Arizona Wildcats open 2025 NCAA Tournament as No. 4 seed, will face Akron Friday in Seattle
After spending their first season playing regularly in the nation’s heartland, the Arizona Wildcats and coach Tommy Lloyd will return to their roots in the NCAA Tournament this week.
The Wildcats were assigned a No. 4 NCAA Tournament seed in the East Region and a first-round game against Akron on Friday in Seattle, where they used to play Pac-12 games in front of sizable crowds of UA alums and fans nearby at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
Friday's game at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena will also only be about a two hours’ drive north of Lloyd’s hometown in Kelso, Washington, though he downplayed circumstances around the game.
What’s more: if the seeds hold up in their Seattle pod, Arizona will face a second-round game against No. 5 seed Oregon, an old Pac-12 rival. But after losing to No. 15 seed Princeton in the tournament two years ago, Lloyd wasn’t about to discuss that possibility.
“Listen, I’m not even thinking about that,” Lloyd said of a possible Oregon matchup. “We’re gonna be 100% focused on Akron. No one knows that more than us. But, yeah, it’s good go to back to the place where I’m from and a place that hopefully our fans can get to and support us.”
Lloyd also spoke highly of Akron and coach John Groce. The Zips are 28-6, having won the Mid-American Conference by three games with a 17-1 record. Akron also beat Bowling Green, Toledo and Miami of Ohio to win the MAC tournament.
Lloyd said he was excited to receive a No. 4 seed, which appeared to be the Wildcats’ ceiling after they lost five of their final eight Big 12 regular-season games but beat Kansas and Texas Tech to reach the Big 12 tournament championship game.
Before the selections were announced, Lloyd indicated such a seed would be no surprise while taping his radio show at St. Philip's Plaza.
“Seems like I heard it day after day: Four or five,” Lloyd said "But that's our reality."
By defeating Kansas and Texas Tech to reach the Big 12 tournament final Saturday in Kansas City, the Wildcats appeared to put themselves in contention for a No. 4 or 5 seed.
ESPN’s final bracket projection had Arizona as a No. 4 in the South region, starting in Seattle with a potential second-round game against Oregon. CBS, meanwhile, had UA as a No. 5 in the Midwest but also starting in Seattle with a potential second-round game against Texas A&M.
The Bracket Matrix, a compilation of bracket forecasts, listed Arizona as a No. 4 seed.
“We’re excited but you’ve got to throw the seeds out now, and go play the games,” Lloyd said.
Nobody may know that better than UA forward Trey Townsend, who played a major role for No. 14 seed Oakland in its first round upset victory over Kentucky last season.
“One hundred percent,” Townsend said. “It is March and anything can happen, especially nowadays. Any team can beat anybody. You don't want to overlook anyone. You face problems if you are overlooking anybody, thinking about what's ahead.
“We’ve learned from our struggles at the beginning of the season to never underestimate any opponent, and just play like it is your last game. Because really, now that we're here, every time we stand on the court, it could be the last time.”
Immediately after the Wildcats lost to Houston 72-64 on Saturday in Kansas City, Lloyd declined to speculate on what might happen with UA's seeding.
“I have no idea,” he said. “Even if we're a 13-seed we'll be fine. We can't wait till Thursday. …. Whatever they give us, I'm ready.”
UA guard Caleb Love, who led the Wildcats with 19 points and made the five-player all-tournament team, said he didn’t know what might happen.
"Probably around a four-seed,” Love said. “Four or five.”
Regardless of seed, though, Houston coach Kelvin Sampson suggested the Wildcats could play into the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight. After Saturday’s game, Sampson said he thought Love, point guard Jaden Bradley and post players Henri Veesaar and Tobe Awaka were tough, and even predicted Veesaar would become a first-round NBA pick.
“That's a good team,” Sampson said. “They get the right draw, they can play for a long time next week and the following week.”
After 10 weeks in a row of a Big 12 grind, with two games and usually some travel every week, the Wildcats may be better prepared for what's ahead. After the Big 12 final Saturday, Love said the bumps of the season prepared the Wildcats, too.
UA finished nonconference play at 6-5 but without any wins over a high-major opponent, then got off to an 11-1 Big 12 start before losing five of their last eight regular-season games.
“We've overcome so much adversity and hardship, I'm just proud we made it this far,” Love said. “We will be ready for the postseason and March madness.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Wildcats open 2025 NCAA Tournament as No. 4 seed, will face Akron Friday in Seattle
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