No NIT berth for Arizona State, whose season is already over

There will be no post-season tournament for the Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball team. It looks evident the negative overall record does not help ASU's case, but hopes could have been made following a strong non-conference campaign.

The Pac-12 conference schedule, which has been incredibly competitive in 2015-16, killed Arizona State's hopes one game after another. The Sun Devils are now left out of all post-season tournaments ; the season is officially over.

ASU was expecting a better rookie season out of Bobby Hurley's squad, but the story was definitely different. Talent was lacking and a short-handed team highlighted the struggles the Sun Devils were going through. Now, they can turn their head earlier onto next season. Bobby Hurley will not complain about it.

Eric Jacobsen, Willie Atwood and Gerry Blakes are leaving the program, after running out of collegiate eligibility in 2016. Three crucial parts of the Sun Devils must be replaced. Although ASU is welcoming Buffalo's transfer, point guard Shannon Evans, and forward Andre Adams will be coming back from a season-ending injury.

We still have to wait until National Signing Day, but Arizona State are likely to bring to Tempe two 4-star recruits, center Jethro Tshisumpa and power forward Sam Cunliffe. Moreover, Bobby Hurley is still in the mix to grab high school superstar recruit, Thon Maker, a 5-star forward that could be an immediate difference maker in Tempe (if he choose to attend Arizona State).

There is still a lot of time in ASU's off-season, that is just beginning. But all the signals seem to point towards a green light. It's hard to believe next season will be, at least, as bad as the one that just ended.

As we usually in this type of occasion, "trust the process" and "success takes time".