Jeff Goodman of On3 lined up Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd at No. 2, second only to Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg, in his latest National Men’s College Basketball Coach of the Year Award power rankings on Friday.
It’s no surprise that Lloyd, fronting an unbeaten Arizona and unanimous No. 1 program in the country, would be seated in the top 3 with Hoiberg and Miami (Ohio) coach Travis Steele.
With 10 games to go, Lloyd and Arizona (21-0, 8-0 Big 12) are the clear favorites for the Big 12 title behind senior combo Tobe Awaka and Jaden Bradley, as well as a freshman lottery pick Brayden Burries.
It’s anyones race award-wise as the country narrows in on the final 10-game stretch of the regular season. Goodman’s list included Bill Self (Kansas) at No. 5 and TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State) at No. 9 in his latest power rankings.
Lloyd’s Wildcats remain the steady No. 1 as the calendar flips over to February, and Nebraska set its newest benchmark at No. 5 in the latest AP Top 25 Poll on Monday.
Arizona prepares for a rematch with Arizona State (11-10, 2-6 Big 12) on the road Saturday after winning by just six in Tucson last time around. The Wildcats snuck out of Provo with an 86-63 with over No. 13 BYU on Monday.
