No Bennedict Mathurin to shoot you out of a hole. No Lauri Markkanen to swish one from the corner. No Derrick Williams to execute a drive-and-dunk. No Jerryd Bayless to beat his man off the dribble for a clutch layup.
It’s so un-ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, the team without a Glue Guy.
UCLA guard Sebastian Mack (12) drives down court in between ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Trey Townsend (4) and guard KJ Lewis during the first half, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Phoenix.
For decades the UA’s late-game answers always seemed to be yes, yes, yes, yes. Now, it has become no times five.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ scored only two points — off a pair of free throws with 1:22 left — in the final seven minutes Saturday against UCLA. Is that possible? The Wildcats didn’t make a basket in the final 8:46. When did that last happen, 1955?
The school that has always been blessed with an abundance of go-to shooters — Sean Elliott, Khalid Reeves, Chris Mills, Mike Bibby, Gilbert Arenas, Salim Stoudamire — has hit bottom. A term used maybe twice in the last 40 years — rebuilding year — is now in effect.
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In the final six minutes of Saturday’s 57-54 loss to UCLA, this is what happened:
Henri Veesaar missed a 3-pointer.
Jaden Bradley missed an in-traffic jumper.
Bradley missed a contested layup.
Veesaar missed a 3-pointer.
Caleb Love clanked a 3-pointer.
Bradley missed again.
K.J. Lewis shoots an airball at the buzzer.
This UCLA team doesn’t have a Don MacLean or a Jaime Jaquez. It’s a solid, gritty team that plays slow and slower that has a chance to finish in the Top 25 and maybe win an NCAA game or two.
But on Saturday, the Bruins looked like the Steel Curtain against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s late-game offense.
UCLA outscored ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 21-5 in the final 10 minutes. It is especially debilitating because Love, last year’s Pac-12 Player of the Year, continued a super-struggle that no one could’ve seen coming.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is now 7-8 dating to the end of last season and in those eight losses, Love has shot 32 of 114. That’s 28%. He was 3 for 10 on Saturday and again looked out of sync, or whatever you call it. Is there someone on the bench who can step in for Love?
No. Tommy Lloyd has 14 subs sitting in bright red warmups next to him on the bench and not one of those 14 players can do what Love was expected to do, which is be the Turn-The-Season-Around-Guy.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin has always been tough on Lloyd, whose UA teams have averaged 84 points per game in 3½ seasons. But against Cronin, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has had games of 52, 54, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 64. It’s basketball’s version of Kryptonite.
Now comes a sobering reality the UA rarely faced in the old Pac-12. The Wildcats must play road games against No. 3 Iowa State, No. 10 Kansas, No. 21 Cincinnati and Top-25 level Big 12 teams BYU, Baylor, West Virginia and Texas Tech.
Wait til next year, right?
Photos: UCLA wins 57-54 against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ at the Footprint Center, men's college basketball
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard KJ Lewis (5) buries his head into his jersey after the Wildcats 57-54 loss against UCLA at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA fans cheer out after the Bruins beat the Wildcats 57-54 at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
Wildcat fans watch the last minute of the game against UCLA at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Tommy Lloyd yells at his team during the final timeout of the game against UCLA, Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) and guard Kobe Johnson (0) put high pressure on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Henri Veesaar (13) during the game at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Jaden Bradley (0) jumps for the lay up against UCLA during the second half of the game at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Caleb Love (1) dribbles through a line of UCLA defenders during the second half of the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
Two UCLA defenders try to steal the ball from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats guard KJ Lewis (5) during the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Trey Townsend (4) charges toward the net agains tBruins guard Eric Dailey Jr. (3) during the game against UCLA at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Â Dec. 14, 2024., Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) charges the net against Wildcats forward Henri Veesaar (13) during the first half of the game at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin watches the final minutes of the match against the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
The Wildcats bench celebrates after ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ takes the lead in the second half of the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats guard Anthony Dell'Orso (3) falls to the ground after catching a stray pass from UCLA, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Jaden Bradley (0) finds forward Trey Townsend (4) for the pass during the game against UCLA at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Trey Townsend (4) knocks the ball loose from UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) during the second half of the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) looks for a pass as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats forward Henri Veesaar (13) puts him under pressure during the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) shoot the ball over ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats forward Henri Veesaar (13) during the second half of the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA Bruins guard Dylan Andrews (2) holds onto ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Jaden Bradley (0) while looking for a pass, Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats guard KJ Lewis (5) knocks the ball loose from UCLA Bruins guard Dominick Harris (8) during the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats forward Henri Veesaar (13) jumps to secure possession of the ball against UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) during the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Trey Townsend (4) falls to the ground while dribbling the ball against UCLA guard Skyy Clark (55) during the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard KJ Lewis (5) jumps for 2-points during the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA Bruins guard Kobe Johnson (0) knocks the ball loose from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) during the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA Bruins guard Dylan Andrews (2) loses control of the ball after ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) and guard Anthony Dell'Orso (3) put him under high pressure during the first half of the game at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Tommy Lloyd during the game against UCLA at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats forward Trey Townsend (4) gets the shot off against three UCLA defenders during the first half of the game at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Trey Townsend (4) stays tight on UCLA guard Dylan Andrews (2) at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard KJ Lewis (5) jumps for the layup over UCLA guard Sebastian Mack (12) during the game at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) drives the ball to the net against Bruins guard Eric Dailey Jr. (3) during the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Caleb Love celebrates after the Wildcats catch up to the UCLA Bruins during their game at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2024. Love would finish with seven points on 3-of-10 shooting.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Trey Townsend (4) gets blocked by Bruins guard Eric Dailey Jr. (3) during the game against UCLA at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats forward Tobe Awaka (30) wins the jump ball to start the game against UCLA at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024. The Bruins lead the Wildcats 30-28 at halftime.
UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) gets the shot off against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats forward Trey Townsend (4) during the second half of game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Jaden Bradley (0) and guard Anthony Dell'Orso (3) keep Bruins guard Dylan Andrews (2) contained during a drive to the net, Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
The Wildcats lineup gathers during a timeout during the second half of the game at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Caleb Love takes practice shots before the game against the UCLA Bruins at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Trey Townsend (4) dunks the ball before the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Caleb Love (1) takes shots before the match against UCLA at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
Wildcats center Emmanuel Stephen (34) dunks the ball before the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ center Motiejus Krivas sits on the sideline wearing a boot on his left foot before the start of the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Dec. 14, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Caleb Love (1) waits for his name to be called in the Wildcats starting lineup before the match against UCLA at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
Contact sports columnist Greg Hansen at GHansenAZStar@gmail.com. On X(Twitter): @ghansen711
Greg Hansen
Columnist
