Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd isn’t just bucking trends-he’s embracing a style that feels more like a throwback in today’s pace-and-space college basketball landscape. While many coaches lean into small-ball lineups and perimeter-heavy offenses, Lloyd is leaning into size. And he’s doing it with conviction.
After Arizona’s 84-77 road win over UCF, Lloyd made it clear that his approach isn’t just situational-it’s foundational.
“We always feel like most days, we're going to have an advantage playing through our bigs inside,” Lloyd said postgame. “It’s part of our DNA and part of our formula and how we play.
I love big guys and I always will. The more the merrier.”
And he means it. Lloyd isn’t shy about trotting out multiple bigs at once. Against UCF, he paired Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas on the floor at times, and it’s rare to see a Wildcats lineup without at least one of them anchoring the paint.
“I feel really comfortable rotating those three bigs in there,” Lloyd said. “They probably had to play a little bit longer stretches in the first half than we’re used to. Maybe they wore down a bit, but on the road, it takes what it takes.”
That adaptability-feeling the game, making in-the-moment adjustments, trusting instincts-is something Lloyd leans into. There’s no rigid script, just a feel for what the team needs in real time.
“You don’t get to script these games,” he added. “I don’t get an instruction manual on how to coach them. You’ve got to kind of feel the game as it plays out, make adjustments where you need to, and trust your gut in moments you have to.”
Arizona’s depth was tested Saturday, especially with freshman forward Koa Peat having an off night, finishing with just four points. But the Wildcats didn’t flinch. Their guards picked up the slack, and that’s where Lloyd’s confidence in his roster depth really shines through.
“Our young guys have experience beyond their years,” Lloyd said. “Ivan even had some turnovers today that he'll learn from. Whether they were fouls or not, I don’t know, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to be stronger with the ball on the road.”
What stands out most about this Arizona group is the culture. Lloyd talks about “winning DNA,” and it’s not just a buzz phrase-it’s a belief that runs through the team’s identity.
“It’s a group that has a winning DNA,” Lloyd said. “And that’s something you don’t take for granted.
I’m not going to sit here and take all the credit for it. It has winning DNA, and we try to do our best job building a good, strong culture.
That gives us a foundation to be consistent.”
One player who embodied that consistency down the stretch was point guard Jaden Bradley. He’s not one of Lloyd’s beloved bigs, but he played a huge role in closing the game out-especially at the free-throw line. Bradley attempted 13 free throws on the night, and Arizona as a team went to the line 33 times.
“Bradley, he’s a world-class game finisher for us,” Lloyd said. “You want the ball in his hands at the end of the game in those situations so he can get fouled because you trust him at the free-throw line. And he trusts his decision-making when the ball’s in his hands.”
Lloyd also broke down what it takes to consistently get to the line-something Arizona has made a habit of.
“Getting to the free-throw line is a lot of things,” he said. “It could be how strong you drive, or do you get knocked off your line?
Are you able to hold your line? If you hold your line, obviously it looks like refs will respect that and call fouls on it.”
It’s not just about pounding the ball inside. Arizona’s physicality on the offensive glass, their willingness to drive with force, and their ability to play through contact all contribute to their foul pressure.
“There’s lots of ways to do it,” Lloyd added. “We love free throws.
They’re my favorite shots in the game. Layups too.
I like layups too.”
In an era where many teams are stretching the floor and going small, Tommy Lloyd is building a team that’s big, physical, and unafraid to play through the post. And if Saturday’s win was any indication, it’s a formula that’s working.