Arizona's Tommy Lloyd addresses UNC rumors before Final Four, emphasizing focus on the Wildcats' championship quest.
Probably no current college basketball coach is trending for the North Carolina job quite like Arizona's Tommy Lloyd.
There have been reporters that Lloyd is not in sync with the athletic department at Arizona. Earlier this week, he suggested that his time with the Wildcats could be brief.
"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."
Those comments were pretty suggestive that the head coach would be looking to better his career with a new opportunity, should it arise.
With No. 1 seed Arizona set to play No. 1 seed Michigan in the Final Four on Saturday, Lloyd would certainly receive interest from any Blue Blood school, including North Carolina.
During his news conference on Tuesday, Lloyd addressed rumors about his coaching future, saying he was focused on the Final Four.
“People are going to speculate all they want," Lloyd said. "Guys, this team has my full focus. Nothing, nothing, I promise you nothing is knocking me off that path. And you guys (in the media) might call them distractions, because you’re distracted.
"That doesn’t mean I’m distracted or we’re distracted. You know what’s pretty cool, once you get some experience in this deal, and you’re a player or a coach that’s been at it awhile, you get pretty good at eliminating the distractions."
Both Michigan and Arizona have made it far in the NCAA Tournament amid potential distractions. Wildcats head coach Dusty Maye has been linked to UNC this spring.
Either May or Lloyd will be coaching on Monday night in the national championship. After that game, UNC will need to make a decision rapidly on who will be its next head coach.