ASU’s Randy Bennett ‘feeling great,’ ready for Big 12 challenge
Arizona State head basketball coach Randy Bennett's early stages in his new role weren't what he drew up.
Watch: How Kenny Dillingham is preparing Arizona State ahead of a tough 2026 schedule | 26 mins
Arizona State head basketball coach Randy Bennett’s early stages in his new role weren’t what he drew up.
As he told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Wednesday, “it got off to a funny start.”
But after getting checked out by the Mayo Clinic and postponing his introductory press conference, he’s “feeling great.” As long as that’s the case, retirement isn’t on the brain.
“I can’t answer that question. As long as I’m healthy and I’m excited,” Bennett said during his first outside media interview when asked how much longer he wanted to coach.
“The Mayo Clinic people have done a fantastic job. I’m not sure where I’d be without them,” he added.
Now, it’s about getting fully back to the job of his dreams and preparing for the challenge the Big 12 presents, two major factors in Bennett’s decision to leave Saint Mary’s.
“I was always happy there. When (outside interest) would come up, I’d go back to ‘Don’t run from happiness,’” he said. “There was never a situation where I thought we could win more than at Saint Mary’s and never a place that I thought I would be happier. … The dream job for me was Arizona State. I thought I would get back here and it just never happened. And it came about this year.
“I think ASU is a good basketball job and I’ve always thought that. But now you’re in the Big 12, that’s like the number one or two basketball conference in the country. Bottom line, I wanted to be part of that challenge and my assistant coach staff wanted the same thing. Now we got to get players who want that challenge, too. You’re playing in the real fight. Not that it wasn’t where I was at, but the landscape of college basketball has really changed. And I want to be in the top tier.”
While his arrival had its medical hang-up, Bennett and his coaching staff have gotten to work filling out the roster.
They did so in a big way through the transfer portal, with former Saint Mary’s forward Paulius Murauskas following Bennett over to ASU. He was the ninth-ranked player in the portal this offseason. Dillan Shaw also made the move from Saint Mary’s to ASU.
Then came Wednesday, when ASU landed the commitment of Australian power forward Ajak Nyuon. He joins four-star guard JRob Croy, who flipped his commitment from Saint Mary’s, as part of the 2026 class.
“We have 12 guys committed right now and I feel really good about them,” Bennett said. “I feel like they’re here for the same reason our coaching staff is. We want the challenge, we want to play against the best and I think that’s where they’re at. There’s money involved in these things now, but I feel like these guys are coming in for the right reason.
“They’re coming to be part of something bigger than themselves and try and win a championship in the Big 12, which will be very challenging to do.”
Related
ASU men's basketball transfers: Randy Bennett attracts 2 from former school
Report: Former Saint Mary's PG, assistant coach E.J. Rowland to join ASU staff under Randy Bennett
Randy Bennett: Landing ASU job 'has been the dream'
ASU's Graham Rossini calls Randy Bennett 'top of the list' hire to lead Sun Devils into new era
Randy Bennett's ASU contract includes details on private jet use, staff salary, buyouts
Court rulings grant NCAA athletes from high school class of 2022 another year of eligibility
Comments
4 Comments
His health is already a fact, as it was used against ASU by numerous schools especially Gonzaga to keep recruits away.
ASU would have been so much better off keeping Hurley, who was essentially going to bring back all of his players who still had remaining eligibility, INCLUDING DIOP. Bennett is obviously sick, and opposing schools are making sure the players ASU is competing for are well aware. Instead of hiring Bennett, the best way to improve the Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Softball, etc. programs would have been to dump Michael Crow and bring in someone who understands that in this day and age, NIL money is how teams compete. Over 15 years ago, Crow violently opposed real funding for Men's basketball, which Hurley had the contacts to make happen. Crow, Rossini and especially Bennett have all thrown in the towel, acknowledging they can't compete, which makes that triumvirate pathetic.
The only real talent Bennett has brought to ASU is Paulius Murauskas, whose sole criteria for signing was not loyalty to Bennett, but that he was looking for max money to provide for his wife and young child. Paulius Murauskas only signed because ASU well outbid other schools like Louisville and Kentucky, which is hilarious considering how Bennett is now complaining about the NIL in general.
Don't even get me started on Bennett's health or really is lack thereof. In a year he'll retire and try to get ASU to accept one of his underlings who will have even less ability to recruit. Hurley is feeling really vindicated today, and those who pushed for him to be released, look like completely uninformed, delusional lunatics.
Sadly, this hire may be a short lived flop. He is putting together a solid team for the WCC, but one that doesn't have enough fire power to compete in the Big12.
I do hope I am proven wrong and this team at least sits at least somewhere in the middle of the Big12, but on paper it doesn't look like it will. I know ASU will never be a basketball powerhouse, but I just don't want to see them at the bottom of the Big12 every year.