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ASU basketball coach Bobby Hurley explains 'Tucson' comment

Posted at 10:53 PM, Jan 10, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-11 11:26:17-05
Arizona State basketball coach Bobby Hurley says his comments last week in the Sun Devil locker room were not meant to disparage the Wildcats.
 
Hurley said at the time, while referring to the state of Arizona, "If anyone wants to win here, they better go down to {expletive} Tucson," as his team cheered.
 
On Tuesday, Hurley, who is in his second season with ASU, clarified.
 
"Those comments were not directed at Arizona. If our travel partner was USC, I would have said to go to LA if you want to try and get a win. It was my way of motivating my team to win home league games and establish a home court."
 
Arizona coach Sean Miller said,  "I don't think he meant that in a derogatory fashion towards our program or Tucson other than the objective is for his team to be a tough team to play against, and to win."
 
The 16th ranked Wildcats host the Sun Devils Thursday night at McKale Center.
Arizona won both games from ASU last year, including a game in Tempe in which Hurley was ejected.