Tommy Lloyd, Caleb Holt, Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas took the stage Wednesday at the Big 12 Media Days at Kansas City, Mo., and fielded questions about the upcoming season, including being a favorite to defend their conference championship after reaching the Final Four last season.
The following are some of the top statements made during their time answering questions from the media.
Lloyd: “Expectations are a privilege”
Lloyd said Arizona must start from square one and accept the difficult journey ahead, regardless of last season’s success as a Final Four team for the first time in 25 years.
Key quote: “The first thing with expectations is they’re a privilege, and I don’t think you should look at it any other way. The sooner you can dissociate from what happened last year and understand this year is its own journey and kind of build from square one I think is the most important thing. I mean, there’s no skipping steps in having a successful season or building a team. … You have to be okay with the journey is going to be rough. There’s going to be some rough seas ahead, but with these three dudes next to me, I feel pretty good. no matter what we’re navigating. I’m looking forward to all the challenges that are coming this season, and can’t wait to get started.”
“Expectations are a privilege” https://t.co/8nPagnK5wO
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) October 21, 2026
Holt: The culture out in Tucson is like none other
Holt has a unique perspective of playing college basketball in Tucson for the Wildcats, not only from playing at McKale Center, but also from frequenting a dog park.
“The culture out in Tucson is like none other,” he said. “I take my dog to the dog park, and all the people at the dog park (are) about 50 and plus, and they all know me. They are season-ticket holders of the McKale Center and everything. The community everywhere I go is so huge and everything, it’s crazy, I’m not gonna lie.”
Lloyd: Godrey uncertainty part of “choatic” situation with college sports
Lloyd did not mince words with his opinion about Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey not yet gaining eligibility despite players recruited before Godfrey’s class (2022) becoming eligible through court orders.
“Obviously, this eligibility stuff is something everyone is talking about behind the scenes in college basketball,” Lloyd said. “I think we all agree how chaotic it is. It’s just it’s hard for me to sit here and and not be able to defend somebody just because they entered college in the class of 2022 when everybody before them got five years and everybody after them is going to get five years and you ask yourself a lot of questions, and you wonder why.
“I know there’s two sides to every story but we have a guy that’s a true five for five (Godfrey). I mean that’s where I would draw the line for me. I think a true five for five, I think you’re eligible. I think you should be eligible. I think if there’s extenuating circumstances in your year six, seven, or eight, I don’t think your case is as strong. But I think true five for fives, they shouldn’t be penalized. They shouldn’t be penalized because a court system, we have our own court system in the U.S. and there’s a lot of independence amongst courts in different states and counties and that’s going to impact our game this year. You wish cooler heads could prevail and and and give these kids the opportunity that they deserve because these kids did nothing wrong. They’re missing out on a life-changing opportunity, not not only for an experience-wise, but financially, just because of the year they graduated in high school. Somebody has to explain to me like how that’s okay.”
Lloyd added that Godfrey is a “first-class individual,” who has “done everything right along the way.”
“One question I’d have to get when you bring up R.J. specifically is, there’s international players getting eligible now that are older than him, that are getting like a quote-unquote fifth year of eligibility just because they didn’t go to college,” Lloyd said. “They played four years pro, but they’re getting eligible now. Somebody has to explain to me how logically this all makes sense.
“‘On the court, R.J. he’s a physical presence, who’s a great team player, and kind of with our roster, we’re going to move forward no matter what. We’re a no-excuses program. He puts the pieces in the right place, for our roster to kind of have the depth it needs to have and kind of the the impact we would love to have off the bench. RJ is going to kind of help put all the pieces in the right place, and I just hope and pray we get to see it.”
Kharchenkov: Lithuania trip invaluable
Kharchenkov highlighted Arizona’s summer trip to Lithuania as a major team-building experience, primarily off the court, where they learned of each other’s habits, routines and personalities.
“Because we spent so much time together on the court, and especially with the new group, we needed to spend some time off the court as well,” Kharchenkov said. “That 30-hour trip, one way and the other way, was really beneficiary for us. We also did many things like culture-wise in Lithuania.
“Just getting to know each other, how everybody’s day routine is, game routine is, what to eat for lunch, breakfast and dinner — just so many opportunities we can just learn your teammates.”
Lloyd: Arizona could play a more open, perimeter-oriented style
With lingering eligibility questions with Godfrey affecting the roster, Lloyd suggested the Wildcats might spread the floor more, although he still prefers using two big men when the roster allows it. Small-ball might come in to play if Godfrey, a power forward, is ineligible.
“It remains to be seen kind of what our final look is going to be,” Lloyd said. “I think a lot of other schools are in that situation. But maybe this group will be able to play with the floor a little bit more spread, a little bit more open floor oriented. I make no bones about it, I love playing with two bigs. But if you don’t have that luxury, sometimes there’s other ways to play the game, and I think this team can be pretty dynamic when we kind of get clicking on all cylinders and space the floor the right way.”
Krivas: Rebuilding of Wildcats from last year “ongoing”
Arizona will experience rebuilding pains, if there is such a thing, coming off losing players such as Brayden Burries, Koa Peat and Tobe Awaka from last year’s Final Four team. Krivas and Kharchenkov are returners expected to lead the new group of Wildcats back to a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
“I would say it’s not easy to rebuild like almost a whole new team, and I feel like with the good job this summer and it’s the still ongoing job, the trip to Lithuania really helped us to kind of see where we are as a team and where we need to get better.” Krivas said. ” We’ve been working whole summer, and we just had a couple exhibition games, so super excited for the season.”
Lloyd: “I’m a servant to the program”
Lloyd remains committed to his players and Arizona’s program despite the drastic changes in college coaching concerning NIL, transfer portal, and now the five-for-five eligibility rule.
“I try not to delve into the weeds of all the the chaos going on,” he said. “But sometimes you have to. So I’m hoping, and I’m confident better days are ahead. But but as far as this, I just want to make sure that I’m there for these guys every day, and I’m giving my energy to the team and the staff.
“It doesn’t matter in my career if it’s practice 10,764, these guys, they deserve my best every single day, and so I just really try to stay focused on that and understand that I’m a servant to the program. I’m a servant to the players, and any time I get out of that, get outside of that lane, I need to check myself. I love being around these guys every day. I love the day-to-day process of what high-level college basketball entails. I’m just honored and privileged to to be able to do what I do every day and call it a job.”
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