The bright sun in Tempe, Ariz. apparently doesn’t permeate Desert Financial Arena.
Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley provided rather dour quotes that seemingly could indicate a change is coming after a 75-63 home loss to mediocre West Virginia on Wednesday.
“The light in the tunnel, it’s hard to see a lot of light,” Hurley said.
“I love the group, though. This group is far different than some other teams that I’ve had that, at times, might have made me sick to my stomach.”
He added: “I’m failing. I can’t get through to the team.”
It’s not often to see a coach be as blunt and honest about his team and his ability to motivate his players, and it certainly raises questions about whether it’s time for a change after 11 seasons.
Hurley’s seat had already started to swelter due to one NCAA Tournament appearance in six years and zero appearances beyond the second round.
That he would openly say he can’t “get through” to the team is not a good sign since an inability to connect with players is usually an indication of a coach in his final days.
Hurley pointed to the end of the first half Wednesday when he wanted his team to foul West Virginia, yet it instead allowed a 3-pointer that cut the Sun Devils’ lead to 37-35 entering the half.
West Virginia (13-4) outscored Arizona State (10-9), 40-26, in the second half.
“There isn’t a commitment to listening,” Hurley said. “We lack discipline in terms of listening to what some of the things I’m trying to get across to the team. My voice is not working with this group,”
Hurley also lamented his team’s struggles at home, with this setback dropping Arizona State to 5-4 as the host team.
Arizona State went 5-9 at home last year in a 13-20 season, 10-5 in the 2023-24 and 2022-23 campaigns, 9-6 the year before and 7-6 in the 2020-21 season.
The Sun Devils are 1-2 at home in Big 12 play this year, and 0-3 on the road.
Arizona State has two days to recover before hosting Cincinnati.
“We have not played well here in years,” Hurley said. “Like, since before COVID. We had this place cooking before COVID. Now, it’s just a sterile environment. We don’t win here. We don’t give our fans any reason to show up with enthusiasm to think that we’re going to win a basketball game.
“We have been dreadful at home for years. … This has been going on for a while. It’s not a home-court advantage. We can’t win here. Bottom line.”