How Arizona Met Its Physical Match Against Kansas

"We didn't finish at the rim well enough," Lloyd acknowledged postgame. "Usually, we're really proficient at getting to the rim or getting fouled. It's not very often we get out-free throwed, and it's not very often we don't make a higher percentage of at-the-rim shots. Kansas gets credit for that."

Kansas Out-Physicals Arizona

Arizona actually won the overall battles for rebounds and points in the paint, but both were by a narrow margin, and a few key Wildcats didn't play up to the potential they'd shown this season. That included senior forward Tobe Awaka, who averages 9.6 rebounds per game as Arizona's leading rebounder. Kansas held him to just three rebounds and limited his time on the floor.

In fact, if not for junior Motiejus Krivas's 14 points and 15 rebounds, Arizona would have lost the rebounding battle by double-digits. By contrast, Kansas' Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller each outrebounded the rest of the individual players that entered the game for Arizona.

The Wildcats also ended up on the wrong end of the fouling situation, committing more fouls and attempting 11 fewer free throws than the Jayhawks. That tells you both teams were being physical, but Arizona may have misused its physicality when trying to channel it into an advantage.

"There's going to be a lot that gets to go in the paint, " Lloyd continued. "The refs aren't going to guess, probably on both ends of the floor. So if you want to win these games, you've got to deliver. You've got to deliver when you get the ball inside, you've got to be able to play through physical contact, you've got to be able to play through what you think are fouls, and you've just got to keep moving."

Keeping it moving is exactly how you get through the Big 12. It doesn't have the reputation of some other conferences, but it's still a physical battle night in and night out. Arizona and Kansas are two of the top teams in the league in that department, and this matchup was just the beginning of a long road.

"We're built for it," Lloyd said. "I honestly don't care how the game's officiated. We should be fine. We're a physical team, and we're built for it. I'm sure there were some missed calls, but they were probably on both ends, so we've got to move forward, and our first mantra is 'get tougher.'"

Arizona may have to get tougher in a hurry. Its next few games are against similar opponents, and as Lloyd and many other coaches have stated this season, it doesn't matter if you lose, but it matters how you respond to each loss.

"I'm not mad we lost," he said. "I can't wait to get back home and get on that plane. I feel like our season just started."

In a way, he's right. The real work is just getting started.

Talk to us today by commenting on our Facebook page!

• Arizona Standing Out to Elite 2028 Shooting Guard
• Arizona’s Bradley Lands on Watch List Again
• How Arizona's Loss to Kansas Altered Conference Favorite Status
• Ranking Arizona's Football Opponents from Easiest to Hardest