KANSAS CITY – Arizona State Men’s Basketball opened the Big 12 Phillips 66 Men's Basketball Tournament with a victory over Baylor.
The Sun Devils (17-15) end the Bears (16-16) season thanks to a 83-79 victory on Tuesday morning at T-Mobile Center. Arizona State came out of the gates strong, overwhelming Baylor early on with their relentless effort. That allowed them to build a 44-35 halftime advantage which they would never relinquish, leading for 37:37 of game action. The Maroon and Gold withstood several second-half runs from the Bears, securing the 6th win at a conference tournament under Hurley in 10 appearances. The program had just six wins at conference tournaments in the previous 18 appearances combined prior to Hurley's arrival.
It was an all around effort that helped the Sun Devils secure their fifth Quad 1 win of the season and third win in the past four games. Arizona State shot 57.4% from the field, their fourth-highest total away from Tempe in the Hurley era. Overall, it was tied for the ninth-best shooting performance in the Hurley era. ASU moves to 54-6 (.900) when it shoots 50 percent from the field under Bobby Hurley. They are 4-0 when it has happened this season, with wins over Washington State, NAU, Santa Clara, and now Baylor. It was Arizona State's first victory over Baylor since 1988, ending a seven-game losing streak in the series.
Hot shooting leads Men's Basketball to Big 12 Tournament win over Baylor
Arizona State shot 57.4% (31-of-54) to pick up their first win over the Bears since 1988.
Pig Johnson slaps the Arizona State after helping his team advance in the Big 12 Tournament.
Senior point guard Moe Odum hit the floor hard early in the contest, slamming his head against the ASB glass court. T-Mobile Center remained silent for a few minutes as he gathered his composure and shook off the cobwebs, staying in the game. He is from The Bronx, remember, so it was going to take a lot more to remove him from what could've been his final collegiate game. Unfazed from the early bump, Odum proceeded to lead his team to a massive neutral site victory. ASU is now 5-1 at neutral sites this season, with three of those wins qualifying as quad one. Odum now has 185 assists on the year, tied for the fourth-most in single-season in program history and most since 1998.
Fellow senior guard Anthony "Pig" Johnson understood the assignment, as his aggressiveness and energy caused problems for Baylor's defense. He finished with a team-high 19 points on 7-of-14 (50%) shooting, adding six rebounds, and a highlight-reel chase-down block. Johnson was far from the only contributor on offense, as several role players stepped up and capitalized on the opportunity. Junior forward Andrija Grbovic matched a career-high with 14 points in only 19 minutes. He made 6-of-7 (83.3%) of his shots, including 2-of-3 from deep. Sophomore guard Noah Meeusen hit double-figures in points for the seventh time this season, finishing with 12 points while converting on 3-of-5 (60%) from behind the arc. Redshirt sophomore forward Santiago Trouet nearly had another double-double, finishing just one rebound shy with a 13-point, 9-rebound line. Freshman center Massamba Diop was fifth Sun Devil in double figures today, adding 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting.
The Sun Devils look to continue their run at the 2026 Phillips 66 Men's Basketball Tournament with a second round matchup tomorrow against 5th-seed Iowa State. It is the second time in a week that Arizona State will face a Top-10 Cyclones squad. This contest will take place at T-Mobile Center on Wednesday, March 11 at 9:30 AM MST. Watch on ESPN and listen on ESPN 620 AM (KTAR).
Baylor vs. Arizona State Highlights | 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament
Top plays from Sun Devil Men's Basketball's win in the first round of the 2026 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
ASU in Conference tournaments
The Pac-10/12 Conference had a tournament every year from 1987-90 and then again from 2002-2024. In 18 appearances in conference tournaments prior to Coach Hurley's arrival, the program won SIX total games (6-17 record; 26.1 winning %). In the ten appearances in conference tournaments since Hurley's first year in 2015-16, the program has matched the total by winning SIX games in a little over half of the appearances (6-8 record; 42.9 winning %).
Neutralizing the opponent
Arizona State continues their tremendous success under Bobby Hurley in games at neutral sites. They are 5-1 during the 2025-26 campaign in a neutral setting and are now 10-3 over the past two seasons in such games after going 5-2 during the 2024-25 season. They have knocked off five potential 2026 postseason teams (Oklahoma, Texas, Washington State, Santa Clara, Baylor) in neutral settings this year. The Sun Devils matched the program record of five neutral site wins in a season, which has been accomplished twice before (2022-23; 2024-25). All three five-win neutral-site seasons have come in the Hurley era.
ASU has won 28 games overall under Hurley (since 2015-16) in neutral site games. That includes past wins over Baylor, NC State, Kansas State, St. John's, Mississippi State, USC, UCLA, Xavier, Michigan, Utah State, New Mexico, Saint Mary's, Creighton, Stanford, Santa Clara (2x), VCU, and UMass.
Series history
Arizona State moves to 2-3 against Baylor in neutral sites and shrinks the series lead, with the Bears now holding an 8-3 advantage. Arizona State defeats Baylor for the first time since 1988, ending a seven-game losing streak. This is the first time that the Sun Devils have defeated the Bears as members of the Big 12 Conference. ASU is responsible for officially ending Baylor's six-year run of appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Magic number
The Sun Devils are 9-0 on the season when allowing 70 or less to an opponent. Meanwhile, Arizona State has scored 70 or more points in 28 of 32 games this season (including all 17 wins).
Hitting the mark
ASU moves to 54-6 (.900) when it shoots 50 percent from the field under Bobby Hurley. They are 4-0 when it has happened this season, with wins over Washington State, NAU, Santa Clara, and Baylor. The Sun Devils shot 31-of-54 (57.4%) from the field, which is tied for the third-best FG% by an opponent against Baylor this year.
Best FG% against Baylor in 2025-26
60.4%, Utah (3/7/26)
60.0%, Texas Tech (1/20/26)
57.4%, Arizona State (3/10/26)
57.4%, St. John's (11/25/25)
Today's shooting performance was the fourth-highest FG% away from Tempe in the Hurley era. Two have come this season.
Top FG% under Hurley away from Tempe
.636/35-55 vs. Nevada (Mar. 15, 2023/NCAA First Four)
.604/32-53 vs. #20 Michigan (Nov. 17, 2022 at Barclays Center/Legends Classic)
.589/33-56 vs. Washington State(Nov. 25, 2025 at Lahaina Civic Center/Maui Invitational)
.574/31-54 vs. Baylor (March 10, 2026 at Big 12 Tournament/Kansas City)
.559/33-59 vs. Stanford (Mar. 8, 2017 at Pac-12 Tournament/Las Vegas)
.559/33-59 vs. #15 Xavier (Nov. 24, 2017 at Las Vegas)
Overall, it was tied for the ninth-best shooting performance in the Hurley era.
Top FG% under Hurley
.636/35-55 vs. Nevada (Mar. 15, 2023/NCAA First Four)
.617/29-47 vs. Washington (Feb. 9, 2019)
.612/30-49 vs. UC-Irvine (Nov. 19, 2017)
.604/32-53 vs. #20 Michigan (Nov. 17, 2022 at Barclays Center/Legends Classic)
.593/32-54 vs. Oregon State (Jan. 28, 2016)
.589/33-56 vs. Washington State (Nov. 25, 2025)
.577/30-52 vs. Oregon State (Feb. 14, 2024)
.574/31-54 vs. Oregon (Feb. 17, 2022)
.574/31-54 vs. Baylor (March 10, 2026 at Big 12 Tournament/Kansas City)
.571/32-56 vs. Colorado (Jan. 5, 2019)
.571/36-63 vs. Texas Southern (Dec. 29, 2019)
Comfortable when it is close
Arizona State has 50 wins in games decided by six points or less since the start of the 2019-20 season, including six wins this season (wins over Texas, Washington State, Santa Clara, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Baylor). The 50 wins by the Sun Devils in such circumstances are at Top-10 total by a head coach in college basketball during that span. Hurley’s teams are 50-31 (61.7%) overall in games decided by six points or less since 2019-20.
ASU 83, Baylor 79 (March 10, 2026)
Baylor 73, ASU 68 (Feb. 21, 2026)
ASU 72, #13 Texas Tech 67 (Feb. 17, 2026)
@UCF 79, ASU 76 (Jan. 27, 2026)
ASU 87, Kansas State 84 (Jan. 10, 2026)
Colorado 95, ASU 89 (Jan. 3, 2026)
Oregon State 78, ASU 75 (Dec. 21, 2025)
ASU 82, Santa Clara 79 (Dec. 13, 2025/Las Vegas)
ASU 100, Washington State 94 (Nov. 25, 2025/Maui)
ASU 87, Texas 86 (Nov. 24, 2025/Maui)
Carr troubles
Baylor forward Cameron Carr is a projected first round pick according to most 2026 NBA mock drafts. He went off in the first half against Arizona State, scoring 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Adjustments made by the Sun Devils in the second half paid dividends, as Carr scored 10 points, but shot only 2-of-9 from the field. He came into the game shooting 51.7% from the field. Carr finished 6-of-17 (35.3%) overall from the field, just the fifth time he has been held to 36 FG% or lower this season.
Obi-none
In the first meeting between the two sides, Baylor guard Obi Agbim was a big factor in the Bears victory. He finished with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, highlighted by his 4-of-6 performance from three. The Sun Devils completely shut him down in the second meeting, a key reason why ASU secured the win. Agbim could only muster three points on 1-of-9 shooting, including a 1-of-7 effort from deep. It is just the second time all season he has been held to three points or less.
Obi Agbim lowest scoring games of 2025-26
2, Washington (11/9/25)
3, Arizona State (3/10/26)
4, Louisville (2/14/26)
4, St. John's (11/25/25)
Turning the tables
In the first matchup between Arizona State and Baylor, the Sun Devils had an eight-point halftime lead. Baylor outscored Arizona State by 13 points in the second half, allowing them to pull away for a victory. The Maroon and Gold insured that would not happen again today, preventing a Bears' second-half comeback by answering several potential game-changing runs. The Bears shot 56.9% (29-of-51) from the field in the first meeting. Arizona State held Baylor to just 42.6% (29-of-68) shooting in the rematch.
"Andrija Grbovic today had some really good moments. Gave us a boost. Noah is always guarding with great energy and defending. He hit some big shots for us as well. So it was impressive how the guys came out and competed."
Coach Hurley on role players stepping upMo(e)mentum
Moe Odum continues to move up the single-season assist list in the program record book. With two assists today, his 185 assists this season are tied for the fourth-most in program history. He needs 16 more assists to crack the Top-3. Odum is having the best passing season since Ahlon Lewis set the program record with 294 assists in 1998.
Sun Devil single-season assists record (1972-73 to present)
294 – Ahlon Lewis, 1998
233 – Marcell Capers, 1995
200 – Marcell Capers, 1993
185 - Moe Odum, 2026
185 – Mike Redhair, 1990
177 – Jahii Carson, 2013
177 – Lynn Collins, 1992
162 – Derek Glasser, 2009
158 – Derek Glasser, 2010
156 – Lynn Collins, 1991
Odum has made 89 three-pointers this season, which is the sixth-most in program history. It is the most triples in a season since Shannon Evans III hit 95 during the 2017-18 season. He is five made three-pointers away from cracking the Top-5 in single-season program history. Eight more three-pointers would give him the third-most makes from distance in a single-season at ASU. Three of the top-six three-point shooting seasons by a Sun Devil have come in the Hurley era (since 2015-16).
Sun Devil single-season 3 PT FG record (1972-73 to present)
113 – Stevin Smith, 1993
108 – Torian Graham, 2017
96 – Stevin Smith, 1994
95 – Shannon Evans II, 2018
93 – Rihards Kuksiks, 2009
89 - Moe Odum, 2026
84 – Jonathan Gilling, 2013
83 – Alex Austin, 1990
82 – Desmond Cambridge, 2023
82 – Jermaine Marshall, 2014
81 – Rihards Kuksiks, 2010
81 – Kevin Kruger, 2006
Getting to the line
In the first half, the Sun Devils did not attempt a free throw. They made it a point of emphasis in the second half. Over the final 20 minutes, Arizona State attempted 22 free throws. It is the 22nd time this season ASU has had 20 or more FT attempts.
Bench boost
A key to Arizona State’s season has been the success of its bench unit. That was no different today, as the three-man unit of guards Bryce Ford and Pig Johnson, along with forward Allen Mukeba, made their presence felt against the Bears' reserves. ASU has now outscored or tied their opponent off the bench in 23 of 32 games (16-7 record). 16 of their 17 wins on the season have come when they outscore the opposing bench. Three of the seven losses when winning the bench battle were to Top-10 teams (2x to No. 1 Arizona and No. 7 Houston). ASU’s bench won the battle over Baylor, 24-10, and now holds a 763-573 (+190) advantage in points this season. There has been only one game in which the Sun Devils did not get more than 10 points from their bench (vs Kansas State).
"I told Noah before the game, I don't have time for you to hesitate. Let it fly. I watch you work out in the gym after practice every day. You shouldn't be thinking about shooting the ball. You should shoot the ball. That's just me. Like, I want them to score. I want them to have fun. I'm telling them to have fun because I'm going to have my fun. Coming out to play basketball is my fun."
Moe Odum on his message to teammates while going through scoring strugglesWhen Pigs fly
Senior guard Anthony "Pig" Johnson has emerged as one of the nation’s best sixth men, coming off the bench to provide energy and scoring while living up to his nickname. He delivered yet again in the victory, accounting for 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a block in 28 minutes of action. Johnson has 10 or more points in 25 of 32 games, with 20 of those performances coming as a reserve. In two games against Baylor this season, Johnson averaged 19.5 points on 13-of-25 (52.0%) shooting.
Stop, Diop, and Roll
Freshman center Massamba Diop was extremely effective in his postseason debut. He finished with 11 points, three rebounds, and an assist with only one turnover in 33 minutes of action. Diop now has 10+ points in 27 of 32 games this season. He is second on the team in points (13.8) and second in rebounds (5.8), producing at that level in only 29.6 minutes per game. He also has a team-high 67 blocks and is fifth on the team with 21 steals, doing all this while committing only 63 personal fouls through 32 games.
Moving on ⏭️ pic.twitter.com/yYQ93yY76i
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) March 10, 2026
Empty the notebook
- Andrija Grbovic came through with one of his best performances of the season. He matched his career-high, scoring 14 points. It is the ninth time this season he has reached double-figures scoring. Grbovic finished 6-of-7 (83%) from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
- Noah Meeusen finished with two steals, the 13th time in 29 games this year he has reached the mark. He also added 12 points, the seventh-time this season he has had 10 or more points. Meeusen was 3-of-5 from deep, the third time he has made 3 or more 3 PT FGs.
- Arizona State won the game despite leading scorer Moe Odum (17.1 ppg) finishing with just nine points. ASU moves to 3-1 in games in which Odum does not score in double figures.
- The Sun Devils were extremely efficent on 2 PT FGs. They shot 23-of-32 (71.9%) from inside the arc.
- For the 8th time this season, Moe Odum had 3 or more steals in a game.
- ASU moves to 11-2 when scoring 80 or more points this season. They have scored 70 or more points in 28 of 32 games this season. ASU is 14-6 when allowing 80 points or less this season.
- Arizona State scored 44 points in the first half despite not attempting a free throw.
- Baylor guard Isaac Williams was one of the Bears' best players in both matchups with the Sun Devils. He fouled out at the 4:46 mark of the second half with 15 points in 32 minutes, a key reason why Arizona State was able to seal the victory.
- In total, Arizona State drew 17 fouls on Baylor in the second half (compared to just three in the first half).
The Hurley era
Bobby Hurley has won 185 games in 11 seasons at ASU, the second-most in program history.
Career wins at ASU
406, Ned Wulk (1957-82)
185, Bobby Hurley (2015-present)
159, Herb Sendek (2006-15)
About those Sun Devil wins
Coach Hurley has notched 185 wins at Arizona State and has done it while scheduling aggressively and not being afraid to play on the road. He has won 115 games in Arizona, but also has won at least five games in California (16), Nevada (14), Oregon (six), Washington (five), and Utah (five). Three wins have taken place in Colorado, New York, Kansas, and Hawai'i. Two wins have come in Nebraska, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Single wins have taken place in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Texas, and West Virginia. Thanks to the November Hawai'i trip, Hurley has now won in a total of 19 different states while at ASU. Another win in the state of Kansas means Hurley has now won three or more games in 10 different states.
Record chasing
Diop is in the Top-10 among freshmen in program history with three 20-point performances.
Sun Devil freshman 20-point games (1972-73 to present)
18, Jahii Carson, 2012-13
16, James Harden, 2007-08
12, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
9, Luguentz Dort, 2018-19
7, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
5, Steve Beck, 1983-84
4, Christian Polk, 2006-07
3, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
3, Joson Sanon, 2024-25
3, Josh Christopher, 2020-21
3, Eddie House, 1996-97
3, Ron Riley, 1992-93
3, Byron Scott, 1979-80
3, Gary Jackson, 1972-73
Diop broke the freshmen program record 67 blocks and counting this season. Four of the top-nine shot-blockings seasons by a freshman have taken place in the Hurley era.
Single-season blocks by a Sun Devil freshmen
67, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
63, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25
55, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
33, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
31, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
29, Jalen Graham, 2019-20
24, Shawn Redhage, 1999-2000
23, Romello White, 2017-18
23, Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06
Diop is currently having the sixth-best shooting season by a freshman in program history, making 56.7% of his field goals.
Single-season FG% by a Sun Devil freshman (min. 100 attempts)
.652, Romello White, 2017-18 (120-of-184)
.608, Ike Diogu, 2002-03 (209-of-344)
.574, Mario Bennett, 1991-92 (159-of-277)
.570, Dwayne Fontana, 1990-91 (102-of-179)
.568, Eric Holloway, 1983-84 (79-of-139)
.567 Massamba Diop, 2025-26 (165-of-291)
.545, Kyle Cain, 2010-11 (78-of-143)
.527, James Harden, 2007-08 (196-of-372)
.525, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25 (93-of-177)
Diop is currently averaging 13.8 points per game, the seventh-most by a freshman in program history.
Single-season points per game by Sun Devil freshmen
19.0, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
18.5, Jahii Carson, 2012-13
17.8, James Harden, 2007-08
16.1, Luguentz Dort, 2018-19
15.4, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
14.3, Josh Christopher, 2020-21
13.8, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
13.6, Byron Scott, 1979-80
13.0, Ron Riley, 1992-93
12.6, Eddie House, 1996-97
12.5, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
12.0, Christian Polk, 2006-07
11.9, Joson Sanon, 2024-25
Diop is currently averaging 5.8 rebounds per game, tied for the ninth-most by a freshman in program history.
Single-season rebounds per game by a Sun Devil Freshman
7.9, Jayden Quaintance, 2024-25
7.8, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
7.1, Romello White, 2017-18
6.8, Mario Bennett, 1991-92
6.2, Marcus Bagley, 2020-21
6.2, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
6.1, Jeff Pendergraph, 2005-06
5.8, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
5.8, Johnny Nash, 1976-77
5.4, Kyle Cain, 2010-11
5.3, James Harden, 2007-08
5.2, Chris Sandle, 1984-85
Diop has made 32 starts this season, tied for the fifth-most by a freshman in program history with Sun Devil Hall of Famer Ike Diogu.
Single-season games started by a Sun Devil Freshman
35, Jahii Carson, 2012-13
34, Ty Abbott, 2007-08
33, Luguentz Dort, 2018-19
33, James Harden, 2007-08
32, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
32, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
31, Romello White, 2017-18
28, Shawn Redhage, 1999-2000
28, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
27, Byron Scott, 1979-80
27, Johnny Nash, 1976-77
Diop has made scored 441 points this season, the sixth-most by a freshman in program history.
Single-season points scored by a Sun Devil Freshman
647, Jahii Carson, 2012-13
607, Ike Diogu, 2002-03
605, James Harden, 2007-08
547, Luguentz Dort, 2018-19
462, Jamal Faulkner, 1990-91
441, Massamba Diop, 2025-26
Diop has attempted 144 free throws this season, the sixth-most by a freshman in program history.
Single-season FT attempts by a Sun Devil Freshman
245, Ike Diogu, 2003
224, James Harden, 2008
207, Luguentz Dort, 2013
207, Jahii Carson, 2013
154, Romello White, 2017-18
144, Massamba Diop, 2026
140, Mario Bennett, 1992
Diop is seventh in program history with 65 blocks this season. He needs 9 more blocks to crack the Top-5 on the list. His 67 blocks are the most in a season by a Sun Devil since Jordan Bachynski set the program record with 133 blocks in 2014.
Single-season blocks by a Sun Devil (overall)
133 – Jordan Bachynski, 2014
120 – Jordan Bachynski, 2013
115 – Mario Bennett, 1995
113 – Rodger Farrington, 1997
75 – Ike Diogu, 2005
69 – Tommy Smith, 2003
67 - Massamba Diop, 2026
63 – Jayden Quaintance, 2025 (ASU Freshmen Record)
60 – Warren Washington, 2023
Arizona State is currently shooting 75.1% from the free-throw line, which would be the third-best total in program history.
Sun Devil best single-season team FT% (1972-73 to present)
75.6 – 1978
75.4 – 1955
75.1 - 2026 (557-of-742)
74.9 – 2017
74.6 – 1998
74.6 – 1987
73.9 – 2008
73.7 – 2009
Arizona State already has 141 blocks this season, the 8th-best total in program history. Four of the Top-12 shot blocking Sun Devil seasons have occured over the past five years.
Sun Devil single-season team blocks (1972-73 to present)
211 – 2013
182 – 2014
172 – 1997
170 – 2023
165 – 1995
165 – 1979
157 – 1980
147 – 2026
146 – 2025
144 – 1981
139 – 2003
131 – 2022
Arizona State has scored 2,477 points this season, the 11th-best total in program history. Five of the Top-11 scoring seasons have come in the Hurley era.
Sun Devil single-season team points
2,703 – 1998
2,645 – 2018
2,638 – 2019
2,593 – 2017
2,585 – 1995
2,559 – 2023
2,539 – 2000
2,519 – 1975
2,512 – 2013
2,486 – 2014
2,477 - 2026
Arizona State has made 244 three pointers this season, tied for the 11th-best total in program history. Six of the Top-12 three-point shooting seasons have come in the Hurley era.
Sun Devil single-season team 3 PT FGs made
328 – 2017
288 – 2018
288 – 2009
287 – 2025
274 – 2023
271 – 2010
268 – 2014
263 – 1993
254 – 2016
250 – 2013
244 - 2026
244 – 2008
Arizona State has attempted 714 three pointers this season, the 12th-most in program history.
Sun Devil single-season team 3 PT FG attempts
896 – 2017
851 – 2023
806 – 2025
793 – 2018
778 – 2009
772 – 1993
756 – 2016
735 – 2010
722 – 2013
716 – 2024
714 - 2026
714 – 2019
Sun Devil Men's Basketball Postgame Press Conference - Baylor
Coach Hurley, Moe Odum, and Noah Meesuen meet with the media following the victory.
Quotables
Arizona State Head Coach Bobby Hurley
Opening statement
“I thought we played really good offense. We had 19-of-31 from the field in the first half. It was guys stepping into shots from 3 and points in the paint across the board. I would have been really surprised if I went into the locker room at halftime most of the year and knew I'd be up nine points against Baylor at halftime and Moe Odum had zero. Like, it's a testament to the guys coming along, different guys helping us. Andrija Grbovic today had some really good moments. Gave us a boost. Noah is always guarding with great energy and defending. He hit some big shots for us as well. So it was impressive how the guys came out and competed. I think we handled the last 48 hours very well leading into this game in terms of getting the guys ready physically after the Iowa State loss. And the guys responded like they have all year."
On the questions about his future
“I talked with the team and you saw the reports. I didn't want to hide anything from them. They're playing for each other. I'm coaching them to the best of my ability. I have not been told anything. So although the source is reputable and a guy that I know. But I'm just doing my job and coaching this team and enjoying these moments with this group right now."
On the challenges of a Big 12 Tournament run
“I don't think it's me making comments that changes anything. We were going through a tough stretch like you're going to do in this league. Maybe there's a couple of teams that are built to sustain a top effort, but there's no basketball conference like this. Like, what we're trying to do is win five games in a row. It is harder to do what we're going to try to do than maybe win a national championship, because we're going to play a team tomorrow that potentially could be Elite Eight or a Final Four team. And that's in our second game. Then we have other heavy hitters waiting beyond that if we continue to advance. So, me making the statement is more to shake things up and see what happens. But these guys, they're resilient, they're tough, and they responded and they have all year."
On facing Iowa State a second time in a week
“Well, it gives us the opportunity to look at the film, especially in the second half of our game with Iowa State. And what we haven't done well the last two games is take care of the ball. And 23 turnovers on Saturday, it's not who we've been all year. We've been a team that's taken care of the ball for the most part, in the top three and four teams in our league. So it was uncharacteristic of us. I gave a lot of credit to Iowa State and how they defend and certainly they deserve credit for that. We had 16 again today. So I guess we're inching our way closer back to where we need to be in order to have a chance to beat a team like Iowa State. But you could just point to that one statistical category and say, like, that was, you know, the difference in the outcome of the game."
On the 24-hour turnarond
“Well, we've been playing really well in first halves of games. And that's something I talked to the guys about after the Iowa State loss. We're up at Arizona at halftime. We're beating Iowa State on the road at halftime. We're up at Baylor at halftime. And we can't put together two halves. I thought the way we played the first four minutes of the half was very good and we extended our lead. We continue to do that through the second media in the second half. And we came very close to putting two halves together, minus poor free-throw shooting down the stretch when the game probably shouldn't have been as close as it was."
Senior guard Moe Odum
On if the team played any harder this game for Coach Hurley
"No, we play the same regardless."
On how comfortable he is trusting his teammates
"Super comfortable. I believe in them even if I'm scoring I still tell them shoot the ball. I don't want them ever to hesitate. I told Noah before the game, I don't have time for you to hesitate. Let it fly. I watch you work out in the gym after practice every day. You shouldn't be thinking about shooting the ball. You should shoot the ball. That's just me. Like, I want them to score. I want them to have fun. I'm telling them to have fun because I'm going to have my fun. Coming out to play basketball is my fun. Whatever I do after that is whatever. But I just want them to have fun and play hard, and everything else will fall into place."
On playing Iowa State for the second time in a week
“I mean, it's the same thing playing against every other team. I'm going to get picked up full court. I'm going to get harassed. It's my job to be strong mentally and physically and protect the ball and not turn the ball over and get us into offense. It's not really a challenge. It's more so about the work I put in and to be able to show how much work I put in throughout the year and figure it out."
Sophomore guard Noah Meeusen
On maintaining positive attitude during shooting struggles
“I've been struggling, but these are the games you live for, do or die. And you've got to have confidence. Coach, Moe, everybody keep telling me to keep shooting. I just stay in the gym, work and the work will show."
On his defensive impact
"Coach told me one time I've got to hang my hat on something. If my shot isn't falling, if my offense isn't going how I want to, I've got to bring something to the table. That's where defense comes into play. Just also knowing the scout. Coaches do a good job getting us a good scout. And just knowing their plays, being a high IQ guy, I think, helps me."
Up next
Sun Devil Men’s Basketball will take on No. 7 Iowa State for the second time in less than a week, as the two sides meet in the second round of the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament. Arizona State plays in the first game of the day for the second straight round, with the contest scheduled for Wednesday, March 11th at 9:30 AM MST. Watch live on ESPN and listen by tuning-in to ESPN 620 AM (KTAR).
Sun Devils on social
For exclusive content, the latest updates, and more information on the Sun Devil Men’s Basketball program, follow our X and Instagram accounts, like our Facebook page, and visit sundevils.com.
Head coach Bobby Hurley (X: @BobbyHurley11)