SOUTHWEST MAUI INVITATIONAL

November 24, 2025

Sean Miller

Lahaina Civic Center

Texas Longhorns

Postgame Press Conference

Arizona State 87, Texas 86

SEAN MILLER: Well, I'd like to credit Arizona State. I think around that 8:00 mark, might have been less, we created an advantage, eight, ten points, maybe 12 points where a lot of times you get into the mid second half and you're down 10, it's easy to lose confidence, lose fight, get out of maybe what they do well, and they did just the opposite. They kept fighting. They made plays. They made plays on defense. Some of our turnovers probably had as much to do with us as them.

But I credit them for fighting and making the game back to one possession. We also knew coming into the game that Moe owed um is a terrific point guard, and I think there were times in the game where we did a good job on him. But when a guy gets 36 on you and goes 6 for 12 from three, 16 of 18 from the free-throw line and he hits the game winner. Sometimes you've got to tip your cap, and he was terrific; too much for us to overcome.

Again, I thought the key to the game was establishing the lead that we did, and I credit Arizona State for fighting and getting a great win.

Q. What are some of the things you can take away from this game that you like what you did and what are some things you want to correct here in this short turnaround?

SEAN MILLER: I think 19 turnovers is the key to our team. We came in the game, and for the most part through our early season, we've done a good job taking care of the ball. We had nine at the half, had a couple guys maybe that just were uncharacteristic in terms of just making tough turnovers.

And look, we've had a couple plays late in the game. That stretch that I talked to you about when we had an advantage. Part of what got them back into the one-possession game is steals on an underneath out of bounds play after a time-out, a steal on a set play.

Again, that's to their credit. It's also something we have to improve. It's tough to win against good teams, neutral court, when you have 19 turnovers.

The other thing -- again, I'm anxious to watch the game. We had 28 personal fouls. That's insane. 28 personal fouls. I think we had two charges. Man, it's just hard. I thought that a couple times, Arizona State, they put you in a position to guard the dribble, and they got into the paint and they were able to draw three fouls, draw fouls from the three officials.

If one guy didn't catch it on the baseline and the other guy maybe didn't catch it on the wing, the guy at half court damn sure caught it.

I think the 28 fouls was also a huge story. If I have two numbers I'll walk away with, we have to play better defense without fouling and really take a look at the three officials on why we fouled, the two charges, and really look at those two charges because those are turnovers, as well. Then obviously the 19 turnovers which I talked about.

Moe Odum, he was terrific tonight, and he deserves all the accolades. Game-winning shot, 6 for 12 from three, 16 of 18 from the free-throw line, and he was fouled eight times. So him and Anthony Johnson, they got fouled 15 times. That's tough when the starting backcourt can draw 15 fouls. We certainly have to play better defense without fouling.

Q. Since you coached against Bobby Hurley a lot in different scenarios, especially when you were at U of A and he's in the last year of his contract, last year was bad for ASU and a lot of fans wanted a new coach this year. Would you just give me a quote on the challenges for you when you coach against a Bobby Hurley coached team and your thoughts on coaching against him?

SEAN MILLER: I mean, nobody has coached more against the Hurley family than me. I'm surprised I haven't coached against his dad. I've caught Danny a million times. By the way, I'm headed up there in two weeks to catch him one more time. Somehow we played Bobby here again.

I think I was counting between maybe 26 times I've coached against Danny and Bobby. But look, Bobby Hurley, I was on his team in World University Games in 1991 in Sheffield, England. He was one of the greatest college point guards to ever play. He won two National Championships, and he runs his program, he coaches his team, and I don't think that you could do much better in terms of a competitor, person that knows the game, runs a program and does a great job.

Obviously they have a basketball family. I have a huge amount of respect for Danny, Bobby, Bob, Sr. Those guys are -- they love the game.