NCAA Final Four: What Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Michigan’s Dusty May said about semifinal matchup

Key Points:

• Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd expressed excitement and honor in reaching his first Final Four as a head coach, emphasizing the significance for the university and its community after 25 years.
• Lloyd discussed how NIL has improved international recruiting by removing previous barriers, allowing more European players to join college basketball, which he believes will strengthen the sport globally.
• Michigan coach Dusty May reflected on the surreal experience of reaching the Final Four near his hometown and highlighted similarities between Michigan and Arizona in team character, size, and playing style, predicting a close, competitive game.
• Both coaches highlighted the importance of role players and team chemistry, with Lloyd praising players like Ivan Kharchenkov and Tobe Awaka for their contributions and May emphasizing his team's depth and competitive practice environment.
• Lloyd and May also touched on recruiting challenges and changes, with Lloyd noting the evolving landscape where players now choose programs based on team culture and identity, while May stressed the importance of retaining the right players to build sustained success.