Arizona
Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd keeping mum as UNC rumors swirl: ‘Nothing is distracting me’
INDIANAPOLIS — Give Tommy Lloyd credit. The Arizona coach isn’t budging despite rumors he could leave the Wildcats for the vacant North Carolina job.
All along, Lloyd has said his only focus is on leading top-seeded Arizona to a national championship, offering no hints about his future plans.
That didn’t change Thursday.
“Listen, I’ve got my full focus on this team. Nothing is distracting me,” Lloyd said. “That’s just how I’ve decided to approach it.“I’m a simple guy. I am kind of just one thing at a time. I’m not a multitasker. You can ask my wife. I’m 100 percent locked in on Arizona basketball right now, and I’m excited to see what this team can do.”
Arizona is back in the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. Lloyd, the former Gonzaga assistant coach, has led the Wildcats to a 145-38 record in five seasons.
Lloyd drew headlines last weekend after Arizona won the West Region, saying, “Arizona is going to have another good coach after me. I promise you.”
Pressed on the matter earlier this week, Lloyd became somewhat combative.
“You might call them ‘distractions,’ but it’s because you’re distracted,” he told reporters. “That doesn’t mean I’m distracted or we’re distracted.”
Lloyd has yet to say he’s not interested in the North Carolina job or that he will return to Arizona.
Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau was taken to a hospital Wednesday before the Wolverines left for the Final Four after suffering an allergic reaction from accidental nut exposure.
The junior was with the team Thursday, expected to practice later and play Saturday against Arizona in a matchup of No. 1 seeds. He called it “minor,” not nearly as bad as a similar allergic reaction he had as a kid.
“Very unfortunate for him to have to go through that. If it’s the worst thing that happens to us, then we’re very blessed,” Michigan coach Dusty May said.
The West Orange, N.J., native is averaging 10.2 points and 5.8 assists for Michigan.
Arizona
Giants end difficult series with eye toward future, not past
That was the lingering element inside a quiet visitors’ clubhouse after the San Francisco Giants dropped a 6-3 decision to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon, completing a three-game sweep at Chase Field.
Arizona
See work of award-winning Arizona Republic photographer Rob Schumacher
Republic photographer Rob Schumacher was a master with the camera
The longtime award-winning Arizona Republic photographer captured not just events with his camera, but the feelings of the big moments.
Rob Schumacher shared the triumphs and tribulations of the world with The Arizona Republic’s readers through his photography for 35 years.
Schumacher, 62, who died Sunday, May 17, covered Olympic Games, Super Bowls, Masters golf tournaments, riots and natural disasters, as well as intimate portraits of everyday people in Arizona.
He won dozens of awards for his work, including having his image, “Foul Ball,” named Photo of the Year by the Arizona Associated Press Managing Editors in 2003 and being named Arizona Photojournalist of the Year by the Arizona Press Club in 2020.
“For him, it was more than just a job,” said Cheryl Evans, a former photographer at The Republic who worked with him for years. “It was his passion. I mean, he lived and breathed photojournalism.”
Here’s a look at his legacy through some of his most jaw-dropping images.
Arizona
5 Biggest Things We Saw, Heard as Arizona Cardinals Begin OTA’s
ARIZONA — The Arizona Cardinals have just finished their first set of voluntary offseason team activities, and there’s plenty to talk about.
We posted our sights and sounds video already (which you can check out here), though that didn’t quite cover everything we saw in Tempe.
Five biggest takeaways from being at the team’s facility for offseason team activities:
1. Notable Absences
All of Jacoby Brissett, Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, L.J. Collier, and Trey Benson were not present for the voluntary portion of offseason team activities.
Brissett continues to hope for a new contract while Sweat apparently is a healthy absence according to Arizona Sports. Collier had a personal day while Browning’s absence is unknown.
According to @Gambo987 just now on @BurnsAndGambo, Josh Sweat is not hurt despite being absent from OTAs.
L.J. Collier, meanwhile, had a personal day yesterday.
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 19, 2026
Starling Thomas and James Conner were spotted working off to the side while Tip Reiman (more on him later) and Walter Nolen III were also spotted on the sidelines. Garrett Williams posted on social media him getting recovery work in, too.
Benson suffered a season-ending injury last season, so he could be rehabbing elsewhere. Players who do not show in Tempe won’t be fined, though anybody who misses mandatory minicamp (June 8-10) will.
2. Jeremiyah Love Returning Kicks?
One of the biggest storylines was the emergence of No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love returning some kicks during the open portion of practice this week. Max Melton was also an interesting name back there as well.
This caused a firestorm of overreactions on Love and the Cardinals’ potential usage of him. Many saw this as Love having to work his way through special teams while others think this will add more unnecessary hits if he is indeed on return duties.
“You’re experimenting with everyone in terms of a lot of different spots,” Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur told 98.7’s Burns and Gambo. “… Jeremiyah is a running back. We know that. But you never know.”
I wouldn’t read too much into this — at least right now. WR Devin Duvernay was signed this offseason as a primary return man.
3. Rookies Take (Expected) Back Seat
Neither Love or third-round rookie quarterback Carson Beck had dibs on the first taste of action with the starting unit while media were allowed to view practice.
That’s fine, and more importantly, very expected.
Even with Brissett out, it was the veteran Gardner Minshew repping with the first team offense. Tyler Allgeier was the main back for the Cardinals’ top offensive players.
Rookies, at this point in the offseason, are placed behind veterans purposefully. Even if this is the case in training camp, fans shouldn’t freak out if Allgeier is still over Love in the “pecking order” Arizona has.
This is simply the Cardinals working in their inexperienced players at a reasonable rate.
4. Sean Murphy-Bunting’s Position Change
Murphy-Bunting suffered a season-ending injury before even stepping into 2025 and was largely thought to be a cut candidate entering the offseason in a crowded cornerbacks room.
However, the Cardinals have apparently changed his position.
Murphy-Bunting, typically a boundary cornerback, was spotted working out with the safety group. Cornerback Will Johnson confirmed Murphy-Bunting was set to be a nickel corner, which serves Arizona as Williams is not expected to be ready for the start of the season due to injury.
When you’re trimming a roster down to 53, versatility matters.
5. Injury Updates
The Cardinals lost their top run-blocker in tight end Tip Reiman early last season with a right leg injury and is expected to be ready for training camp, according to LaFleur.
“Not going to dive too far into that, but [we] do expect him to be healthy, ready to roll when we get going in training camp. Another guy that I had a lot of respect for coming out of Illinois,” LaFleur told reporters.
“… Tip is all of the right stuff in terms of how he approaches it, and stuff like that. It’s unfortunate, obviously what happened a year ago, but [I believe he is a] big piece of where I think we can go.”
LaFleur was then asked about Benson, which drew a, “Kind of that same type of thing,” response from the Cardinals coach.
The Cardinals again will hit the practice field on May 21 where voluntary OTA’s continue.
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