Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Legend Bounces Back From Blowout Loss to Blue Devils

Apparently, Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils have made strides since their lopsided exhibition defeat at the hands of the Duke basketball team.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball guard Bobby Hurley
Former Duke basketball guard Bobby Hurley / James Snook-Imagn Images
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In late October, Duke basketball treasure Bobby Hurley returned to Durham for the inaugural Brotherhood Run, and his 10th batch of Arizona State Sun Devils left with a 103-47 loss to Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils.

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At the time, the media's outlook on the 2024-25 Sun Devils was quite dim.

Now, though, Arizona State looks primed to potentially return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2022-23 season. And Hurley has joined the 200-wins club as a head coach.

On top of holding their own in an 88-80 road loss to the No. 4-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs on Sunday, the Sun Devils (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) have picked up a couple of encouraging wins. They include Thursday night's 87-76 home victory over the previously unbeaten Grand Canyon Antelopes, earning high praise from national college hoops expert Jon Rothstein:

"Two and a half weeks ago, Arizona State looked like it was headed for purgatory after its Charity Exhibition at Duke. It now owns a pair of likely Quad 2 wins over Grand Canyon and Santa Clara. Bobby Hurley has rallied the Sun Devils."

Hurley, who remains the all-time NCAA assists leader (1,076) and is one of 13 Duke basketball players with their jersey numbers hanging from Cameron Indoor Stadium's rafters, boasts a 158-132 record at Arizona State.

Counting his two seasons leading the Buffalo Bulls, the 53-year-old New Jersey native is now 200-152 overall (56.8 winning percentage).

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Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more updates on former Duke basketball players and other Blue Devil news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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