SLC NCAA Tourney blog: Soundbites and quotes from Friday's press conferences

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SALT LAKE CITY — The NCAA Tournament action is revving up one more notch as the Second Round will start Saturday at Delta Center.

Follow along as the KSL.com Sports team documents all that takes place, with the schedule of games played at the Delta Center as follows, to be broadcast live on CBS:

No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 2 Arizona, 10:45 a.m. MDT
No. 5 Gonzaga vs. No. 4 Kansas, 1:15 p.m. MDT

Friday, 03:33 pm

Arizona's Pelle Larsson has the Sweet 16 in view — and he's ready to grab it

Arizona guard Pelle Larsson is only concerned about the next task in front of him.Given the Wildcats' season could be over if they lose to the Dayton Flyers Saturday morning at Delta Center, and also knowing how quickly it can end after last year's loss to Princeton in the first round, many of his teammates carry that same mindset.But Larsson said a similar situation faced Arizona at halftime of their semifinal loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 Tournament that they did Thursday against Long Beach State — and this time, they responded."We're a completely different team than what people saw last year or even last week," Larsson said. "That loss to Princeton has been fueling us ever since it happened."It became blaringly apparent Thursday, where the Wildcats used their starters to score 77 of their 85 points in the win over Long Beach State. Larsson said the team is built that way where one person can carry the team, calling it like "having eight starters".But he's also taken some time to step back, too, and take in the sights and sounds of the city."I just love the views here," the Swede said. "Every time I look out the hotel room window, it's just great views with the mountains and the sun is shining."— Alex Tumalip, KSL.com

Friday, 03:18 pm

Flyers ready to take off again with Sweet 16 berth on the line

They say there's no rest for the wicked.It's especially true for the Dayton Flyers, coming off an emotional 63-60 win over Nevada Thursday where Dayton rallied from a 17-point deficit in the final eight minutes to stun Steve Alford's Wolf Pack."Every team is great, so you have to be able to lock in and be ready for what's next," Flyers forward DaRon Holmes II said. Holmes finished with 18 points, shooting 5-for-8 from the field, adding nine rebounds, to help lead the Dayton charge.Holmes will looked to be leaned on again when the Flyers face No. 2 Arizona Saturday morning at Delta Center, with a chance to send Dayton to its first Sweet 16 since 2014."They try to push it in transition and play fast," Flyers guard Koby Brea said. "We've got to limit that as much as possible."Holmes said he's not worried about blocking out the noise. The Flyers are experienced in tournament situations, but Holmes said Dayton has gotten better at "flushing it and moving on.""That's what March is all about," Brea said. "I feel like our coaches do a really good job of making sure that they do everything possible to put us in the best position possible."— Alex Tumalip, KSL.com

Friday, 03:04 pm

Mutual admiration between coaches apparent as Dayton, Arizona face off for Sweet 16 bid Saturday

Even though Dayton's Anthony Grant and Arizona's Tommy Lloyd have never faced each other before, there's no shortage of respect between the two coaches.Lloyd called Dayton "a well-established program," while Grant said Lloyd has "put his stamp on the Arizona program."Both of them, however, acknowledged the challenge of facing each other tomorrow, especially in a morning game, which will tip off the Second Round at 10:45 a.m. MDT Saturday on CBS. The Flyers have not made the Sweet 16 since 2014, while Arizona is looking for its second regional semifinals trip in three years."You look at their ability to take care of the basketball, the pace they play at, they're a high-scoring team," Grant said. "I couldn't begin to tell you that in a 24-hour period I'm familiar with all their personnel."Despite the short turnaround, Grant said the A-10 schedule, along with some challenging nonconference opponents, has prepared his Flyers team for these moments in the NCAA tourney."As you get deeper into the tournament, the teams get more challenging," Lloyd said. "We understand what we're up against tomorrow."— Alex Tumalip, KSL.com

Friday, 02:38 pm

'We can standardize the game a little bit': Arizona coach voices displeasure with Delta Center nets

It turns out the maintenance crews at the Delta Center aren't the only ones waking up with headaches this morning.In an interesting twist, Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd used his Friday press conference to, once again, voice his displeasure with the nets after the ball got stuck multiple times in their first-round win over Long Beach State Thursday. He even went as far to state the crews should "go up to the University of Utah and bring the nets (from the Huntsman Center) here."He called for a standardized game ball, saying "there were more mishandles for both teams in our game yesterday."Definitely a noble idea, but the question is, will the NCAA listen?— Alex Tumalip, KSL.com

SLC NCAA Tourney blog: Soundbites and quotes from Friday's press conferences

By KSL.com Sports | Updated - March 22, 2024 at 3:40 p.m. | Posted - March 22, 2024 at 2:46 p.m.

Arizona's Pelle Larsson has the Sweet 16 in view — and he's ready to grab it

Flyers ready to take off again with Sweet 16 berth on the line

Mutual admiration between coaches apparent as Dayton, Arizona face off for Sweet 16 bid Saturday

'We can standardize the game a little bit': Arizona coach voices displeasure with Delta Center nets

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SLC NCAA Tourney blog: Soundbites and quotes from Friday's press conferences

By KSL.com Sports | Updated - March 22, 2024 at 3:40 p.m. | Posted - March 22, 2024 at 2:46 p.m.

Arizona's Pelle Larsson has the Sweet 16 in view — and he's ready to grab it

Flyers ready to take off again with Sweet 16 berth on the line

Mutual admiration between coaches apparent as Dayton, Arizona face off for Sweet 16 bid Saturday

'We can standardize the game a little bit': Arizona coach voices displeasure with Delta Center nets

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