Jordan HammThe Arizona men’s basketball team came out swinging.
In a marquee matchup between #4 Arizona and #5 UCLA, the nation got to see the some of the Pac-12’s best go head-to-head.
Allonzo Trier had a career-high 28 points, but that wasn’t enough as the Bruins escaped McKale with a 77-72 win.
“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. We didn’t win,” Trier said when asked if this was his best performance with the Wildcats.
The difference in the game was the offensive rebounds, where UCLA had 14 and turned that into 20 points. The Wildcats mustered up four. Five of the Bruins also had double figures.
Terrific win for @UCLAMBB. Most talented offensive team in America, and its defense is on the rise.
— Dave Pasch (@DavePasch) February 26, 2017
So.
The loss happened. Arizona and UCLA split their season series, so where do the Wildcats go from here?
This week will be a time to rejuvenate and refocus.
“We’re thinking bigger picture,” Arizona guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright said. “We just have to move forward. Our season isn’t over. We know we’re a great team and we are going to take the next couple days to reflect and just get better. We have a lot of season left. It’s all about moving forward and getting better.”
The Wildcats only losses in conference play have come from Oregon on the road and UCLA at McKale. The Wildcats delivered a big hit to the Bruins earlier in the conference schedule, and head coach Sean Miller is hoping the loss can provide growth for the ‘Cats.
“I know the team that we lost to, and they’re a great team,” Miller said. “Just like when we went to Pauley Pavillion and we beat them there. I’m sure that was a tough moment for them. They found a way to respond, and I’m sure in some ways they are better because it happened. We have to do the same thing.”
In two weeks we could find ourselves in Las Vegas playing this very same team and hopefully we’ll be more ready.
What’s Next?
The Wildcats have a week to get ready for their regular season finale at Arizona State with a chance to win the Pac-12 regular season. They are tied with Oregon, who will also play on Saturday when they face off against Oregon State.
