Tommy Lloyd isn’t just winning games at Arizona-he’s rewriting the script on what elite coaching looks like in college basketball. With the Wildcats off to a blistering 22-0 start, the program has not only set a new record for the best start in school history, but it’s also tied the all-time program mark for consecutive wins. And they're doing it with a roster that, on paper, didn’t scream “national powerhouse” back in October.
Lloyd’s name sits at the top of ESPN’s midseason Coach of the Year rankings, and for good reason. Former Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl summed it up well during TNT’s Saturday pregame show, calling Lloyd “the best coach in America that gets the least amount of talk.” That’s starting to change.
Arizona’s latest win came on the road against rival Arizona State, the second half of a Saturday doubleheader on TNT. It was another emphatic statement from a team that’s now spent the last three weeks as the unanimous No. 1 in the nation. For a program with a rich basketball tradition, this current run under Lloyd feels like a new high-water mark.
What makes this season even more impressive is the path Lloyd chose to take. In an era where the Transfer Portal has become the go-to tool for roster building, Lloyd went the other direction.
He put his trust in youth, starting three freshmen and playing four in the regular rotation. That gamble has paid off in a big way.
Brayden Burries, one of those freshmen, leads the team in scoring, while fellow freshman Koa Peat is right behind him. Both have made immediate impacts, playing with the poise and polish of veterans.
Ivan Kharchenkov, the third freshman starter, might be the most complete two-way player on the roster. These aren’t just talented young players-they’re foundational pieces for a team chasing perfection.
And it’s not just the freshmen carrying the load. Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell'Orso, both of whom started games last season, have embraced their roles coming off the bench, bringing stability and experience to a rotation that’s clicking on all cylinders.
Arizona’s résumé is already stacked. Wins over UConn, BYU, Florida, and Alabama-all away from home-have solidified their standing as one of the most battle-tested teams in the country.
And the road ahead isn’t getting any easier. After a home game against Oklahoma State, Arizona heads to Kansas for a marquee matchup, then hosts Texas Tech and BYU before traveling to face a tough Houston squad.
Later in the season, the Wildcats will also host Kansas and Iowa State, two more high-stakes opportunities to prove their mettle. If they can navigate that stretch with no more than three losses, Lloyd’s case for National Coach of the Year becomes bulletproof.
This might not be the most talented roster Lloyd has had in Tucson-his 2021-22 team, which earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, probably holds that title. But this season?
This might be his finest coaching job yet. After a 13-loss campaign in 2024-25, Arizona has responded with a level of cohesion, confidence, and execution that’s been unmatched across the country.
The Big 12 Tournament looms as a major test-arguably tougher than the NCAA Tournament itself-but if Arizona keeps playing like this, they won’t just be a contender. They’ll be the standard.