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| Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball | |
|---|---|
| Name | Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball |
| University | Arizona State University |
| Conference | Pac-12 Conference |
| Location | Tempe, Arizona |
| Arena | Desert Financial Arena |
| Capacity | 14,198 |
| Nickname | Sun Devils |
| Coach | Bobby Hurley |
| Tenure | 9th |
| Championships | Pac-12 regular season 2023 |
Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball is the collegiate men's basketball program representing Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The team competes in the Pac-12 Conference and plays home games at Desert Financial Arena, formerly known as Wells Fargo Arena. The program has appeared in multiple NCAA Tournament brackets and has produced professional players in the National Basketball Association and international leagues.
The program began play under early coaches such as Ernie McCoy and later figures including Nile Kinnick-era contemporaries and mid-century mentors who guided the team through the expanding landscape of NCAA Division I Men's Basketball. In the 1960s and 1970s the program saw growth under coaches who competed against powerhouses like UCLA during the John Wooden era and engaged in regional rivalries with Arizona. The program's profile rose in the 1980s and 1990s with seasons coached by Bill Frieder and later Steve Patterson-era hires who navigated conference shifts and recruiting battles involving prospects from Phoenix Suns-adjacent high school circuits. The 2000s brought national attention under coaches who emphasized modern offenses while facing programs such as UCLA and USC. Recent decades include postseason runs in the NCAA Tournament and participation in the NIT and CIT under contemporary coaches like Herb Sendek and Bobby Hurley.
Home games are staged at Desert Financial Arena, located on the ASU campus in Tempe, Arizona. The facility, renovated several times, sits near landmarks such as the Mill Avenue District and is supported by practice spaces including the Simon Modernization Project-era training centers. Strength and conditioning work occurs in facilities adjacent to the arena, linked administratively to the Sun Devil Athletics department overseen by athletic directors like Ray Anderson. Recruiting and player development utilize nearby medical partnerships with institutions such as Banner Health and sport science collaboration with faculty from Arizona State University School of Health Solutions.
Arizona State has compiled seasons across conferences, including the Border Conference era and long tenure in the Pac-10 before its evolution to the Pac-12 Conference. The program's best regular-season performances include top finishes in conference play and invitations to the NCAA Tournament, with notable seasons producing national rankings in the Associated Press poll and appearances in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Conference tournament play has featured matchups against schools such as Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. The team has captured division- and conference-level honors and produced All-American candidates who contributed to postseason berths.
Coaching lineage features figures who advanced through collegiate ranks and professional ties, including Herb Sendek, Todd Graham-era staff crossovers to football-adjacent administrators, and current head coach Bobby Hurley. Notable alumni players include James Harden, a former Sun Devil who became an NBA Most Valuable Player candidate and member of USA Basketball, as well as Jeff Pendergraph, Zylan Cheatham, and Shaquille O'Neal-era contemporaries who intersected in the same conference though at other institutions. Other professionals with Sun Devils ties include Isaac Austin, Alvin Scott, Nate Williams, and international standouts who competed in EuroLeague and national leagues across Spain, Italy, and Australia.
Primary rivalries include the in-state series with Arizona known as the "Territorial Cup" rivalry across multiple sports, and regional competitive histories with UCLA and USC stemming from conference play. Traditions tied to game days revolve around the Fork 'em Devils gesture, pregame activities at the Sun Devil Marching Band, and student sections coordinated with Arizona State University Associated Students and alumni groups like the Sun Devil Club. Rivalry games have drawn comparisons to contests against Arizona football rivalry intensity and are often highlighted on regional broadcast schedules.
Media coverage comes via partnerships with outlets such as regional affiliates of Pac-12 Network, radio broadcasts on stations connected to Bonneville International, and national exposure through ESPN and CBS Sports during marquee matchups and postseason play. The fanbase includes students from Arizona State University and alumni chapters across metropolitan areas such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, with boosters organized through the Sun Devil Club and engagement via social media platforms tied to Twitter, Instagram, and official athletic communications. Community outreach initiatives coordinate with organizations like United Way of Greater Phoenix and campus programs sponsored by ASU Athletics.
The program has produced multiple NBA draft selections, including first-round picks such as James Harden (3rd overall, 2009), and other draftees who joined franchises like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns. Alumni have extended careers overseas in the EuroLeague, Liga ACB, and NBL, with former players signing contracts in Spain, France, and Israel. The professional pipeline is supported by ASU's pro day events that attract scouts from the NBA G League and international clubs, and alumni associations that include former Sun Devils involved with NBA Coaches Association and front-office positions across the National Basketball Association.