the pool…
“I was going back and forth on what I was going to do. I had a feeling in my heart and inside that even though we were on the bubble, we had done enough and we would get rewarded for it. I was debating on if I was going in again, it’s come full circle I did it the first time, so I figured I’d give it another shot. I gave the guys the chance to decide, thumbs up or thumbs down and the majority gave me thumbs up so they went for it.”
On how he’s evolved as a coach between tournaments…
“I think I have a better feel for who I am and what I value. I have worked on being a little less volatile, just keeping my composure more and letting my guys feed off a more composed version of myself. I’m still passionate, I get after it and will still from time-to-time stray with the officials. But I’ve worked hard on that, just to be more rock solid. All year, when we’ve been down, man, I keep telling these guys we’re going to win. That we’re going to find a win to comeback and we believe in each other. It’s pretty special to have a group that believes in what we’re doing.”
On Pac-12 Tournament game against USC, particularly the first half…
“I think in that game we were probably the best version of ourselves. We guarded, we turned them over and then we had shot making. We played both ends of the floor. In kind-of a must-win game, we delivered. It was the last game of that day, it was on ESPN. It was the only thing that people could watch. We were in position to be considered as an NCAA Tournament team so you know that game was on in that committee room as they’re trying to decide who looks likea tournament team. When you play that well against a tournament team like that, in addition to your numbers, your quality wins and your quad one wins, you then pass the eye test too and I think that was the case in that game.
On how much he knows about the Wolfpack at this point…
“I have a ton of respect for Steve [Alford], he and I got along very well when he was coaching in our league. I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Steve and spend time around him at media days and head coach meetings, just a really great guy. He’s done an outstanding job, or he wouldn’t be in this tournament, particularly for what he lost last year. The point guard transferred to Oklahoma, heck of a player, and then my two guys here, Warren and Des. For him to have lost that much production and be in the NCAA tournament states volumes about how good of a coach he is.”
On how much Desmond and Warren bring to the team…
“They’re both great kids and hard workers. Both bring different dimensions to our team, Des was must-needed scoring. That was probably what held us back the most last season and he has provided us instant offense. He’s never afraid of the moment, taking and making big shots. He gives you everything he’s got on defense too. He’s a heckuva perimeter defender. Warren has been our anchor around the basket with his ability to challenge and block shots as well as rebound the ball. Beyond that, they’re both great kids and they have certainly advanced our program having them here.
Closing Statement…
“Alright guys, let’s going dancing. Thanks guys.”
Opening Statement…
“Obliviously it’s a fantastic feeling. Just everything we’ve been through, you reflect on the whole journey and there were a lot of ups and downs along the way. Just really excited for the kids, they wanted it badly. I think we put together the type of season that was more than deserving of this opportunity and it was just a lot of joy and happiness in my house today. It was great to see the guys get to celebrate, and all the work they put in. We’ve had our backs against the wall probably since the Bay Area. We have been almost playing for our season since then, so it’s good to be able to take a deep breath and it’s onto the next step, preparing for Nevada. Des and Warren are going to be involved in that scouting report.”
On Desmond and Warren playing against former team Nevada…
“Yeah, I mean I haven’t had a chance, I mean it’s ironic that it played out the way it did. I haven’t’ had an opportunity to get their feelings on it. It was chaos in my house. Everyone dispersed. I’ll get their thoughts as we go. I don’t know how much more motivation you need, really, you’re in the NCAA tournament. Yeah, it is a subplot, certainly, of a storyline certainly for the NCAA Tournament.”
On improving ASU Basketball over the last three years…
“When I had the board up in my living room and I was looking at what coaches I had and which players were going to stay and it was the first year of the portal, it was almost like we were starting from scratch. It’s been a long journey, I’m happy for guys like DJ Horne, Alonzo Gaffney, and Jamiya Neal, guys who have been with me now for multiple years, in addition to the guys that put us over the top from the transfer portal, and our freshman. I’m thrilled for everyone involved, certainly for the guys and all the work we put in. We were at ground zero two years ago. It’s been a two-year journey and it’s just exciting that we have the opportunities in front of us.”
On importance of Pac-12 Tournament win against USC…
“You can talk about a lot of different games that fit that description. I touched on it, it goes back to the Bay Area. We knew we had to win those two. It was must-win games for our season and the guys stepped up. We were just trying to win everything we could. At Arizona, the USC game was definitely a significant game. I personally, I didn’t share this with the players, but I felt a ton of pressure that whole day to deliver a good performance and we needed to win that game in order to have a legitimate chance to play in the NCAA Tournament.”
On how it felt to jump in the pool…
“I was going back and forth on what I was going to do. I had a feeling in my heart and inside that even though we were on the bubble, we had done enough and we would get rewarded for it. I was debating on if I was going in again, it’s come full circle I did it the first time, so I figured I’d give it another shot. I gave the guys the chance to decide, thumbs up or thumbs down and the majority gave me thumbs up so they went for it.”
On how he’s evolved as a coach between tournaments…
“I think I have a better feel for who I am and what I value. I have worked on being a little less volatile, just keeping my composure more and letting my guys feed off a more composed version of myself. I’m still passionate, I get after it and will still from time-to-time stray with the officials. But I’ve worked hard on that, just to be more rock solid. All year, when we’ve been down, man, I keep telling these guys we’re going to win. That we’re going to find a win to comeback and we believe in each other. It’s pretty special to have a group that believes in what we’re doing.”
On Pac-12 Tournament game against USC, particularly the first half…
“I think in that game we were probably the best version of ourselves. We guarded, we turned them over and then we had shot making. We played both ends of the floor. In kind-of a must-win game, we delivered. It was the last game of that day, it was on ESPN. It was the only thing that people could watch. We were in position to be considered as an NCAA Tournament team so you know that game was on in that committee room as they’re trying to decide who looks likea tournament team. When you play that well against a tournament team like that, in addition to your numbers, your quality wins and your quad one wins, you then pass the eye test too and I think that was the case in that game.
On how much he knows about the Wolfpack at this point…
“I have a ton of respect for Steve [Alford], he and I got along very well when he was coaching in our league. I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Steve and spend time around him at media days and head coach meetings, just a really great guy. He’s done an outstanding job, or he wouldn’t be in this tournament, particularly for what he lost last year. The point guard transferred to Oklahoma, heck of a player, and then my two guys here, Warren and Des. For him to have lost that much production and be in the NCAA tournament states volumes about how good of a coach he is.”
On how much Desmond and Warren bring to the team…
“They’re both great kids and hard workers. Both bring different dimensions to our team, Des was must-needed scoring. That was probably what held us back the most last season and he has provided us instant offense. He’s never afraid of the moment, taking and making big shots. He gives you everything he’s got on defense too. He’s a heckuva perimeter defender. Warren has been our anchor around the basket with his ability to challenge and block shots as well as rebound the ball. Beyond that, they’re both great kids and they have certainly advanced our program having them here.
Closing Statement…
“Alright guys, let’s going dancing. Thanks guys.”