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-Arizona, the team without a Glue Guy.
UCLA guard Sebastian Mack (12) drives down court in between Arizona 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.
Arizona 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.
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 Arizona’s late-game offense.
UCLA outscored Arizona 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.
Arizona 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, Arizona 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 Arizona at the Footprint Center, men's college basketball
Arizona 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.
Arizona 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 Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) during the game at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
Arizona 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.
Arizona 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.
Arizona forward Trey Townsend (4) charges toward the net against UCLA, Dec. 14, 2024.
UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin watches the final minutes of the match against the Arizona Wildcats at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
The Wildcats bench celebrates after Arizona takes the lead in the second half of the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
Arizona Wildcats guard Anthony Dell'Orso (3) falls to the ground after catching a stray pass from UCLA, Dec. 14, 2024.
Two UCLA defenders try to steal the ball from Arizona Wildcats guard KJ Lewis (5) during the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona Wildcats forward Henri Veesaar (13) during the second half of the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
Arizona 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.
Arizona 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.
Arizona 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.
Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona 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.
Arizona forward Trey Townsend (4) stays tight on UCLA guard Dylan Andrews (2) at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.
Arizona 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.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (1) celebrates after the Wildcats catch up to the Bruins during the match at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024. The Bruins lead the Wildcats 30-28 at halftime.
Arizona 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.
Arizona forward Trey Townsend (4) dunks the ball before the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2024.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (1) takes practice shots before the game against the UCLA Bruins 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.
Arizona Wildcats 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.
