Fire Bobby Hurley chant breaks out during ASU basketball loss, but not everyone agrees

Posted by author February 5, 2025 Basketball

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After Arizona State lost to Arizona on Saturday, social media slammed ASU basketball coach Bobby Hurley for his actions, with Sun Devils fans calling for him to be fired and Wildcats fans calling for him to receive a lifetime contract.

But how do Arizona State basketball fans actually at an ASU game feel about Hurley, who came under fire for his antics at the end of the 91-82 loss to the rivals from down South?

ASU fans shared their opinions on the coach, who is potentially on the hot seat, during the Sun Devils’ game against Kansas State on Tuesday night at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, a game in which Arizona State blew a 15-0 lead and lost 71-70.

Arizona State should keep Bobby Hurley as basketball coach

Not everyone would like to see ASU athletic director Graham Rossini fire Hurley, citing his overall record of success and recruiting ability as reasons to stick with the coach.

“I follow Nebraska and I’ve had season tickets here for 20-something years,” Dana Trofholz of Sun Lakes said. “A Nebraska’s coach is 25 games under .500, and they seem to think he’s the greatest thing since … Hurley’s 27, 28 games over .500 and they’re upset with him. I think you have to be like a good doctor. Patience.”

Said Julio Dardon of Phoenix: “He’s had a distinctive year at ASU. Looks like he has history as a player, back to his days at Duke. Here, it’s about giving good effort for coaching and making ASU competitive every year.”

Not sure about keeping or firing Bobby Hurley

Some fans in attendance during Tuesday night’s loss to Kansas State still aren’t sure what to make of the Arizona State basketball coach.

“I’ve been an ASU fan my whole life and ASU basketball is one of my favorite teams,” said Alan Alaaldin, an ASU sophomore from Chandler. “I would describe it as a love-hate relationship. I love the passion Hurley brings and the intensity he brings, I love how he’s a great recruiter. When it comes to X’s and O’s, he’s very disappointing. Our offense is way too stagnant, our players are not being put in the best positions to maximize their capabilities. I just think it would be best for him to step down as a head coach and become more involved in the program in recruiting.”

ASU basketball should fire Bobby Hurley as coach

Other fans appear to have had enough with Hurley as the Sun Devils’ coach, joining those on social media who have been campaigning for his dismissal.

“He’s a better recruiter than he is a game coach, unfortunately,” Ira Rotenberg of Cave Creek said. “It’s going to be hard for them to cut ties because he is the all-time winningest coach here. I think it’s probably time. I’m not just saying after Saturday, it’s not just one game. I think it’s just the program.”

ASU senior Seth Klein, from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, said: “I understand how hard it is to play at the collegiate level with a seven-, eight-man rotation. Still, there are better ways. You need to call timeouts earlier, don’t let momentum go for the other team.”

From Pat Burm of Mesa: “I heard after the fact about the head-butt. Unsportsmanlike on our guy and he needs to grow up.”

Arizona State senior Will Burkhard said: “Passionate guy, just cannot get the wins. Can’t get it done in the games. Hurley’s kind of on his way out, trying to bring us down with him right now. But we’re still on the come-up. We have good guys.”

And Blake Buford from Chandler: “I’m fed up, I guess we’ll see as another year goes by.”

‘Fire Bobby’ chant breaks out at Arizona State vs Kansas State game

If you wonder how the student section currently feels about Bobby Hurley, you just had to listen to it during ASU’s loss to Kansas State on Tuesday.

After the Sun Devils fell behind the Wildcats in the second half of a Big 12 game that they opened with a 15-0 lead, students at Desert Financial Arena started a “Fire Bobby” chant.

Will they get their wish?

Jake Mozarsky and John Elrod contributed to this story.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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