Tommy Lloyd's Takeaways From Arizona's Big Win

Arizona men’s basketball head coach Tommy Lloyd walked away from his team’s dominant win over Bethune-Cookman pleased not only with the final result, but with the effort, resilience, and balance his players showed in another non-conference test.

Dec 20, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd against the San Diego State Aztecs in the second half during the Hall of Fame Series at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Following Arizona’s convincing victory, Lloyd used his postgame press conference to acknowledge both the challenge Bethune-Cookman presented and the growth his own team continues to display as the season moves forward.

Lloyd began by giving credit to Bethune-Cookman, emphasizing the difficulty of the schedule teams like theirs are asked to play early in the season.

“You know, I mean, they have talent, guys,” Lloyd said. “You know what those programs are asked to do. It’s tough to play. It’s a mercenary run for them the first couple months of the season.”

Dec 16, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd talks to the bench during the first half of the game against the Abilene Christian Wildcats at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images | Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Arizona entered the game just days removed from playing in Phoenix, and Lloyd admitted that even his own team was feeling the grind.

“Listen, I’m tired from playing in Phoenix a couple nights ago,” he said. “So these teams have been traveling around the country playing these types of games, and they turned up and competed today. I tip my hat to them.”

While Arizona ultimately controlled the game and earned the result it wanted, Lloyd highlighted Bethune-Cookman’s energy and persistence, especially early.

Dec 6, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd yells out towards his bench during the first half of the game against the Auburn Tigers at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images | Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

“They made a few tough shots and then they just kept coming,” Lloyd said. “They just kept coming, kept coming, kept coming.”

Defensively, Lloyd acknowledged some imperfections but stood by his team’s aggressive approach. Arizona finished the game with 22 turnovers, a number Lloyd noted comes with playing at a high tempo.

“When you have 22 turnovers, you know, but you continue to play aggressive, you take some chances,” he said. “Sometimes those passes get through and they end up being a layup or a wide-open shot. I don’t think our defense was terrible, it was just a culmination of being consistently aggressive.”

Nov 24, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd talks with the referee during the first half of the game against the Denver Pioneers at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images | Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Offensively, Arizona once again showcased its depth, with multiple players reaching double figures. Lloyd stressed that the balanced scoring wasn’t scripted, but rather a product of trust and chemistry.

“It’s not something we plan,” Lloyd said. “We don’t tell guys, ‘You score 12 points, let your teammates score.’ It’s just how a game ends up sometimes.”

With Arizona settling into a consistent rotation, Lloyd sees players growing more comfortable in their roles.

Dec 22, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) and teammates celebrate at the bench during the second half of the game against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images | Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

“We’ve really settled in on that main rotation, and I think those guys are getting comfortable,” he said. “If we can have six or seven guys in double figures any night, that’s a good thing.”

Lloyd also praised his team’s ability to battle through stretches of adversity and find positives to build on.

“We got the result we wanted, and we had some really good moments,” he said. “We’re just going to take those away from it and keep it moving.”

Dec 22, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) watches the game from the bench during the second half of the game against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images | Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

As Arizona heads into a brief break before returning to action, Lloyd’s focus is already forward. His excitement about the group remains evident, especially as conference play looms.

“I can’t wait to pick things back up with them on the 26th,” Lloyd said.

With another win in the books, Arizona continues to build momentum behind depth, effort, and an aggressive style that Lloyd believes will serve the Wildcats well as the season intensifies.

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