When a promoter called Arizona in the offseason about facing the defending national champion Florida Gators in Las Vegas to open the 2025-26 college basketball season, Tommy Lloyd called it an “easy decision” to say yes. Arizona is part of a two-game event taking place at T-Mobile Arena on Monday night that features the Wildcats squaring off against the Gators and the BYU Cougars taking on the Wildcats from Villanova.
Monday provides Arizona with an opportunity to make a statement to the college basketball world, but Tommy Lloyd says win or lose, the showdown with Florida is a small part of a much larger journey ahead for the Wildcats.
“This is a season. It’s a journey. It’s not a singular instance, you know, it’s not just an event. So this one event plays a much bigger role into, and it’s a smaller part of a much bigger season. So for me, I’ll evaluate it you just on what it looks like and how it feels after we play. And you know, I love doing that with our team. I love saving that moment. I love connecting with the staff, you know, maybe the next day, and kind of figuring out what direction we feel like we need to take things. To me, that’s a lot of the fun in coaching is figuring that stuff out.
So, I’m not acting like we have all the answers. You know, we prepared how we usually prepare to start a season. It’s a single game against a really good team. Let’s see how it goes, and then we’ll kind of form some opinions and start making some adjustments from there.”
No scrimmage, no problem
Ahead of Monday’s regular season tip off, the Wildcats have played in the Red-Blue Showcase, as well as two public exhibition games, giving Todd Golden’s squad an early look at the return of 7-foot-1 center Motiejus Krivas, as well as freshmen sensations Koa Peat and Brayden Burries. The Florida Gators on the other hand, have only participated in secret scrimmages closed to the public and cameras.
“Well for sure, you’re going in a little more blind, but you know that’s happened in years past,” said Tommy Lloyd to media ahead of the game. “And you know, obviously everything we’ve done has been on TV so far, and for me, I just think about our fans when we make those decisions. I don’t know what traits or secrets you’re gonna gain, you probably gain a little bit watching a game or two, but you know, to me, there’s more value in our fans being able to watch us play. You know, whether it’s Red-Blue, or our exhibition games, then doing a secret scrimmage at this point. You know, when the rules changed, we wanted to take advantage of that.”
With a unique blend of talented freshman and changes to the coaching staff, even if Arizona had tape from any of Florida’s scrimmages, at this stage of the game, Lloyd is more worried about how the team from Tucson is playing.
“You have tape on everybody. And everyone has tendencies. And just because they, I’m sure tendencies can change over the course of the summer, but you go in with the information that’s provided to you, you do the best job. But again, let’s focus on the main thing. The main thing is, it’s the first game of the year, and your team has to be ready to play. So to me, that’s where our eyes, effort, energy, needs to be focused more on ourselves and how we approach it. And I think we’re, I don’t think we’re a slouch, you know. I think that we force the other team to make some decisions, you know. And just because you know they’ve seen us play a couple times. I mean, I don’t know. Maybe they got it figured out. Maybe they don’t. We just got to go and play the game.”
Depth a luxury for Lloyd
In terms of matching up personnel, Tommy Lloyd says he’s still working through exactly what the starting lineup will be, but that at the end of the day, minutes and rotations mean more than the first five on the floor.
“We’re a team that we really don’t care about the starting lineup. We’re gonna figure out a rotation that we feel like makes the most sense and puts guys in the best position to be successful. And you know what, I always feel it’s a luxury to have seven starters. If we’re sitting over there arguing over splitting hairs, over something, that’s a good thing, that means you have good players, and I feel like we’re in that situation.”
That was something the Wildcats did through most of the season last year. Veteran guard Anthony Dell’Orso started for Arizona for much of the season, but former wing KJ Lewis, who transferred to Georgetown during the offseason, was often on the floor during key stretches of the game due to his energy and hustle on the defensive end of the floor. Lloyd and the Wildcats face a similar situation this year as they look to balance front court minutes between Tobe Awaka, Mo Krivas, and star freshman Koa Peat.
Speaking of the front court, Awaka, Krivas, and Peat will have their hands full at T-Mobile Arena on Monday. Florida boasts one of, if not the tallest team in the country, with six players listed at 6-foot-9 or taller, including two seven footers. Even though Arizona will be undersized compared to Florida, Lloyd is confident in his big men.
“I love our front court. I think our front court is very well suited to play at Arizona and the way we want to play. And I don’t think we have the type of guys that are going to back down to anybody. And so Florida’s got really good players. We have good players. Let’s play the game and see how it goes. I mean, maybe we’ll get out there and afterwards, I’ll tell you I felt like we were overwhelmed. Maybe we’ll play the game and I’ll feel like, hey, I felt we’re really comfortable with that matchup. So we’re going to play the game and we’re going to see, you know, I haven’t played against them, you know, they haven’t played against us. So, I think we’re going to both have to get on the court and figure it out.”
Home away from home
While Arizona faces a tremendous test to open the season, the Wildcats do have an ace up their sleeve in Las Vegas. T-Mobile Arena, more commonly know to Arizona fans as McKale North. Through the first four years at the helm for Arizona, the Wildcats are 9-2 at McKale North under Tommy Lloyd. With the close proximity, ample entertainment options, and exciting matchup, Lloyd is expecting a packed house. But even with Wildcat Nation flocking to Las Vegas, that doesn’t mean that Monday is an automatic win for Arizona.
“I’m zero for zero this year. So, I don’t think you know past history is going to be an indicator of what will happen this year. Obviously, there’s good proximity for us and our fans love going to Vegas. And from what I’ve heard, it’s going to be a great crowd. I’ve heard it’s pretty much sold out venue. Going to be an exciting opening night of college basketball. I’m sure Florida’s fans are going to be there as well. You know, they’re excited, being the defending national champs, as they should. And you know, I think our fans are excited to see our team play as well. So I’m expecting a great atmosphere Monday afternoon.”
Arizona tips off against Florida at 5:00 PM MST on Monday, November 3 on TNT and truTV. The Wildcats opened as 3.5-point underdogs, with ESPN Analytics giving both teams a 50.0% chance to win. As Tommy Lloyd said, the only thing left to do is “go and play the game.”