Everyone understood that Bobby Hurley was playing out the string at Arizona State, and that he would be let go after Arizona State lost its last game. And ASU lost to Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday, and at 91-42, it was an historically bad loss.
So Hurley was let go, and you know what? We’re fine with that. Why? Because it means we don’t have to say nice things about Arizona State basketball anymore.
We were willing to do that because Bobby Hurley deserves that. Hurley was beyond
brilliant at Duke, and we have immense respect for Bob Sr., Danny, and Bobby. They’re coaches who win but who, more importantly, change lives for the better.
So while being let go can’t be fun for anyone, we’re thrilled that Hurley is out of that shithole.
Why the animus towards the Sun Devils? Some may remember this being talked about before, but it’s because of how the fans treated Steve Kerr, and how the school responded.
When he was at Arizona, Kerr’s father was president of the American University in Beirut, where he was murdered. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
His son, who was Lute Olson’s first recruit at Arizona, would soon play at Arizona State with the Wildcats. Instead of being kind and decent, the fans taunted him – right after his father was murdered.
Kerr destroyed ASU after that happened, scoring 20 points in the first half.
The school apologized but essentially did nothing. It was heinous behavior by the students, compounded by institutional apathy.
So while we pulled for ASU out of respect for Hurley, there’s no love lost. It’s easy to detest UNC and Kentucky, but neither of those fan bases would taunt a kid about his father’s death. It’s unforgivable behavior.
As for Hurley, he tells Matt Norlander that he wants back in somewhere, and Norlander says he probably will be. ASU is a very hard place to win, and Hurley did well, generally speaking.
Norlander lists the following schools as possible fits: Boston College, Providence, South Florida, and Utah State.
As Jim Boeheim said after his protegé, Adrian Autry was also fired Wednesday, if you don’t have NIL money, you’re not to going to compete. Hopefully, wherever Hurley ends up, he has the resources to compete.
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