LOS ANGELES—Arizona has reached the Candy 16 twice within the first three yr underneath Tommy Lloyd, however each instances it has misplaced in that spherical to a lower-seeded crew. Does that make the 2023-24 season a disappointment?
“We’ll analyze all that after the season,” Lloyd mentioned shortly after the 77-72 loss to Clemson. “I’m happy with these guys. These guys did a tremendous job this yr. They’re an incredible crew. They’re a crew that we had the flexibility to get to a Ultimate 4 and we didn’t. And that occurs. It’s nothing to look down upon. There’s most likely eight or 10 groups that may say that this yr, and solely three or 4 of them will most likely truly get to the Ultimate 4.”
Our sport recap might be discovered right here. Under is what Lloyd and Arizona’s gamers mentioned afterward, each within the postgame press convention and the locker room:
Lloyd on the season as a complete: “I’m happy with these guys. They dug deep all season we labored actually laborious on taking the following steps of our tradition with Arizona basketball, actually laborious, and we’re very intentional with it. These guys are nice … they usually actually allowed me to sort of proceed to construct on the inspiration of what we began at Arizona and what was there earlier than us.
So I’m grateful for that, and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re simply going to proceed to construct on that basis. We’re going to proceed to get groups which are this aggressive, and our day within the solar will come.”
On Clemson: “They have been the deserving crew right this moment. They sort of have a bit formulation now. They’re sort of leaping folks within the video games, three video games in a row they acquired up and compelled groups to play from behind.”
On getting back from down 13 to guide within the 2nd half: “We dug deep and we acquired ourselves again within the sport however we have been simply by no means capable of take that subsequent step. (Clemson) executed just a few actually good performs down the stretch that they acquired us on. They banked in a 3. And people issues make it powerful to beat.”
On the gradual begin: “I believed Clemson did job and sort of acquired us on our heels offensively early within the sport. And we settled for lots of powerful photographs. After which that’s what sort of allowed them to get out. As a result of I believe our protection was truly okay early, low scoring early and we have been proper there. After which they acquired it going offensively a bit bit and we simply by no means fairly did till later within the first half.
On the halftime changes: “The second half we made a extra concerted effort. We needed to assault their guys, transfer the ball, assault, drive closeouts, play with our toes on the bottom within the paint. And our guys did a significantly better job of that within the second half.”
On being down 8 on the half regardless of the poor begin: “I believed we have been tremendous. I imply, we didn’t play nicely the beginning of the sport. We have been solely down eight on the half. As you guys who’ve adopted us know, we had different video games we have been down 19 or 20 and been capable of come again and win them. So I believed we have been tremendous. I believed we have been well-positioned for the way we began the sport.”
On Clemson responding after Arizona took the lead: We made that first run within the second half, which was nice. And from there, they’re going to most likely make a bit run. However then hopefully it’s a bit one and we make the following run and we will sort of ultimately construct a four-, six-, eight-point lead. And we have been by no means in a position to try this. So Clemson will get a ton of credit score for that.”
On the taking pictures efficiency: “I believe our beginning guys that shoot 3s have been 2 for 23, which is lots to beat, and I really feel like a few of them have been beauty and photographs we’ve made all season, and right this moment they only didn’t go in.
On being within the sport late regardless of the taking pictures: “I believe our guys deserve a ton of credit score. To have that kind of taking pictures night time and get your self within the sport the place you will have a place to win, and I believe it’s unbelievable. And it simply exhibits the resiliency and toughness of those guys. We sort of needed to alter plans and our guys have been keen contributors in that. So I’m actually happy with them for giving themselves an opportunity to win.
On Jaden Bradley: “With out JB taking part in the best way he did, possibly we lose by 14, 16 factors. However JB acquired in there and we have been right down to the final minute and gave ourselves an opportunity. On an evening the place we didn’t shoot the ball nicely.”
On not having Oumar Ballo in late and the defensive breakdowns that got here in his absence: “We have been simply attempting to offer it a distinct look, choose our stress up the courtroom a bit bit. At that time you’re hoping you get opportunistic with a unfastened go and somebody can break on that, simply issues of that nature. We have been most likely in a bit extra of a urgent mode and get a change in any respect 5 positions as an alternative of the 4 positions. (Clemson) discovered a solution down the stretch they usually have been capable of get, like, I believe, possibly three baskets off slips versus switches, which we simply didn’t execute nicely sufficient they usually get credit score for executing.”
On the season when he has an opportunity to mirror: “Love. I like these guys. I like the tradition we’re beginning to actually construct at Arizona. I really feel like I’m actual massive on ultimately getting some compound return on our funding. I believe we’re going to try this. I believe we’re doing all the fitting issues. Clearly we’re not excellent and nobody is, and we don’t ever wish to be excellent. We simply wish to be making progress. So I like the place we’re at. I believe I wasn’t able to take a breath however I’m going to take a breath and we’ll re-evaluate, and we’re going to have one other actually good offseason and proceed to construct.”
On Keshad Johnson and Caleb Love’s management and expertise: “They’re unbelievable guys. I’m so grateful that they took an opportunity on coming to Arizona and taking part in for our workers. I imply, it was an unbelievable expertise, all offseason and season lengthy. I’m simply grateful. It reinforces to me that you are able to do the issues the fitting means, run the fitting tradition and put your crew in place to compete on the highest ranges. So we’re simply going to double down on all that. These guys reaffirmed my perception we have to proceed to do it with nice, high-character guys.
Jaden Bradley on his 16-point 2nd half: “We acquired to a bit gradual begin to start with. So halftime we harped on dig deep, dig deep, get stops and do no matter it takes to assist my crew.
Bradley on Arizona coming again a number of instances: “ We harp on toughness. At first we weren’t so powerful, however I really feel on the finish we did an incredible job battling and attempting to get stops. However Clemson did an incredible job with their performs and their shot making, and we couldn’t actually recover from the hump. We had the lead a pair instances however they saved battling as nicely.”
Bradley on being the final Pac-12 crew standing: “I’d simply say that being the final Pac-12 crew, happy with the blokes and happy with our coaches and our tradition. We’ve been harping on that each one yr. We have been capable of obtain the aim we needed to realize, however nonetheless a decent group. Nonetheless love one another. Nonetheless love one another off the courtroom. So it’s good.
Bradley on his play this season after transferring from Alabama: “Shout out to the coaches and gamers for taking me in and serving to me develop my sport. I used to be acquainted with Coach Lloyd and the tradition. And simply have a recent begin, sort of appeared like. He did an incredible job of serving to me obtain my targets.”
Oumar Ballo on rebounding: “Rebounding wins video games. And I want we did a bit bit higher job of that on the offensive glass and in addition on the defensive finish as a result of (Clemson scored off) two offensive rebounds in a row. It was sort of, like, killers. I want we did a bit bit higher job boxing them out.”
Caleb Love on his efficiency: “Clearly I couldn’t make photographs. I ought to have been there for my crew. We had quite a lot of beauty, we simply couldn’t end it. I felt like they have been all good photographs, the bulk that I took. I ought to have gotten extra downhill.”
On making a comeback however not getting over the hump: “Credit score to Clemson, they got here out to play. We fought again a number of instances. They have been the higher crew right this moment. We thought we had them. We pushed by means of, we had the momentum. Down the stretch we couldn’t get stops. We have been getting stops, the momentum shifted for us and we have been on our run. In direction of the tip of the sport we had some defensive breakdowns that have been essential.”
On his time with Arizona: “I like these guys. We’ve been by means of a lot. I’m unhappy we couldn’t end it. I really feel like I realized true brotherhood. I’m grateful to be on this crew. I wouldn’t commerce it for something.”
On taking part in towards the zone in 2nd half: “We knew they have been going to play zone, we knew they have been going to modify issues. The zone, we tried to get the ball inside as a lot as we might, but it surely was tough.”
KJ Lewis on constructing off this season: “For me, I’ve all the time been a man … I don’t dwell on it an excessive amount of. I cherished this crew, cherished the seniors we had, however I’ll use this for motivation to arrange for the time. I by no means actually relaxation. I’m not going to lie, I’ll most likely be within the gymnasium this week. That’s how my thoughts operates. It’s simply unlucky, we had a particular group.”
Kylan Boswell on his season: “A rollercoaster would most likely be the phrase I’d say. Highs and lows, it’s a part of basketball. This summer time I’ve acquired to vary quite a lot of habits. Get extra locked in on my psychological (aspect) and physique, for positive, and simply put together for no matter comes subsequent in my life.”
Keshad Johnson on if he felt issues had turned for Arizona after the comeback: “Issues did flip, we have been capable of take a lead, and the momentum was on our aspect. Basketball is a sport a runs, we got here out the second half and made our run.”
On if it was irritating to see Clemson maintain punching again: “It’s not irritating, it’s simply basketball, you gotta simply attempt to get it out. We made our run, they made their run, we made our run, they made their run. They only got here out on high. We tried what we needed to do, we tried to modify some issues up. There was capable of capitalize off our errors.”
On his time at Arizona: “All glory to God, I prayed about the place I used to be going to be at after the nationwide championship sport and he introduced me right here. I felt like I did job main my crew.”
Pelle Larsson on his Arizona profession: “It’s been the largest pleasure in my life. I’m gonna miss everybody I’ve labored with.”
On the taking pictures efficiency: “There was quite a lot of simply that we simply missed that have been open. We didn’t do nearly as good a job crashing as we’ve performed in different video games. I’m fairly positive we received the rebounding (battle) however we might have performed far more.”
On Clemson leaping out to a giant lead: “They made quite a lot of photographs within the first half, it felt like they couldn’t miss.”
On the beginning of the twond half: “We mentioned at halftime we have been going to punch them the primary 4 minutes and we did. Credit score to them they responded and made some modifications and saved it powerful from there.”
On if that’s the case many missed photographs can result in being tentative: “At the moment of yr you may’t second guess something. You understand what sort of participant you might be, you recognize what’s open and you’ve got a really feel for what you may make, what’s or unhealthy shot. I believed we had quite a lot of good photographs, they only didn’t go in.”