Tommy Lloyd

[Alieberman]

He’s still a micromanaging prick

I will never understand your hate for the man.

Say what you will about your quibbles with his coaching style, ALL Sean Miller wanted was to bring a national championship to Tucson and to the fans. It consumed him. For that reason alone, he’s got a place in my heart.

I certainly don't have the hatred of CSM that CST has but every time I think about how much I liked him as our coach... I still can never forgive him for continuing to sit a rapist on our bench.... on the same bench as the brother of the victim sat... its repulsive

Who?

This article paints a MUCH prettier picture than what actually happened. And Miller and Greg Byrnes were certainly aware

https://tucson.com/news/local/education ... 9b30b.html

[PHXCATS]

CaN lLoYd ReCruIt?

[LuteIsGod]

He’s still a micromanaging prick

I will never understand your hate for the man.

Say what you will about your quibbles with his coaching style, ALL Sean Miller wanted was to bring a national championship to Tucson and to the fans. It consumed him. For that reason alone, he’s got a place in my heart.

I certainly don't have the hatred of CSM that CST has but every time I think about how much I liked him as our coach... I still can never forgive him for continuing to sit a rapist on our bench.... on the same bench as the brother of the victim sat... its repulsive

Who?

This article paints a MUCH prettier picture than what actually happened. And Miller and Greg Byrnes were certainly aware

https://tucson.com/news/local/education ... 9b30b.html

Thanks. I don’t remember the situation

[JMarkJohns]

Big big first for Tommy. Winning a recruitment where NIL and Time was a major factor. Great attitude despite uncertainties. Shows major growth in that area. Also his highest rated recruit.

And it’s a great start to what needs to be a yearly outcome of a major impact freshman, a role player impact freshman, and some developmental freshmen with Peat, Aristode, James.

If he can add Burries, plus secure Iguodala Jr, that’s a perfect class. Won’t be repeated every cycle, but it shows Tommy can go toe to toe and not backdown.

Now, he needs to develop a process where he isn’t backed into a corner and desperate like this year did, and this will come from a wider net of early evals and offers.

Recruit every year like you’ll need 4 preps and 2/3 transfers because of graduation, pros, or transfer. Can’t do this on 4-5-6 total yearly offers.

This is the next step that helps a yearly domestic prep talent and traditional transfer network for Tommy.

But this is a big win. Huge, even.

[azcat49]

I find it so weird that in an era where you don’t sign an NLI, you work through an agent, a player has unlimited trips available to him, that the coach still can’t talk about this commitment publicly. Everything is off in this world LOL

[Merkin]

Pitts would have been arrested if he was in a California school instead of Arizona. A female under the influence cannot give consent.

I really doubt Mason had anything to do with the UA anymore.

[Chicat]

Big big first for Tommy. Winning a recruitment where NIL and Time was a major factor. Great attitude despite uncertainties. Shows major growth in that area. Also his highest rated recruit.

I was told that Arizona would never be able to compete in the NIL era and that we’d be fighting the New Mexico States of the college world for whatever scraps were left.

[JMarkJohns]

Pitts would have been arrested if he was in a California school instead of Arizona. A female under the influence cannot give consent.

I really doubt Mason had anything to do with the UA anymore.

Supposedly the relationship is OK. I spoke to some folks earlier in the year.

But not sure what OK means given the extreme contexts.

[Postmaster]

Not disputing your version but I had heard from a players mom that the events were pretty close to that article.

A lot of stuff Happened while Burne was here

[EastCoastCat]

Great job this year CTL. I was smiling when ADO and TT hit 3’s to open last nights game as starters.

But seriously, got to give our coach credit for pulling this team out of the dumpster early on and getting this team to gel and perform at a high level and making it to the second weekend of the Tourney. Unfortunately, due to our overall resume we had to face the best team this year last night but we did not back down and showed tons of heart.

But next year we want…

[pc in NM]

Great job this year CTL. I was smiling when ADO and TT hit 3’s to open last nights game as starters.

But seriously, got to give our coach credit for pulling this team out of the dumpster early on and getting this team to gel and perform at a high level and making it to the second weekend of the Tourney. Unfortunately, due to our overall resume we had to face the best team this year last night but we did not back down and showed tons of heart.

But next year we want…

We had one returning starter this year, two returning key subs, and one highly-rated recruit. All things considered, in this evolving crazy NIL era, CTL did one hell of a job

We likely have 5 of 8 rotation players returning, a wild hope that CB also returns (!), an even better recruit (maybe two!!), and who knows who CTL brings in from the portal!!

[JMarkJohns]

Tommy needs one of these two rosters.

Bradley
Burries
Carter
Koa
Henri
6. Lewis
7. Transfer PG
8. Krivas or Awaka
9. Aristode

Or

Bradley
Transfer 3/D
Carter
Koa
Henri
6. Lewis
7. Transfer PG
8. Krivas or Awaka
9. Aristode

ADO can stay in specialty role, but I doubt it happens. One of Krivas and Awaka is gone. Probably Awaka.

He needs a traditional transfer PG like Bradley was in 2023-24.

He needs Carter back. There’s paths to a successful roster without him, but if he’s trying to get to a Final 4, he needs him back.

Absolute ideal roster is:

Bradley (32), Burries (8)
Burries (20), Lewis (12), XX (8)
Carter (20), Lewis (12), XX (8)
Koa (25), Carter (10), XX (5)
Henri (22), Krivas or Awaka (18)

That leaves 8 minutes at guard for increased roles or a transfer, and 13 minutes at comboforward for Aristode or increased roles.

It’s real depth, has real shooting assuming transfer guard can shoot and Aristode is 33-35% and Lewis finds a happy medium twixt first two seasonal averages.

Maybe ADO stays and is that 8 minute SG role. There’s value there for situational game play and lesser competition depth. He just cannot start halves vs tournament teams.

[Alieberman]

I would love 1 of those roster options!

[PHXCATS]

Bad day for the haters

[Alieberman]

Feel free to actually add something to the conversation

[Winger]

He needs Carter back.

Sounds like you're not feeling that the Koa commitment means Carter is gone.

[Winger]

Bad day for the haters

Getting smoked by Duke should make it bad day for all Arizona fans.

[JMarkJohns]

He needs Carter back.

Sounds like you're not feeling that the Koa commitment means Carter is gone.

It’s is 50/50 Need/Wishful Thinking.

To be a Final 4 Roster Carter must be on it. He is a SF with backup PF ability. His spacing with Veesaar in the frontcourt transforms Koa’s dribble drive ability from a personal strength to a team strength. His defense holds tons of upside with offseason of film study and some weights.

Plus, he’s simply not ready. Not even close. Not at all. He’s a good average from
Range but inconsistent, he’s an unguided missile on defense doing as much in strategic harm as strategic good, and, he’s got nothing else but catch and shoot on offense beyond maybe some hockey assists. He never ever developed comfort with dribble drives to any sort of advantage, even in space, and, he doesn’t flash the facilitation skills most had hoped when I was hearing “Athletic Solomon Hill” comps.

He can make a gigantic leap as a sophomore. Tommy has shown success with multi-year development (though largely from transfers).

But I say this like I said of Terry. The NBA is no place to develop the baseline skillset for play. They don’t have the time to do it. Be the most ready you can by age 20, then go.

Terry was in a better position and isn’t even playable on a bad team right now.

Carter will not get NBA minutes for years if he leaves now. And he’s not getting lottery looks. He’s getting 17-23 range looks. That’s not enough money to sacrifice your upside for.

Now, he will cost money to bring back. Not sure it’s there if they land Burries.

But I think if you have Bradley, Burries, Koa, Veesaar, KJ as 6th Man, one of Krivas or Awaka, and Aristode, plus Bryce James & Iguodala Jr, and started making the “pride of program” rounds to alum and NBA vets, the money for Carter being retained is easily there, because he is the lynchpin for unlocking Koa quickly and consistently. Spread that floor for both he and Burries.

That’s an actual Arizona Basketball roster. Not a hodge podge assembly.

That’s minimum 4 NBA players, with 3-4 others on the fringe depending on Bradley shot development, KJ shot development, Krivas health, and Aristode development.

[EastCoastCat]

Bad day for the haters

Getting smoked by Duke should make it bad day for all Arizona fans.

We got beat by a better team, but I wouldn't say we got smoked. We scored 93 friggin points and lost by 7.

Just couldn't put enough stops.

[Winger]

He needs Carter back.

Sounds like you're not feeling that the Koa commitment means Carter is gone.

It’s is 50/50 Need/Wishful Thinking.

To be a Final 4 Roster Carter must be on it. He is a SF with backup PF ability. His spacing with Veesaar in the frontcourt transforms Koa’s dribble drive ability from a personal strength to a team strength. His defense holds tons of upside with offseason of film study and some weights.

Plus, he’s simply not ready. Not even close. Not at all. He’s a good average from
Range but inconsistent, he’s an unguided missile on defense doing as much in strategic harm as strategic good, and, he’s got nothing else but catch and shoot on offense beyond maybe some hockey assists. He never ever developed comfort with dribble drives to any sort of advantage, even in space, and, he doesn’t flash the facilitation skills most had hoped when I was hearing “Athletic Solomon Hill” comps.

He can make a gigantic leap as a sophomore. Tommy has shown success with multi-year development (though largely from transfers).

But I say this like I said of Terry. The NBA is no place to develop the baseline skillset for play. They don’t have the time to do it. Be the most ready you can by age 20, then go.

Terry was in a better position and isn’t even playable on a bad team right now.

Carter will not get NBA minutes for years if he leaves now. And he’s not getting lottery looks. He’s getting 17-23 range looks. That’s not enough money to sacrifice your upside for.

Now, he will cost money to bring back. Not sure it’s there if they land Burries.

But I think if you have Bradley, Burries, Koa, Veesaar, KJ as 6th Man, one of Krivas or Awaka, and Aristode, plus Bryce James & Iguodala Jr, and started making the “pride of program” rounds to alum and NBA vets, the money for Carter being retained is easily there, because he is the lynchpin for unlocking Koa quickly and consistently. Spread that floor for both he and Burries.

That’s an actual Arizona Basketball roster. Not a hodge podge assembly.

That’s minimum 4 NBA players, with 3-4 others on the fringe depending on Bradley shot development, KJ shot development, Krivas health, and Aristode development.

Great post sums it up nicely imo.

What is that NBA conventional wisdom? "Don't declare if you don't have the ability to play." Number 20 pick is guaranteed about $6 mil but if you can't play you're looking at getting buried and never making it. Trade that for a chance at the lotto in 2026 and much more guaranteed money plus more time to prove and club buyin to your development after a season where you show that you can play seems like a decent choice. Terry isnt the only recent Arizona example of this as you obviously know.

Biased tho as I want him back (assuming he is happy).

I think picking staying and leaving players is one of the most difficult things, I have used similar player commitments by potential 1&Ds in the past to be an (imperfect) indicator of someone who is leaving. Which is what I was getting at here. Like: Sanon and Love to the opposite last off season.

[Winger]

Bad day for the haters

Getting smoked by Duke should make it bad day for all Arizona fans.

We got beat by a better team, but I wouldn't say we got smoked. We scored 93 friggin points and lost by 7.

Just couldn't put enough stops.

We lost last night. That should be ammo for Lloyd's critics not something that leads to a "bad day" for them. Inflammatory verbiage used accordingly.

[JMarkJohns]

We battled. For 6-7 minutes we were getting trounced. Minutes 19-25 were awful to us. Outscored by 15 points in those 6 minutes. Never fully recovered, even if the competed much better minutes 26-40.

Biggest thing still under Tommy is his teams love to play a 35 minute game, but are good to be outscored by double digits over a 3-5 minute stretch like 40-50% of his games.

To me that is a lack of depth, lack of positional impact skill, and lack of situational skills.

This Arizona team had 6 playable healthy Div 1 talents. 6. It had 3 mid-major talents pressed into varying roles. And it has a wealth of unplayable walkons on scholarship. It had one facilitator all season, which wore on Bradley. It had stretches with 1-2 playable 2-way shooters. If Love wasn’t hitting, it really only had Carter, and at times Carter was a liability on defense similar to ADO.

Again, great effort, strong showing, excellent all around game vs a better team.

But glaring issues for a year 4 team that are not survivable if they keep reoccurring.

At least not without 4-5 NBA quality impact players. Without Burries and Carter, Arizona will be down to 3, Bradley, Koa, Henri, and two of the 3 are limited NBA upside and Koa is a freshman coming off a hand injury.

[CalStateTempe]

Give JMJ a jobs with CATS player development and alumni relations. He’s got it figured out!

Clutch post.

[JMarkJohns]

Give JMJ a jobs with CATS player development and alumni relations. He’s got it figured out!

Clutch post.

Like, it’s crazy some people don’t like me! Haha

[PHXCATS]

Fuck the haters fuck the turds

[Postmaster]

Did anyone notice that CTL was on the bench a lot more than normal? Even saw Murphy standing and giving instructions at one point. They showed CTL rubbing his temple once.
To me, it came across like he had given up with 10 minutes left. Maybe he was sick?
I looked out of character and I find it hard to believe he had given up. But that was how it looked to me.

[JMarkJohns]

Fuck the haters fuck the turds

Criticism isn’t hate. Oversimplification is often stupidity, tho.

[AZCatGirl]

Did anyone notice that CTL was on the bench a lot more than normal? Even saw Murphy standing and giving instructions at one point. They showed CTL rubbing his temple once.
To me, it came across like he had given up with 10 minutes left. Maybe he was sick?
I looked out of character and I find it hard to believe he had given up. But that was how it looked to me.

To me he looked frustrated and had no idea how to stop Duke. Same thing every team that faces them will go through.

[TheCat]

Did anyone notice that CTL was on the bench a lot more than normal? Even saw Murphy standing and giving instructions at one point. They showed CTL rubbing his temple once.
To me, it came across like he had given up with 10 minutes left. Maybe he was sick?
I looked out of character and I find it hard to believe he had given up. But that was how it looked to me.

To me he looked frustrated and had no idea how to stop Duke. Same thing every team that faces them will go through.

Exactly....looked like he was trying to figure out what would work. Not give up.

[Chicat]

Fuck the haters fuck the turds

Criticism isn’t hate. Oversimplification is often stupidity, tho.

A+ post

[dovecanyoncat]

Fuck the haters fuck the turds

Criticism isn’t hate.

Yes it is, but only for those who have no dignity.

Oversimplification is often stupidity, tho.

Now that's just hateful.

~ Machina

[JMarkJohns]

General feeling is Tobe will look for a senior payday and starting role, and ADO likely transfers out for more playable minutes.

This in conjunction with Lewis entering the portal today.

So, semi-realistic ideal for next season is now:

Bradley (32), Burries (8)
Burries (22), 3/D Transfer (18)
Carter (22), Aristode (11), 3/D Transfer (7)
Koa (28), Carter (7), Henri/Aristode (5)
Henri (22), Krivas (18)

That’s an 8 man rotation. Ideally Lloyd adds an additional traditional transfer PG to learn behind Bradley and potentially take over next year.

3/D combo-wing can be traditional transfer or senior transfer.

Maybe some early season minutes to see if Bryce James shot can contribute in a lesser ADO role vs lesser competition.

[84Cat]

So people within the program are expecting CB to return? Do they expect him to test the waters?

[JMarkJohns]

So people within the program are expecting CB to return? Do they expect him to test the waters?

Not sure I’d go that far. But I think it’s a coin flip, and I think if we can increase NIL a bit, and create a role and discuss specifics of development, I think Carter and Fam is smart enough to know he has lottery potential and isn’t ready, so despite a potential 1st Round selection, Arizona is an ideal place for him to bet on himself, similar to Benn Mathurin eschewing late 1st after freshman and jumping to top-6.

[JMarkJohns]

If Henri Veesaar is entering the portal, next season became far more experimental than experienced and far less ideal alongside Koa.

[Djcat]

If Henri Veesaar is entering the portal, next season became far more experimental than experienced and far less ideal alongside Koa.

If the rumors are true do you think it’s because of Tommy’s insistence on sticking to big Mo as a starter? Or Henri is looking for the bag?

Feel like his best development is staying with Tommy. This guy has proven to be able to develop bigs. Look at Ballo and Awaka. In the beginning of the season lots of people here groan when he was in the lineup. By mid season all of us want more of him.

[MrKyle]

Veesaar leaving would be a big hit to the team - Mo we aren’t sure how he will respond to the injury

Think we’ve seen great development from HV, but some of that may have been forced due to the Krivas injury

[Beachcat97]

Agree entirely about the importance of Veesaar for next season. Need him and Bradley back, at minimum. Bryant would be incredible.

I want this starting 5:

Bradley
BB
Bryant
Awaka
Veesaar

Dell'Orso and Koa off the bench. Not sure what's happening with Krivas.

[JMarkJohns]

Agree entirely about the importance of Veesaar for next season. Need him and Bradley back, at minimum. Bryant would be incredible.

I want this starting 5:

Bradley
BB
Bryant
Awaka
Veesaar

Dell'Orso and Koa off the bench. Not sure what's happening with Krivas.

Koa isn’t coming here to come off the bench. He’s starting. The hope is alongside shooting with Carter returning at SF and Henri at PF. Aristode is a top-40 combo forward who has beefed up and will likely eat up some backup PF minutes.

Awaka is a senior, isn’t an NBA prospect, so general feeling is he’ll seek out his Ballo-Bag elsewhere.

Henri is a shock. He is an NBA prospect, and he’s shifting to be very important within a starters role alongside a dynamic PF prospect.

My hope is Trilly got fed bad info and Henri is testing the waters to get feedback, not enter the Portal. Sometimes both are done same time.