Bobby Hurley on ASU’s defensive woes: ‘We stink’

Arizona State men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley didn’t hold back during his postgame media availability following ASU’s 78-70 loss to Colorado on Saturday.

After starting the season 9-2, ASU (12-12, 3-8) has dropped 10 of its past 13 games. In 11 of those games, the Sun Devils have allowed at least 75 points to opponents.

“Look, we stink on defense,” Hurley told reporters after the loss. “We gave up 50% (Colorado’s field goal percentage) tonight, so whether it was man or zone, I don’t know what the ratio was exactly, but 50-50/60-40, man or zone we were bad at both, so it was pick your poison.”

The Sun Devils allowed the Buffaloes to shoot 31 of 61 (51%) from the field Saturday. On the season, opponents are shooting 46.2% from the field (15th in the Big 12) and scoring 79.3 points per game (13th in the Big 12) against ASU.

Hurley upset over lack of rebounding

ASU was outrebounded 40-26 on Saturday. This season, the Sun Devils are allowing opponents 36.1 rebounds per game (13th in the Big 12).

“We didn’t get rebounds we needed to get,” Hurley said. “It’s been a lot of the same things happening. In games we don’t have success we can’t rebound.”

The Sun Devils have not won the rebounding battle since their Jan. 21 win against West Virginia and have collected more rebounds than their opponent in just one of the past eight games.

ASU ranks 318th out of 365 NCAA teams with a 47.6% total rebounding rate. The Sun Devils are 302nd in the nation in rebound margin as well.

When a reporter followed up and mentioned ASU is last in the Big 12 in rebounding at 32.8 per game, Hurley interrupted the question and said, ‘Thanks for pointing that out.'”

I asked Bobby Hurley about his plan to improve on the boards, as ASU is last in the Big 12 in rebounds.

“Are you kidding me?… We got seven games left, so if we can’t rebound now, then chances are we’re not going to be able to rebound.”@CronkiteSports pic.twitter.com/zhncADJXU1

— Dominic Pasella 🪼 (@DomPasella) February 8, 2026

The reporter then continued his question and asked Hurley what he’s been seeing on the boards, and the coach responded by asking, “Are you kidding, me? I just talked about not being able to rebound the ball. Didn’t I just say that?

“We got seven games left, so if we can’t rebound by now, chances are we’re not going to be able to rebound,” Hurley continued.

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