Crowd Noise Turns the Tide in Kansas vs Arizona Game

The Wildcats stepped onto Allen Fieldhouse for their first Big 12 game, and the Kansas crowd’s roar left Arizona players and coach Tommy Lloyd stunned.

“Crazy.”
— Motiejus Krivas

Motiejus Krivas, who had sat on the bench due to a foot injury, finally saw action in Kansas’ 82‑78 win. He described the arena as “crazy” and said the fans felt like a sixth player that made it hard to focus.

Kansas coach Bill Self disagreed that the noise rattled Arizona. He highlighted his team’s resilience, especially after point guard Darryn Peterson was scratched at the last minute for flu‑like symptoms. Despite the absence, Kansas stayed energetic and finished strong, with players like Melvin Council staying on the floor almost all night. Self said the crowd helped keep his team from getting tired and that they “took ownership” of making sure Arizona didn’t have an easy game.

Peterson’s withdrawal raised questions because he is a top NBA draft prospect and had played 34 minutes in the previous two games. The Big 12 requires teams to list such players as “questionable” or “game‑time decision,” but Kansas did not include him until the final minutes. Self explained that he expected Peterson to “kick in” after a shoot‑around, but the player was still not ready.

Arizona’s coach Lloyd dismissed the idea that Peterson’s absence was a big factor. He said he only learned about it ten minutes before the game and urged fans to focus on Kansas’ performance rather than a single player’s health. Lloyd also praised the Kansas crowd, saying it made the game difficult and deserved credit for contributing to the outcome.

When asked if the noise affected officiating, Lloyd shrugged it off, saying any missed calls would be on both sides. He emphasized that Arizona needs to improve inside the paint, noting they missed 11 free‑throw attempts compared with Kansas’ 21. Lloyd urged his team to finish better at the rim and handle physical play if they want to win against strong opponents.

Krivas, who posted a career‑high 14 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocks, remained modest about his performance. He acknowledged that the team’s overall effort mattered more than individual statistics and that losing meant the numbers didn’t matter as much.