LOS ANGELES – During a mostly tense four-minute postgame interview session Saturday at Pauley Pavilion, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ coach Sean Miller was asked when the last time was that he had a feeling about a team like he does now.
“First year at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥,†Miller said.
But at least in terms of the margin of defeat, you have to go back even further than Miller’s first season of 2009-10 to find a single weekend that was more miserable than the one the Wildcats just experienced, losing 80-67 at USC and 90-69 at UCLA.
Miller’s 2009-10 team lost 15 games but it never lost two straight by double digits and managed to finish fourth in the Pac-10 with a 10-8 record.
This ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ team is 5-3 so far in league play but just lost both games of a two-game Pac-10/12 weekend by more than 20 points for the first time ever, though the Wildcats were missing one of their most important pieces because of center Chase Jeter’s injured back.
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ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ had not lost by 20 points in any two straight conference games since 1982-83, when the Wildcats went 4-24 under Ben Lindsey. That team lost 84-59 to Cal in its home finale before losing 111-58 at UCLA five days later, which was also the last time UA lost two straight games by more than 44 points.
What’s more, the Wildcats had not lost two straight games by any double-digit margin since 2008-09, when Russ Pennell served as the Wildcats’ interim head coach in the wake of Lute Olson’s preseason retirement.
Overall in Miller’s nine-plus seasons at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, the Wildcats have lost consecutive games of any margin just 14 times, including three three-game skids (two in 2009-10 and last season in the Battle 4 Atlantis).
In Pac-10/12 play, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has lost consecutive games nine times, including one three-game skid in 2009-10. Six back-to-back losses have hit during two-game conference weekend trips.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Alex Barcello, left, and forward Ira Lee bother Bruins guard Prince Ali (23) in the first half Saturday. UA lost to USC and UCLA by a combined 44 points.
Here’s how the previous five double-loss weekends played out:
2015-16
25-9 overall, 12-6 Pac-12 (fourth), lost in first round of NCAA Tournament.
Los Angeles losses: at UCLA 87-84, at USC 103-101 (4OT)
What happened: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ came back from a 14-point deficit to tie UCLA, only to lose when Bryce Alford hit a 3-pointer over 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski, and then the Trojans outlasted the Wildcats when Allonzo Trier scored 25 points but broke his hand in the first of four overtimes.
He said it: “I think in many ways this trip will have great meaning toward our future if we can change and be a team that plays defense from start to finish.†– Miller
Rocky Mountain losses: at Colorado 75-72, at Utah 70-64
What happened: Colorado fans stormed the court after the Buffs’ three-point upset and one of them bumped Tarczewski, prompting Miller to complain that safety issues were falling on “deaf ears†at the Pac-12 – complaints that led to the conference instituting fines for court storms the following season. Two days later, Utah kept UA scoreless for the final 2:51.
He said it: “It bothers us a lot. We wanted to come in here and three-peat the Pac-12 but we just have to more forward, win these next two games and move to the Pac-12 Tournament.†– Guard Kadeem Allen
2012-13
27-8 overall, 12-6 Pac-12 (second), NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Los Angeles losses: at USC 89-78, at UCLA 74-69
What happened: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ allowed USC to shoot 61.1 percent despite having what Miller had called his best defensive team yet at UA, then UA started poorly at the beginning of both halves in its loss to UCLA, effectively removing the Wildcats from the Pac-12 title hunt.
He said it: “We’ve just got to pick it back up. We need some help. We don’t control our own destiny now. We have to hope somebody else loses. I hate that feeling. I know everyone on the team hates that feeling but we going to try to play harder and win these last two games.†— Forward Kevin Parrom
2010-11
30-8, 14-4 Pac-10 (first), NCAA Elite Eight
Los Angeles losses: at USC 65-57, at UCLA 71-49
What happened: Nikola Vucevic had 25 points for USC, while the Trojans held UA star Derrick Williams to eight points on 3-for-11 shooting, and then UA shot just 31.5 percent at UCLA in its worst loss of the season.
He said it: “I’m not Superman. I’m not Blake Griffin. I’m not going to go for 20 or 30 points every night. That’s all I can say.†– Derrick Williams
2009-10
16-15, 10-8 Pac-10 (fourth), no postseason
Washington losses: at Washington 81-75, at WSU 78-60
What happened: Quincy Pondexter had 30 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Huskies over ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ before the Wildcats allowed Klay Thompson and the Cougars to hit 51 percent from the field and snap WSU’s three-game losing streak.
He said it: “When you lose three games in a row, it’s kind of that defining moment for a team and (WSU) really answered the bell. They were the more aggressive team. They were a bigger team, a more excited team, and a stronger team. I thought we got outperformed, outcoached and outprepared.â€â€” Miller
