Field Level Media
08 Mar 2025, 05:00 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images)
Arizona State lugs an eight-game home losing streak into what could be head coach Bobby Hurley's last regular-season game with the Sun Devils, when No. 9 Texas Tech visits Saturday night in Tempe, Ariz.
Multiple media reports indicated Hurley could be on the way out after a 10-year run that featured three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Arizona State (13-17, 4-15 Big 12) has lost three consecutive games and is 1-9 in its last 10 and is destined for a fourth losing season in five years.
'It's very easy to just let go of the rope and feel sorry for yourself and not compete,' Hurley said. 'These guys have stayed together through all the chaos that we've had and the unfortunate things that have gone on but they, and Mason in particular, have shown leadership.'
The Sun Devils have been without leading scorer BJ Freeman the last two weeks after he was dismissed for conduct detrimental to the team. They have also not had post player Jayden Quaintance (right knee) over the last three games.
Adam Miller (hip) played only the first minute of Tuesday's 113-100 loss at No. 24 Arizona before aggravating his injury.
Alston Mason finished with a season-high 33 points against Arizona.
'I feel bad for the kids. I've done a lot in the game. And I appreciate every moment I get to do what I do,' Hurley said. 'But this is like their moment, and I feel like this season has been robbed from us to a degree just with unfortunate injuries spread (throughout the season.) And maybe all those injuries collectively have added to why we lost maybe another four or five games we could've won.'
The Sun Devils reached 100 points in regulation for the first time this season despite having only five scholarship players available by time the game ended. Basheer Jihad and Shawn Phillips Jr. fouled out of the game in the waning minutes. They eclipsed the century mark on Feb. 12 when they lost at Texas Tech 111-106 in double overtime.
Since their meeting with Arizona State in Lubbock, Texas, the Red Raiders have lost to TCU and Houston but won at Kansas 78-73 last week to improve to 2-22 at Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan.
Texas Tech (23-7, 14-5) is 7-2 on the road this season.
The Red Raiders are coming off a 91-75 win at home against Colorado on Wednesday night. They tied a program record with 16 made 3-pointers.
Kerwin Walton made four 3-pointers and Chance McMillian and Christian Anderson each had three.
'Man, what a fun team to coach, because all of them are unselfish,' Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. 'Our team really does share the basketball and everybody can shoot, so how do you defend it?'
A Texas Tech victory guarantees a second-place finish in the Big 12 regular season behind Houston, which lost only one conference game and secured the regular-season conference title last week.
The Red Raiders are the only Big 12 team to defeat the Cougars, back on Feb. 1 at Houston.
In a double-overtime win over Arizona State in the previous meeting, Texas Tech's JT Toppin had a career-high 41 points and 15 rebounds and Darrion Williams had 27 points.
Toppin is coming off a 30-point, 14-rebound performance in the win over Colorado on Wednesday.
If Quaintance is unavailable because of his knee injury, Arizona State faces a huge challenge against Toppin and the Red Raiders' frontcourt.
The Sun Devils were outscored 52-30 in the paint in their loss at Arizona on Tuesday.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Arizona Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Arizona Herald.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks fell sharply at the open and stayed in the red for much of the day Friday, however as the day wore...
NEW YORK, New York - The U.S. dollar continued to come under pressure Friday with President Donald Trump's flip flops on trade tariffs,...
SEATTLE, Washington: Nordstrom delivered stronger-than-expected holiday-quarter sales and announced a leadership shakeup, with Chief...
MILAN, Italy: Prada CEO Andrea Guerra suggested this week that the Italian luxury brand is keeping its options open regarding potential...
OSLO/COPENHAGEN: Tesla is experiencing a sharp drop in sales across Scandinavia and France as shifting consumer sentiment and an aging...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks fell sharply Thursday as investors and traders struggled with Presient Trump's controversial trade...
AUSTIN, Texas: Tesla has taken a key step toward launching its long-promised robotaxi service by applying for a transportation permit...
(Photo credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images) Arizona State lugs an eight-game home losing streak into what could be head coach Bobby...
(Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images) Buffalo Sabres forward Jason Zucker signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension...
(Photo credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images) The Winnipeg Jets bolstered their roster on Friday, acquiring defenseman Luke Schenn from...
(Photo credit: Athletics) The Athletics have unveiled updated renderings of their proposed $1.75 billion new ballpark along the Las...
(Photo credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images) Florida State is negotiating with Sacramento Kings assistant coach Luke Loucks to become...