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Former Wildcat Richard Jefferson claps back at Bobby Hurley for questioning Arizona’s class

Feb 1, 2025, 7:39 PM

Bobby Hurley’s declaration that Arizona beat his ASU squad “with no class” reverberated throughout the college basketball world, landing not so gracefully on former Wildcat-turned-media personality Richard Jefferson.

“Hey Bobby, you still acting like a (clown),” Jefferson wrote in a post on X, directed at Hurley sending his players and staff to the locker room before shaking hands with the winning Wildcats at the end of an 81-72 loss at Desert Financial Arena on Saturday.

Hurley said there was “relentless, constant chatter … that was not being policed correctly,” directed toward the Sun Devils’ bench, coming to a head when BJ Freeman headbutted Arizona guard Caleb Love in the game’s final seconds.

Thus, Hurley said, he didn’t want to leave room for any further confrontations postgame.

Meanwhile, the coach was called for a technical foul late in the first half, and he ripped his tie off in frustration, all of which may have empowered his players to embrace the emotions of the rivalry game.

Jefferson, a Valley native who won a state title at Phoenix Moon Valley High, wrote Hurley has “always been this way,” dating back to when Jefferson was a TV analyst for the PAC-12 Network.

“He would call the PAC-12 offices if you said anything even remotely constructive about ASU. Multiple analysts were warned,” Jefferson wrote in another post. “He would complain that the schools owned the network, and they BETTER not say anything but positive things. I could go on more about his antics, but I’ll let him just take the (loss).”

He didn’t hesitate to get off some jokes, such as saying he supports a lifetime contract for Hurley at ASU and that Arizona will pitch in.

Then, Jefferson twisted the knife by pointing out the other Phoenicians who joined him in choosing Tucson over Tempe, naming himself along with Mike Bibby, Channing Frye and Jerryd Bayless.

He also propped up his 6-0 record against the Sun Devils from his playing days.

The Sun Devils and Wildcats will meet again in Tucson on March 4 for the second-to-last game of both teams’ regular seasons.

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