INDIANAPOLIS – How did all this success happen? Arizona going on a school-record 36 wins against only two losses?
Luck?
Precision?
Good health?
Good talent?
And, perhaps, a case study in good chemistry?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, and, oh yes.
The 2025-26 season had all that and more. A couple of months ago I asked Tommy Lloyd about the roster construction.
“I don’t want to make light of it and act like it wasn’t challenging,” Lloyd said a couple of months ago when I brought up the conversation. “It’s always challenging. You know, recruiting and building a team is always something that takes a lot of effort.”
It’s like a nice-looking jigsaw puzzle a coach – all coaches – have to deal with the transfer portal, NIL, incoming freshmen and personalities. It had all the makings for the puzzle page – but in stepped the puzzle solver, with help from a sage player (more later).
“We take putting our roster together very serious,” Lloyd said. “We’re very mindful in how we put it together. So far this year, it’s worked pretty well.”
That was mid-January. Nothing has changed. Arizona survived a couple of injuries/illnesses (Koat Peat/Dwayne Aristode), although it did suffer its only two losses in that time.
But the Red-and-Blue train has moved on pretty well.
So well, they are here in the school’s fifth Final Four.
“When you build a team, you want everybody to feel like they belong authentically,” he said, last month. “You want to work on that but our staff did a great job of identifying a good mix of size, have great guard play and we were able to get some big wings.
“We built a team to be big and physical.”
For the Big 12? After all, if you can survive the Big 12 you can survive anything. Arizona did, winning the league after being picked to finish fourth.
“(Actually) for good basketball,” Lloyd said, interjecting. “I would have this team anywhere.”
And succeed.
You knew Jaden Bradley would start, given his experience and dedication since leaving Alabama to come to Arizona. He turned into the Big 12 Player of the Year. Mr. Clutch.
You knew Mo Krivas would be the big guy in the middle, but you didn’t know how mobile he would be given his foot injury from a year ago. Some thought it would have been better had Henri Veesaar stayed (but he was gone so what did that matter?)
You still had Tobe Awaka, the rebound king and veteran starter/shooter Anthony Dell’Orso.
But how was it going to all fit together? There had to be movement, right?
How was he going to fit three very good freshman in the lineup to go with a group of upperclassmen who deserved time, starting time?
Well, again, smart, selfless players helped play a part.
Tobe Awaka “volunteered” to go to the bench and come off of it. He became the best sixth man in the college game, becoming a rebounding force.
“He’s such a mature guy and a good player,” Lloyd said, adding that he did so saying he thought Krivas would benefit confidence-wise if he started.
So, out with Awaka and in with Koa Peat, Mr. Arizona and a guy who is a winner and a potential NBA lottery pick.
“He’s never not started,” Lloyd said of Peat.
Awaka said he had experience not starting and he thought it would be better if Peat started “to keep him in a role he’s comfortable with.”
As for Dell’Orso, the conversation was different, moving him from a starter to a reserve.
“In full honesty, he would have liked to start,” Lloyd said. “I told him my vision. We needed a sniper off the bench. I think having someone to fulfill that role is going to be really important.”
Out goes Delly and in comes Brayden Burries, a McDonald’s all-American who maybe the best perimeter shooter in 20 years. At the very least a quick scorer when Arizona needs points. Think of another? Maye Caleb Love, but …
Lloyd also figured Burries could play some point guard, if needed.
“Our schedule was so tough early (that) I didn’t want Brayden coming off the bench and come in and sub for Bradley if he picked up an early foul,” Lloyd said.
If anything, let Burries ease into the game as a shooting guard and not the point guard. Less pressure.
“I’m thankful for Tobe and Delly for being so mature in accepting that role,” Lloyd said, “because we would not be here right now.”
Thanks to Crest Insurance, Cody Ritchie and Corey Williams for sponsoring my coverage for AllSportsTucson.com.
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