San Jose, Calif. - Tommy Lloyd is heading to the Final Four in Indianapolis, this time steering the ship as head coach of the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats. Five years after his stint with Gonzaga as Mark Few’s right-hand man, Lloyd's Wildcats fended off a tough challenge from Purdue, securing a 79-64 victory in the Elite Eight at the SAP Center.
The Wildcats, boasting a stellar 36-2 record, are set to discover their Final Four adversary on Sunday. They'll face the winner between No. 1 seed Michigan and No. 6 Tennessee in Chicago.
Reflecting on the journey, Lloyd shared a moment of levity: “I woke up this morning and thought, are we in the Sweet 16 or the Elite Eight? That’s when I knew we were in a good place, just focused on the game.”
Lloyd’s coaching resume is impressive, but this Final Four appearance fills a notable gap. After two decades as Few’s assistant, where he clinched two Pac-12 titles and a Big 12 championship, Lloyd has quickly made his mark at Arizona, earning National Coach of the Year honors.
Entering the game with a 146-35 record, Lloyd had yet to break past the Sweet 16 with Arizona. But this year, the Wildcats seemed destined for greatness, cruising through their initial tournament games before facing Purdue.
Despite trailing 38-31 at halftime, thanks to Purdue’s sharp shooting and Braden Smith’s leadership, Lloyd trusted his players. He left them to strategize amongst themselves before the second half.
“I said, ‘Guys, we’re stepping out. Take a few minutes, figure it out, and let’s dominate the second half.’”
And dominate they did. Arizona outscored Purdue by 22 points in the second half, with a balanced attack led by freshman Koa Peat’s 20 points and seven rebounds. Ivan Kharchenkov added 18 points and eight boards, while Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley each contributed 14 points.
Lloyd's journey to Arizona was met with skepticism from Wildcat legends, but he's proven the doubters wrong. His players, like Peat, are all in: “Coach has been amazing since day one. We’re winning for him because he deserves it.”
Lloyd’s story is one of perseverance and success, and as Arizona heads to the Final Four, they’re not just playing for a championship-they’re playing for a coach who’s reshaped their future.