Arizona's Tommy Lloyd Reflects on Hard-Fought Loss at Kansas: “Our Season Just Started”
After a physical, high-stakes battle in Lawrence, Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd stepped to the podium with a clear message: No excuses, no panic. Just respect for the opponent and a renewed sense of purpose for what lies ahead.
Facing a Kansas team that pulled off a statement win at home - even without standout Darryn Peterson, who was ruled out shortly before tipoff due to illness - Lloyd made it clear that the absence didn't change the Wildcats’ mindset.
“Playing them here, we knew it was going to be a dogfight no matter which guys were wearing the Kansas Jayhawk jerseys,” Lloyd said. “Obviously, I’m sure they’re better with Peterson, but we felt like they were pretty good without him tonight as well.”
The late news of Peterson being unavailable didn’t impact Arizona’s game plan. In fact, Lloyd admitted he found out just minutes before the game and didn’t even bother checking the Big 12’s player availability report.
“I don’t even look at that. You guys can dig into that,” he said with a shrug.
But make no mistake - this wasn’t about who wasn’t on the floor. Lloyd was quick to redirect the conversation back to Kansas’ performance, praising their execution, coaching, and ability to rise to the moment.
“They beat the No. 1 team in the country at home tonight. They did a hell of a job, and their coach did a hell of a job. That should be the story,” Lloyd emphasized.
One of the biggest challenges for Arizona came in the paint, where Kansas’ Flory Bidunga made his presence felt, especially on the defensive end. His rim protection and ability to switch onto guards disrupted Arizona’s usual flow - particularly in an area where the Wildcats typically thrive.
“That game probably comes down to a couple things, and we didn’t finish at the rim well enough,” Lloyd said. “Usually we’re really proficient there, getting fouled.
It’s not very often we get out-free-thrown, and it’s not very often we don’t make a higher percentage of our shots at the rim. Kansas gets credit for that.”
The Wildcats, known for their physicality and dominance inside, found themselves in a rare position - outmuscled in the post and unable to capitalize on their usual efficiency near the basket. But Lloyd wasn’t making excuses.
His message to the team? Embrace the grind.
“We’re built for it,” he said of the physicality. “I honestly don’t care how the game’s officiated - we should be fine.
We’re a physical team. There were probably missed calls on both ends.
We just have to move forward. One of our first mantras is get tougher.”
Kansas didn’t light it up from the perimeter, but they didn’t need to. They attacked downhill, got to the line, and made timely plays in the second half - including a few key hook shots and hustle plays from Bidunga that helped them manage the lead down the stretch.
“They weathered a few runs by us, then put their head down and drove the ball, got a lot of free throws,” Lloyd said. “These games are possession by possession. They made a run at the right time, got a little bit of a lead, managed it well and did a great job making their free throws down the stretch.”
Of course, playing in Allen Fieldhouse is never easy - and Lloyd, who has praised the environment before, had nothing but respect for the energy Kansas fans brought to the table once again.
“It was awesome,” he said. “Last year was really good.
I don’t know how to compare the two - they were both awesome. It makes it really difficult to play, and you guys need to know it impacts the game.
Their fans deserve credit, just like our fans do at home.”
As for the broader picture, Lloyd wasn’t rattled. He’s been around long enough to know that in a conference as deep and physical as the Big 12, you’re going to take a few lumps. The key is how you respond.
“If a guy’s 38-0 on his home court on Big Mondays, it’s probably pretty hard to win here no matter what our record was coming in,” he said, referencing Kansas’ remarkable home dominance in marquee matchups. “We knew it was going to be a tough game, and we’re OK with it.
I’m not mad we lost. I can’t wait to get on that plane, get back home, and I feel like our season just started.”
For Arizona, this wasn’t the end - just a reality check, and maybe even a launching point. The Wildcats didn’t flinch in the face of elite competition on the road. Now, it’s about regrouping, refocusing, and getting tougher for the battles still to come.