Arizona is facing challenges in what is supposed to be a promising fourth season under Coach Tommy Lloyd. Initially known for a dynamic offense, strong performances from their big men, and aggressive defense, the Wildcats have been struggling to find consistency this year.

“This is not the product that we want to be putting on the court right now,” Lloyd expressed last week. “I think we’ve got the right guys — I know we’ve got the right guys — now we need to make it happen.”

During his first three seasons, Lloyd effectively led the Wildcats, marking their return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years and achieving an impressive 33 wins, including a trip to the Sweet 16. In the following two seasons, Arizona won a minimum of 27 games each year, once again qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats entered this season with high expectations, buoyed by a roster filled with returning talent, experienced transfers, and a promising recruiting class. However, this new lineup has yet to find its rhythm.

Arizona faced a 15-point loss against No. 11 Wisconsin and struggled offensively with just 55 points in a home game against No. 9 Duke, marking the first back-to-back losses under Lloyd’s guidance. While they kicked off the Battle 4 Atlantis with a convincing victory over Davidson, the Wildcats left the Bahamas disappointed after suffering two consecutive defeats to No. 21 Oklahoma and West Virginia.

These recent losses placed Arizona’s record at 3-4 and dropped them out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since the early part of the 2021-22 season, which was also Lloyd’s debut year.