NCAAB Arizona State Sun Devils
NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Pac-12
Past Conferences: Pac-10, Pac-8, AAWU, PCC, Ind
City: Tempe, Arizona
Stadium: Desert Financial Arena
NCAA Tournaments: 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2009, 2014, 2018, 2019
*Indicates appearance was vacated by the NCAA
Championships:
National Championships: 0
Conference Titles: 0
Team History
The Arizona State Sun Devils men’s basketball team started in the 1911-12 season. Success didn’t come early as an intercollegiate program because the team barely played any games to receive national recognition.
After constantly building the foundation of the program, the school joined the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association Season. The team had solid records but had nothing to show for it from 1947 to 1950; the program wasn’t labeled as a major school.
Under coach Ned Wulk, the school would punch in their first ticket in the 1958 season as the team went .500 in the 1958 season. Their trip would end quickly when they lost in a close battle with the Idaho State Bengals.
Wulk would lead the team for a while and lead the team to several NCAA appearances, including three Elite 8 finishes in 1961, 1963, and 1975. These were when the odds for this team were the highest, as the school never reached the Elite 8 since 1975.
Losing to the Jayhawks
The 1981 season was towards the end of Wulks career at Arizona State. This may have not showcased the best record in the program’s history, but spirits were high as they were a second-seeded squad as the Arizona State team stats showed with a 24-4 record in the regular season. Unfortunately, they lost to the Kansas Jayhawks in the second round.
After a 25-year tenure, the keys were handed off to Bob Weinhauer. The first year of his tenure had a decent result but failed to make the dance. The last two years of his tenure were a good sign as to where the program was headed, since he had sub-.500 records for the next two seasons.
The next decade would be a tough one, since the struggles returned. The school wouldn’t make an appearance until 1991 with Bill Frieder in charge. They would lose to the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second round. They would go a step further in 1995 before falling to the Kentucky Wildcats in the Sweet 16.
The years 2003 and 2009 would have similar results because they would come up short of reaching the Sweet 16. Additionally, they were bounced in the first round against the Texas Longhorns by a two-point margin.
Bobby Hurley took over the reins in 2015. He and his programs went through some highs and lows. The team would lose in the First Four in 2018 and win in 2019 before falling to the Buffalo Bulls.
Currently, Hurley will be entering his eighth season as head coach. He and the program have started the season on a high note. The Sun Devils have decent NCAAB odds, with the fifth-best odds to win the conference.
All-Time Records
Points Scored
Eddie House 2,044
Jeremy Veal 1,984
Ike Diogu 1,946
Rebounds
Tony Cerkvenik 1,022
Jeff Ayres 942
Joe Caldwell 929
Assists
Derek Glasser 551
Bobby Thompson 474
Remy Martin 466
Steals
Eddie House 258
Stevin Smith 246
Fat Lever 236
FAQs
What Is the Highest Win Total in Program History?
The 1962-63 season portrayed the highest win total, with the team having a record of 26-3 record and a 9-1 record in conference play as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
Who Is the Winningest Coach in Program History?
Undoubtedly, Ned Wulk is the winningest coach in the program’s history, with a record of 405-273. No other coach in the Arizona State Sun Devils’ program history has even reached the 200-overall win milestone.
Who Is the Greatest Player in Program History?
James Harden was selected with the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has numerous accolades, including an MVP and 10 All-Star Appearances. He and the Philadelphia 76ers are in a solid position to be contenders for the NBA Championship this season. The team will most likely be active buyers in this season’s NBA Trade Deadline.
