Top 10 things to know about Randy Bennett’s 1st ASU basketball season

The college basketball season will tip off soon, marking the start of a new era. Bobby Hurley is out after 11 years leading the men’s basketball program, while longtime Saint Mary’s coach and Valley resident Randy Bennett is taking over.

The Sun Devils have struggled since moving to the Big 12 two years ago, going just 30-36 overall and 11-27 in Big 12 play. The school has not advanced to the NCAA Tournament since 2023. But Bennett’s track record over his quarter-century run at Saint Mary’s has renewed optimism.

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The coaching move was received well in national circles, with Bennett ranked as the “best high-major coaching hire of the 2026 cycle” by nearly 100 men’s Division I coaches in a poll by CBS Sports.

The team turned in an impressive performance in its lone exhibition game, defeating a New Mexico team that has been picked to win the Mountain West, 91-86.

“I like our guys a lot. I think we did a good job getting a good group of people,” Bennett said. “They’ve really made a lot of progress. I don’t know if I’ve had a group improve this much in just a month. We just have to keep getting better. I like our team.”

Here are 10 things to know:

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1. Nonconference schedule has a different look

Hurley always tried to challenge his team with a tough nonconference schedule, and lately there have been many neutral-site events with an NIL component to them. There were just a few nonconference home games.

This season’s nonconference schedule doesn’t feature any marquee matchups, but there are more home games at Desert Financial Arena, the first being the Monday, Nov. 2, season opener against East Tennessee State. There are no home games against power conference schools.

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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos

Emmanuel Innocenti during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.

(Mark Henle/The Republic)

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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos

Emmanuel Innocenti during…

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Publish date : 2026-11-01 12:01:00

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