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By Cole Sullivan
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The Arizona Wildcats seemed destined for a run to the national championship this season, but they fell just one game short of reaching Monday night’s title matchup.
Arizona lost in the Final Four, 91-73, to the Michigan Wolverines, a game Michigan controlled from start to finish. The Wolverines jumped out to a quick double-digit lead in the first half and, aside from a few brief Arizona runs, never relinquished it. They even extended the lead to more than 20 points, punching their ticket to the national championship game against the UConn Huskies.
For Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, however, there was some bittersweet news less than 24 hours after the loss: he was officially named the Naismith Coach of the Year. While the recognition may feel secondary after a devastating loss, it stands as a testament to the job he did leading the Wildcats this season.
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“TOMMY LLOYD IS YOUR NAISMITH COACH OF THE YEAR,” the NCAA posted.
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Lloyd has now completed his fifth season as head coach of Arizona, and on Friday — before the Final Four game — he officially shut down any rumors of leaving the program for the open North Carolina job.
He agreed to a contract extension that takes effect next season and makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball.
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Lloyd has transformed the Wildcats into one of the premier programs in the sport, leading them to their first Final Four since 2001 and guiding them to the NCAA Tournament in each of his five seasons.
“I think we’ve made huge progress on what Arizona basketball can be,” Lloyd said after agreeing to the new deal. “I love being in the middle of that, and I’m thankful.”
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