Hurley said that he watched the game over twice, but he had trouble getting past the commentaryGETTY IMAGES
Arizona State men's basketball coach Bobby Hurley was critical of Pac-12 Networks broadcasters Barry Tompkins and Don MacLean after a game against Prairie View A&M on Wednesday, as he deemed them "unnecessarily negative toward both teams and unduly critical of the way the game was officiated," according to Michelle Gardner of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Hurley said that he "watched the game over twice," but he "had trouble getting past the commentary." Hurley: "I thought it was poorly done by the telecast. There was a lot of sheer negativity said about the game and I think two teams that were competing hard." Hurley said that he "expects broadcasters to be honest about the game but thought there were some comments that crossed the line" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/13). MacLean declined to comment, but Tompkins via text said that he "felt terrible that Hurley was upset." He conceded that he and MacLean "did portray the game as ugly but said it was directed more at the officials than the teams." Tompkins: "In 40 years of doing this, I've never had a coach accuse me of being unfair." He said that he "planned to reach out to Hurley" (THEATHLETIC.com, 12/12).
