Arizonaβs 12-game home-court win streak is over, sandwiched for posterity by UCLA victories at McKale Center, but that may be a relatively minor concern for the Wildcats at this point.
After Arizona gave up 51.6 percent shooting in an 82-74 loss to UCLA on Thursday, its first at home since UA lost to UCLA on Senior Day at McKale last season, it may be more about where this could go.
The Wildcatsβ defense has given up more than 44 percent shooting in four of the last five games, having led to a second straight loss after Washington hit 8 of 14 3-pointers in a 78-75 win Saturday.
Now the Wildcats have to host USC on Saturday, then travel to play at Arizona State before an always uneasy trip to the state of Oregon.
And if the trend continues, what does that say about Arizonaβs chances to win the Pac-12, or make a deep NCAA Tournament run?
βI think we need to answer the bell right now,β UA center Dusan Ristic said. βIf we donβt do it, itβs gonna get ugly. Itβs up to us to change something. We have to bounce back as soon as possible.β
But, how?
On Thursday, UA coach Sean Miller sprinkled in a press and a 2-3 zone, but never could much change a defense that flattened especially toward the end of first half, when UCLAβs Jaylen Hands hit three 3-pointers in the final 54 seconds before halftime to give the Bruins a 44-34 halftime lead.
βThat cushion at the break β we struggled, we didnβt have our confidence from that point on,β Miller said. βWe were really playing catch up. UCLAβs offense was too good for our defense.β
Included in UCLAβs 51.6 percent shooting was an 11-for-24 effort from 3-point territory, and the Wildcats were unable to make up more than a one-point difference at the free-throw line, making 8 of 10.
Aaron Holiday led UCLA with 17 points on 7-for-15 shooting, plus eight assists to two turnovers, making him Exhibit A in what UAβs defense was unable to handle.
βHe pretty much had his way,β Miller said. βHe took what he wanted and anything our defense did, he made the right, correct decision and really spearheaded their efforts.β
But it wasnβt just Holiday, or Hands, or any one or two Bruins. It was the fact that reserve big man G.G. Goloman came off the bench in a spot start β and dropped a career-high 16 points on Arizona by hitting 6 of 8 shots. And it was the 12 points and 11 rebounds that Bruins center Thomas Welsh racked up, including an uncontested 3-pointer right in front of the UA bench.
It was such a destruction that, even though the Wildcats still sat in a tie for first place as of the end of the game, Miller found that hard to believe.
βIt doesnβt feel that way because weβre really going down a different path with our effort and our defense,β Miller said. βYou can sense that tonight. That was probably the easier victory (by an opponent) in McKale going back seven or eight years.β
The Wildcats did lose by the same margin to Oregon (83-75), and to Cal (77-69) in 2012-13 but the odd UA losses at McKale under Miller have been typically by much slimmer margins.
UCLA took a 15-point lead midway through the second half when Welsh scored inside over Allonzo Trier. Three-pointers from Trier and Parker Jackson-Cartwright later cut the Bruinsβ lead to 69-60 but a 3-pointer in the corner from Goloman made it 72-60.
By the time Kris Wilkes hit a 3-pointer to give the Bruins a 79-67 lead with 2:54 left, the McKale Center crowd quieted and fans began to leave shortly afterward.
Trailing by 10 at halftime, UA quickly trimmed six points off the deficit by hitting 5 of 6 shots to start the half while holding UCLA to 2-of-10 shooting through the first four minutes.
But the Wildcats gave it all back just as quickly, with open 3-pointers hit by Goloman and Wilkes to give UCLA a 54-44 lead. And, when Wilkes marched inside for an easy layup, the Bruins took a 56-44 lead and prompted Miller to call a timeout.
In the first half, the Bruins made 6 of 12 3-pointers and shot 56.3 percent from the field.
Until the Bruins finished the half on a 9-1 run, it was a one-possession game for much of the half.
But the Wildcats set themselves up for trouble again by stumbling to another rough start. They trailed 8-3 at the first media timeout while making just 1 of 6 shots and turning the ball over twice while allowing UCLA to make 4 of 8 shots.
When it was all over, Miller said he wasnβt blaming his players as much as trying to give an honest answer to the questions he was asked.
Most of the questions Thursday asked what is wrong with his defense.
βIβm asked questions and unless you want me to lie Iβm giving the truth β and that is weβre a much better offensive team than defensive team,β Miller said. βThatβs the truth. And I think the gap has never been bigger. Itβs up to us to continue to work. We worked very hard to address it, but some of it is personnel. Youβve got to be able to guard the ball and be able to move and think and play together.
βWeβve never been a great defensive team. But as the year grows and playing a team as gifted as UCLA offense β¦ they can really expose us, and they did.β
