Watch: 9 best things Sean Miller and Parker Jackson-Cartwright said in Arizona Wildcats' press conference

Offensive juggernaut, weak defense

By Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star

After winning seven consecutive games, the Arizona Wildcats fell just short on the road against Washington and lost off a buzzer-beater after Deandre Ayton blocked a shot, which put the ball right in the hands of Dominic Green. 

Game over.

The Cats return home this week to battle UCLA on Thursday at 8 p.m. and USC at 8:15 p.m., both games will be on ESPN. 

With the second to last set of home games, where do the Wildcats stand despite having a 19-5 record? The narrative has been repetitive all year: Arizona is one of the best offensive teams in the country, but defense... that's a whole different conversation. 

Per Ken Pom, Arizona is ranked No. 106 in adjusted defensive efficiency in college basketball. Teams like Jacksonville State, Illinois Chicago, Northern Kentucky and Wagner are ranked higher than the Wildcats in defense. 

Now in February, the Wildcats haven't improved much in the defensive category, which could be a concern moving forward, but college basketball has been so up-and-down with Top 10 teams losing on a weekly basis that Arizona's struggles are considered less severe, because of parity. 

Head coach Sean Miller and point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright held a press conference Monday, here's what they had to say. 

"The ball didn't bounce our way"

Parker Jackson-Cartwright on his takeaways from the loss against Washington: “The ball didn’t bounce our way.” pic.twitter.com/NA7Nvj8MuA

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 5, 2018

Miller's response to if the loss to UW was a fluke:

Sean Miller on Arizona’s road loss at Washington: “If you’re soft, this isn’t the place to take the court.” pic.twitter.com/Zc5Q7i2wjo

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 5, 2018

Dominic Green's buzzer beater to beat UA

Sean Miller on Deandre Ayton’s block that led to a UW buzzer beater: “There’s nothing you can do.” pic.twitter.com/X88kBN7gwo

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 5, 2018

Great offensively, horrible defensively

Sean Miller says Arizona might be the best offensive team, but it’s also the worst defensive team he’s coached: pic.twitter.com/OnyhsEHWiC

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 5, 2018

The gap

Sean Miller on the gap between Arizona’s offense and defense: pic.twitter.com/HkUJweZ5o8

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 5, 2018

Flopping against Deandre Ayton

Sean Miller on opponents flopping when guarding Deandre Ayton and the refs falling for it: pic.twitter.com/iAI5pZjXmV

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 5, 2018

Is the Pac-12 better when UCLA and Arizona are at the top?

Sean Miller on the state of the Pac-12: pic.twitter.com/5u6AbPN1L9

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 5, 2018

Roller coaster that is college basketball

PJC on the parity in college basketball: pic.twitter.com/uAJ4Fe3LNW

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 5, 2018

PJC and UCLA's Thomas Welsh keep tabs on each other

PJC on his former high school teammate and UCLA center Thomas Welsh: pic.twitter.com/cbDqPmir9y

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 5, 2018