Wildcats Secure Victory Over Arizona State, Coach Lloyd Emphasizes Process Over Perfection
Arizona defeated Arizona State Wednesday night in a closely contested matchup, a result that head coach Tommy Lloyd believes demonstrates his team’s preparedness despite a tougher-than-anticipated battle.
The University of Arizona men’s basketball team emerged victorious against their in-state rivals, but the win wasn’t simply about the final score. According to the team’s leader, the game served as a valuable lesson in resilience and focus. “We don’t have hubris,” Lloyd stated. “We don’t expect these games to come easy, we obviously take all these games serious. I really appreciate the battle tonight. I appreciate the competition.”
Lloyd surprisingly admitted he would have been “okay if we would have lost,” a sentiment rooted in his broader philosophy. He views each game as a step in a larger process, prioritizing development over an unblemished record. “I understand it’s part of the process,” he explained. “Would I be happy? No, but I’m gonna be all right. I’m built for this. I don’t like to judge myself on whether we’re undefeated or not, it literally has zero impact. That’s for you guys.”
The coach’s immediate focus remains firmly on the present, dismissing concerns about future accolades. “I told the guys yesterday, I don’t care about the Big 12 championship today. I don’t care about the NCAA tournament. I just care about beating Arizona State. Let’s just beat Arizona State today, and then we’ll deal with what comes next.” That next challenge is a road game against UCF, a contest Lloyd intends to approach with the same singular focus. “It’s a tough road game at UCF so I’m just gonna stay locked into that mindset. I’m not gonna get greedy.”
While acknowledging defensive breakdowns in their ball screen coverage, Lloyd was quick to praise the performance of Arizona State’s players. He specifically highlighted the challenge posed by Odum, describing him as a “tough player” capable of exploiting defensive vulnerabilities. “When you’re allowed to take 24 shots, and you’re a little jitterbug and you could split ball screens, you can pass up under pressure, you’re hard to guard,” Lloyd noted. He also credited the Sun Devils’ ability to execute their offensive strategies, particularly their success with mid-range shots and floaters early in the game.
Leading the charge for Arizona was a dominant performance from a key player who scored 25 points, proving to be a significant mismatch for Arizona State’s defense. “Tremendous,” Lloyd said of his player’s performance. “I was talking to Coach Ken about it today, and just how much better he’s gotten is really impressive. That’s what you get when you have a high character, intelligent, talented player. You give them a little bit of time and kind of let him start feeling the effects of the compound, return on his investment, his development and we’re starting to see that. So, it’s great to have a lot of guys you can count on defense.”
The victory underscores the team’s ability to perform under pressure and reinforces Lloyd’s commitment to a process-oriented approach, prioritizing continuous improvement over chasing perfection.
