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“I’ve watched quite a bit of Big 12 basketball and it’s strong, physical games,� he said then. “It’s grown-ass men in that league. We have to make some changes.�

He did, and it was still rough. But Hurley is expected to return next season after ASU finished up a second straight losing record (13-19) on Tuesday after a 71-66 loss to Kansas State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.

An ASU spokesman on Wednesday confirmed multiple reports saying AD Graham Rossini would retain Hurley, who is 168-150 over 10 seasons with the Sun Devils and 210-170 in 12 seasons overall as a head coach, including two seasons at Buffalo. Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro had first quoted a source before ASU’s game Tuesday, saying .

But Hurley may be returning on a very short leash: Hurley has only one year left on his contract and Gambadoro said he didn’t expect the contract would be extended.

While the Sun Devils have had losing seasons in four of the past five seasons, their skid after a 9-2 nonconference start was due at least in part to injuries and the dismissal last month of leading scorer B.J. Freeman.

ASU starters Jayden Quaintance, Joson Sanon and Adam Miller have all been limited with injuries during Big 12 play, and Miller played only one minute through ASU’s last three regular-season games because of a hip pointer.

Miller logged 22 futile minutes Tuesday, scoring just three points on 1 of 5 3-point shooting and one assist against K-State.

“There was nothing he could have done to make that injury worse, but he just was struggling to move in a normal way,� Hurley said. “I don’t know what he was, but it wasn’t the same guy I’ve been seeing.�

Miller played 17 minutes in the first half but only five in the second because Hurley said Miller was stiff and cramping, among other things.

Miller’s absence left ASU with just six other players, since Quaintance has been out with a knee injury, but Hurley blamed the limitations on himself.

“We had full commitment from ASU … we were supported, and we were able to go get elite guys in the portal,� Hurley said. “We just have to do a better job of having more options in case something happens with� key players.

“I didn’t do the best job, but ASU is not the problem whatsoever. They really backed us to go out and put together a team that should have been an NCAA Tournament team. But we did not get the job done in that regard.�