Tommy Lloyd’s lineup change boosted Arizona’s 5-game winning streak

Arizona has won five straight games since Tommy Lloyd inserted winger Anthony Dell’Orso into the starting lineup. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents by 23.4 points per game with Dell’Orso as the starter. That includes an average win margin of 11 points in the last three games against Big XII opponents.

Dell’Orso is averaging 7.6 points per game, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 36.4 percent from the floor and 30.4 percent on three-point attempts in 20 minutes during the five-game winning streak shoots per game. Arizona was able to establish Dell’Orso as the Wildcats’ best three-point shooter in the game.

Dell’Orso took the place of freshman forward Carter Bryant, who had started the three games before the lineup change. Coming off the bench, Bryant, center Henri Veesaar and guard KJ Lewis worked exceptionally well for Arizona during its five-game winning streak.

Jaden Bradley and Caleb Love have started every game for Arizona this season. Tobe Awaka has started 13 of Arizona’s 14 games in 2024-2025. The five players playing the most minutes this season are not the five current starters. Bradley and Love lead Arizona in averaging 30.9 minutes per game.

Lewis is third, averaging 25.6 minutes per game. Townsend is fourth and then there is a significant gap to Dell’Orso who is playing 18.1 MPG. Awaka is fifth with an average of 17.7 mpg. Expect Bryant and Veesaar to continue to see an increase in their minutes due to their performance and the loss of center Motiejus Krivas for the season.

Arizona has led at halftime by an average of 14.4 points per game in the five games Dell’Orso has started. In the three Big XII games Dell’Orso started, Arizona led by 9.3 PPG at halftime. As long as Arizona continues to win, you can expect Lloyd to continue starting in the same lineup.