The noise between North Carolina and Tommy Lloyd isn’t something that seems to be going away any time soon. While it remains uncertain what could happen on both fronts, UNC is UNC, and despite Arizona being a great program, he could be enticed by being in Chapel Hill.
According to former Tar Heel Justin Watts, Lloyd had an interest in the job even before he took over at Arizona. That was when North Carolina hired Hubert Davis.
“Tommy Lloyd wanted the job before he went to Arizona. If Arizona wins, I think it’s out of the question. If they lose, it’s kind of like how we got Roy. Kansas was in the Final Four, they were interviewing him about it, and it was lingering over his head. Then they lost, and he ended up coming to Carolina,” he said.
“Roy had a lot more ties than Tommy Lloyd, other than Lloyd wanting the job before he went to Arizona. I would like to have Tommy Lloyd out of all the options we know about. I like how he has developed that Arizona program. They’ve been pretty consistent since he’s been there.”
Times are much different now than they were with Roy Williams, but connections matter a ton. If there’s any bit of connection in this era, we should never count it out.
Arizona has also been an elite program under Lloyd and we should believe that UNC would have similar, if not better, resources to do something similar.
Lloyd recently spoke about the UNC opening when questioned about it, and had a very strange response.
“You know, the sun may be shining on this team and me coaching it right now, but when it’s shining on you, you got to fight to protect it and build it,” Lloyd said. “So that’s what I feel like my number one responsibility is, to fight to protect the program and fight to build it for those who came before me and for those that are going to follow after me, because you know what, Arizona is going to have another good coach after me. I promise you. The place is special.”
I don’t want to say that he seems like he’s ready to leave, but he didn’t exactly quiet any noise.