On Saturday in Alytus, the Arizona students handled the national team coached by Rimas Kurtinaitis 88:74, although before that they lost to the reserve team 88:99.
“We played the first game badly… But… I don’t know, you call that team the reserve or whatever, but that team played incredibly tough. They were focused, radiated energy. They were winning against us and made us doubt ourselves,” said T. Lloyd.
“I want to say what I felt. Understand – I have great respect for Lithuanian basketball. You know that, I have said it hundreds of times. I have many wonderful relationships with people from this great country.
Lithuania is characterized by the greatest passion for basketball, and you always play for something more than yourself.
But today I didn’t feel that. I felt it when we played the first game, I didn’t feel it today. I hope you will regain that passion.
Because when you play with passion and understanding of who you represent – it is immediately felt, it is important. I hope you will find it in the coming days.”
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The coach of the University of Arizona expressed hope that the Lithuanian national team will regain that fire before the World Championship qualifying games.
“I have been watching Lithuanian basketball for more than 30 years. When you make a three-pointer, you celebrate as if you scored a goal in football. That passion is very big, powerful. I want my teams to have that passion. I want my players to feel it playing for Arizona. I tell them: ‘I want you to feel like you are playing for your national team’.
I know that the passion is in the DNA of Lithuanian basketball – in the culture, the people, the players, and I really hope that spirit will return, and next week you will kick your opponents’ butts. You deserve it.”
Asked what advice he could give to regain that spirit, T. Lloyd replied: “Players have to close the door and find it within themselves first. And coaches have to direct them in that direction.”
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