Wildcats on hot streak in Las Vegas under Lloyd
It’s no secret: Las Vegas is a second home to the Arizona Wildcats and its basketball-crazy fanbase, especially in March.
Surrounding T-Mobile Arena, or “McKale North,” the site for the Pac-12 Tournament, the Las Vegas Strip is annually flooded with UA hoops fans — or the “Red Army of the West,” if you’re Bill Walton. Seriously, you’d be hard-pressed to not find at least one “Block A” or Wildcat logo in casinos, restaurants, clubs or other establishments in Las Vegas this week.
Recently, the Las Vegas takeover has been in full effect on the hardwood. The Wildcats have not lost in Las Vegas since the first round of the 2019 Pac-12 Tournament. Since then, Arizona has won seven straight games in Las Vegas, whether they were at T-Mobile Arena or MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Wildcats have not lost (6-0) in Las Vegas since hiring Tommy Lloyd as head coach.
Here’s a look at every Sin City triumph for Arizona under the Lloyd regime:
Arizona holds off Wichita State
What: Roman Main Event
Where: T-Mobile Arena
When: Nov. 19, 2021
The rundown: The Wildcats nearly frittered away a 16-point lead to Wichita State but started the overtime period on a 9-0 run to win 82-78. The Shockers missed their first eight shots in OT. Arizona star guard and Pac-12 Player of the Year Bennedict Mathurin tallied 25 points and 10 rebounds.
He said it: “High-level basketball is not always a thing of beauty. It can be a rock fight, and that’s exactly what it was today.” — Lloyd
Wildcats thump No. 4 Michigan
What: Roman Main Event Championship
Where: T-Mobile Arena
When: Nov. 21, 2021
The rundown: Arizona crushed the
fourth-ranked Michigan Wolverines 8062 for the Roman Main Event title. In the process, the Wildcats smothered Michigan with 54 points in the paint. Arizona center and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Christian Koloko dominated with 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks; he was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for his performance. The unranked Wildcats started the season 5-0 and officially splashed onto the scene as one of the top teams in college basketball.
He said it: “And we always talk about swag — our Arizona swag is confidence, but it’s backed up with intelligence and effort and they’re getting that. They’re showing the way they’re able to scheme and game plan and start understanding game situations. That’s a ton of fun as a coach, because you know the things you’re trying to help them with are working, and all credit goes to them.” — Lloyd
Arizona holds off frisky Stanford
What: Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals
Where: T-Mobile Arena
When: March 10, 2022
The rundown: Arizona converted 16 offensive rebounds into 18 secondchance points in the Wildcats’ 84-80 victory, although Stanford’s Spencer Jones poured in 28 points to give the Cardinal a puncher’s chance at the end. In the final minute of the game, Arizona point guard
Kerr Kriisa exited with a sprained ankle after a collision with Koloko.
He said it: “I knew this game was going to be hard. These first games in these tournaments, especially when you have a bye, the other team has a little rhythm and a little bit of belief from a special game the day before.” — Lloyd
Shorthanded Wildcats cruise by Colorado
What: Pac-12 Tournament semifinals Where: T-Mobile Arena
When: March 11, 2022
The rundown: To support Kriisa (ankle), UA Foundation President and CEO JP Roczniak made several phone calls and managed to get 3,000 white headbands shipped overnight to Las Vegas that he gave to Arizona fans walking into T-Mobile Arena leading up to Arizona’s second-round bout with Colorado the white headband is a signature look for Arizona’s point guard. In Kriisa’s place was veteran Justin Kier, who finished with 13 points, three assists and two turnovers in 32 minutes. Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis led the Wildcats with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the 82-72 win over the Buffs.
He said it: “I almost get emotional thinking what those guys mean to me. They had some great ideas, and we hung with it. I told them after the game, I mean, our staff, the care factor is off the charts.
For those guys to talk me into what we did today, they deserve a lot of credit because I can be pretty hard-headed sometimes.” — Lloyd
Arizona wins Pac-12 title
What: Pac-12 Tournament championship
Where:
When:
The rundown:
T-Mobile Arena
March 12, 2022
In the season rubber match against UCLA, Arizona was in trouble. With its starting point guard sidelined with an ankle injury and his replacement in foul trouble, the Wildcats relied on Dalen Terry and Pelle Larsson to handle those duties. Terry dished seven assists and, with the help from Mathurin and two critical 3-pointers by Adama Bal, led Arizona back after facing a 12-point deficit. The 22-5 run in the second half propelled the Wildcats to a win over the 16th-ranked Bruins — and the conference title.
He said it: “It’s surreal and, to be honest, I didn’t quite expect it. But when I got together with this group of misfits, I knew we had something special.” — Lloyd
UA tops No. 14 Indiana at MGM
What: Las Vegas Clash
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena When: Dec. 10, 2022
The rundown: Arizona returned to MGM Grand Garden Arena, the legendary Las Vegas venue that served as host of the Pac-12 Tournament from 20132016, for a midseason showdown with Indiana — the first-ever matchup between the Hoosiers and Wildcats. Arizona went on a 17-0 run and built a 19-point lead, but the Hoosiers stormed back in the second half. However the Wildcats had an 18-6 advantage in points off turnovers. Tubelis and center Oumar Ballo combined for 36 points and 19 rebounds in the 89-75 victory.
He said it: “It’s fun. It’s fun being in those moments. So I like to tell our guys, ‘Just let it rip and let’s run our stuff, trust our offense and usually that will be the solution, in and of itself.’”