GameDay, Caleb Love, Mix Master Mike to make for another showy day at McKale

Because Mix Master Mike had taken a seat in the front row.

“I even heard a rumor that Mix Master Mike might be performing at the Bear Down Bash,” Lloyd said, grinning, referring to UA’s pregame event Saturday before the Wildcats face Texas Tech. “I don’t know how much bigger it gets than that. So let’s do this.”

As Lloyd spoke enthusiastically Thursday about his famous DJ friend, who is known for his work with the Beastie Boys, ESPN already was in and around McKale Center setting up for its popular weekly “College GameDay” show on Saturday morning.

Also, later in his media address, Lloyd tossed out that former Wildcat guard Caleb Love will be on hand for his formal induction into the UA Ring of Honor on, perhaps fittingly, Valentine’s Day.

“Caleb has a special place in my heart,” Lloyd said, extending the pun, intentionally or not. “For Caleb Love to be inducted in the Ring of Honor on Valentine’s Day, which just happens to be the date the state of Arizona was officially founded, on February 14, 1912, that’s a lot …”

It is a lot. But that’s the way a lot of Saturdays sometimes look at Arizona in January or February or early March.

The Wildcats’ loss at Kansas didn’t change that.

“Saturday is going to be an amazing day of basketball at the University of Arizona,” Lloyd said, also noting that the UA women’s basketball team will be hosting ASU at noon Saturday, squarely between the 8-10 a.m. “GameDay” show and the 4:30 p.m. tipoff for the men’s game against Texas Tech.

It will start early, really early, for those who really want to soak it all up.

Students and the general public are allowed to start lining up at 5 a.m. for a prime spot behind the set featuring “GameDay” host Rece Davis along with ESPN analysts Jay Bilas, Seth Greenberg and Jay Williams.

Lloyd is expected to join them at some point during the two-hour show. While he can do so by merely stepping downstairs from his office in the southeast corner of McKale, the appearance will disrupt his usual pregame routine.

“Obviously ‘GameDay’ is an honor,” Lloyd said. “You’re one of the programs they’ve chosen to showcase. I think it says a great thing about our legacy, and it says a great thing about the season our team is having.”

Lloyd isn’t expected to be on the court during halftime of the UA-Texas Tech game, when Love will be inducted into the Ring of Honor, but there’s zero doubt the coach will make time for him at some point.

Since Love transferred from North Carolina to Arizona in spring 2023, having been something of a scapegoat for the troubles the Tar Heels had the previous season, Lloyd has consistently spoken highly of him on and off the court.

“Caleb’s a super mature guy. He always has been,” Lloyd said. “I never had one issue, maturity issue, behavioral issue, anything coaching Caleb in two years. He was awesome, and I’m super proud of what he’s doing. I think it’s gonna be really cool to have him come back this weekend and give him a big hug.”

Now an undrafted rookie for the Portland Trail Blazers, Love qualified for the honor when he won the 2024 Pac-12 Player of the Year award, and the NBA’s All-Star break gives him enough time to be on hand for the ceremony.

In total, so much is going on Saturday that Lloyd even called it a “circus,” stressing that his main goal is to make sure the Wildcats are prepared to face Texas Tech.

But he also said there’s a lot of good that comes from that circus.

“Could you put it in a distraction category? Not at all,” Lloyd said. “It’s an honor, and we embrace it. When you’re at a place like Arizona, basketball means a lot, and anything you can do to promote your program and the university is a good thing.”