Back to square one: Bobby Hurley details ASU’s reset at Big 12 Media Day

Bobby Hurley didn’t need to be reminded of what last season resembled. A 13–20 record. Only four league wins, and his worst overall record as the head coach at Arizona State since taking the job in Tempe a decade ago. 

All of it fizzled despite the hype surrounding a roster loaded with high-end freshmen Jayden Quaintance, Joson Sanon, and Amier Ali. Second-leading scorer BJ Freeman was released midseason for “actions detrimental to the team.” Sanon and Quaintance were held back by injuries that stunted their momentum, the offense never jelled, and the locker room fell apart.

And so when Hurley stepped onto the podium at Big 12 Media Day this October, the tone was far different. Gone were the references to upside or potential. In their place was honesty and a sense of clarity that only comes from hitting bottom.

“I think the first thing we did, we identified the point guard position,” Hurley explained. “Losing Alston Mason, who had a really good year for us, we wanted to make sure we didn’t miss a beat. I think we did a good job of that. Finding Moe Odum very early in the cycle was the foundation for us building out from there.”

Senior guard Moe Odum, the transfer guard from Pepperdine who notched 22.5 points and 10.5 assists at the WCC Tournament and 13.1 points and 7.5 assists for the season, isn’t just Hurley’s new point guard; he’s the first building block of a total rebuild.

During his last season of his contract, Hurley didn’t attempt to rebuild last season’s team. He tore it down to its studs. The lone holdover is one player, sophomore guard Trevor Best, as everyone else is either gone or replaced by transfers, international players, and opponents looking for a fresh start.

“We went a little bit of a different direction with the roster,” Hurley noted. “We went pretty heavy with international players, Noah [Meeusen] being one of those guys, and tried to rebuild the frontcourt with a couple more veteran, seasoned players from overseas.”

For a coach with his assertive sideline presence and competitive ferocity, this shift to an older, more experienced roster is fitting. The old team was talented, but aside from Adam Miller, who battled through injuries late in the season, it wasn’t built on toughness. Hurley is now banking on experience, even international experience, to steady the program.

“That’s a part of college basketball now that you’re going to see more and more,” Hurley remarked. “And we got some mid-major guys from the portal that I think have a chip on their shoulder or are leveling up. We’re excited about the group overall.”

For Odum, this opportunity has been years in the making. The 6-foot-1 guard from the Bronx didn’t just commit to Arizona State; he had been waiting for this moment.

“Coaches don’t know this, but I was going to come regardless,” Odum revealed. “I just needed him to call me. This has been my dream school since high school. I always told myself that if I ever had a chance to come to ASU, I would. So I just needed to put the work in.”

Odum’s confidence is already showing. During Media Day, when asked about his film, he analyzed his style of play like an old coach. Known for shunning ball screens and creating offense, he noted it’s something he has spent hours on, making a masterpiece.

“Usually, people don’t like to let me go on the screen because I can find people open,” Odum observed. “So they usually overaggressively jump on my right side. I spend a lot of time rejecting screens — pull-up shots, floaters, passes across the court — just different reads out of the rejection.”

Those are the qualities that Hurley has always valued most in his point guards, freedom as well as smarts. And after a season in which late-game decision-making undermined the Sun Devils again and again, Odum’s calmness under pressure could be vital.

“We were really in good shape at the midyear point last year,” Hurley noted. “We were trending to the NCAA Tournament, but the bottom obviously fell out in Big 12 play. Making sure we stay healthy is the number one priority.”

Hurley paused before reflecting on just how close his team was in several games. They had Baylor beaten in Tempe before losing in overtime. They missed game-winning free throws against Kansas State. They were one rebound away from beating Texas Tech on the road.

“We had a hard time closing out close games,” Hurley added. “And if you don’t win those, it can demoralize you. Things can snowball fast. Hopefully, the main thing this year is we’ve addressed the roster to be deeper, have more options, so if one player goes down, it doesn’t tank the rest of the season.”

Among the new faces is sophomore guard Noah Meeusen, a 6 ‘4 Belgian who averaged 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in the BNXT League last year. He is one of two Belgians and seven international players overall to join the Sun Devils late last summer. Adjusting hasn’t been easy—new country, new system, new teammates, but his maturity has already made a noticeable impact on the team.

“It’s been going good,” Meeusen reflected. “It’s a fast experience. I came here late, so I had to adapt quickly. But lately it’s been going better and better, so it’s nice to be here.”

Hurley indicated he is already noticing the benefit of having players such as Meeusen in the program, players who have played professionally overseas and have a higher understanding of the game.

“Some of it is relationship-driven,” Hurley explained. “Also, it’s the economics of this year’s portal. It was very expensive for American players. International players were happy to make a significant bump from where they were in Europe and wanted to come over to the United States, get an education, and play in the best conference in the country.”

Hurley remarked that Meeusen has already had “a good impact in practice with his IQ, talking to his teammates, letting them know things he sees on the floor,” adding that it shows how well-coached he’s been overseas.

When asked what he wanted to bring to the team, Meeusen didn’t hesitate. “Unselfish basketball,” he stated. “Making my teammates better, hitting some shots, and just trying to win.”

It’s a simple answer, but one Hurley couldn’t have penned himself. For a team that self-destructed under pressure last year, selflessness is arguably the most valuable trait on the roster.

Hurley’s own fate is not guaranteed, with his contract running through the end of this season and no extension in place, but those close to the program insist that his focus hasn’t wavered. He’s rebuilt. He’s rebuilt teams. But this one is different: a roster of players who were sold nothing and chose to buy in on a vision built from scratch.

“It’s a different kind of group,” Hurley noted recently. “They’re hungry, they listen, and they’ve embraced what it means to start over. That’s what I love about them.”