Arizona State has not suffered a loss this bad since before Elvis had a No. 1 hit

The Arizona State Sun Devils have officially cratered. The most forgettable season under Bobby Hurley has been just short of tragic.

ASU and their local media just might be the last to know. There seems to be no shortage of spectators or experts outside Tempe that know exactly what needs to happen next.

On Wednesday, the Sun Devils faced No. 7 ranked Iowa State in their first and only 2026 Big 12 Conference Tournament game. While very few expected ASU to win this game, no one would’ve predicted its result.

This 49-point loss is Arizona State's largest since a 50-point loss to Texas Tech on Feb. 1, 1956. pic.twitter.com/pZuXSGf3jj

It was an appalling 91-42 loss. To put it another way, the Cyclones more than doubled ASU’s total offensive output. The game stats don’t make it better. Almost 20 percent worse from the field (32%).

The Sun Devils shot only 5 percent from three. Lost the rebounding edge, especially on the offensive glass. Iowa State had three times the assists over ASU. 

Just how bad was the worst loss in 70 years? 

Historically, this is the worst Sun Devils basketball loss since 1956. Seven decades ago, ASU played in the Border Conference. That is a conference that has not existed since 1962.

The previous low mark was to Texas Tech in 1956. However, they weren’t called that then. Texas Technical College took the wood to the Sun Devils. The last time they suffered a loss this bad, the NCAA Tournament only included 25 teams. The following is a list of things that were very different the last time ASU lost this bad.

This was 30 years before the shot clock was invented, and even then it was a 40-second timer. 

The minimum wage was $1.00/hr.

Timeframe:

-A loss worst than ASU vs Iowa State was 70 years ago

-It has been 25,606 days since their previous worst loss

Program history:

-10 coaches ago

-4 conferences ago (Pac-12, Pac 10, WAC, BIAA)

-Arizona State was a member of the six-school Border Conference with teams from Arizona, New Mexico and Texas

College Basketball in 1956:

-The NCAA Tournament consisted of 25 teams

-The San Francisco Dons won the national championship in a gym that held 9,500 people (McGaw Memorial Hall) at Northwestern.

-30 years before the shot clock

The United States in 1956:

-13 US Presidents ago (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

-Color TV was 3 years old (21" Color TV: $495)

-New House: $11,700 - $15,000

-Milk: 97 cents/gallon

-Bread: 9 cents/loaf

-Eggs: 60 cents/dozen

-T-bone Steak: 49-79 cents/lb

-Ground Beef: 30 cents/lb

-Canned Soup: 9-15 cents per can

-Gasoline: 22-27 cents/gallon

-New Car (Chevrolet/Plymouth): $1,500-$2,000

-New Jeep Dispatcher: $1,367

-USA highway system wasn't built

-Elvis Presley rises to fame with hits like Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, and Don't Be Cruel

What's next for Arizona State Basketball?

For over five months, this has seemed that Hurley is either on the 'I don’t care' tour or 'if I go down, I’m going down my way', situation. Dragging players publicly, claiming he can’t get through to his team, not played well at home in six years and instructed his team to vacate the court before the end of the game against Auburn. All in the past 150 days. 

More: Where Arkansas Darius Acuff Jr. ranks among John Calipari's best NBA guards

Recently the program and their local media attempted to refute the report that Hurley’s time in Tempe was done. Even if the news was premature, the logical outcome still remains. Arizona State is at a crossroads where moving on or bringing in a new voice is needed.

Hurley was a college basketball legend, but that was over 30 years ago. After 11 years and an 185-167 record with only three NCAA tournament appearances and plenty of regrettable moments, it's time to move on. Even if the Arizona State media is resistant to the idea.

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