Arizona basketball looks to bounce back against ASU after brutal L.A. trip

Sean Miller’s team was 4-0 in Pac-12 play two weeks ago and on a six-game winning streak, so it’s hard to believe the spot they are in now.

Arizona basketball under Miller rarely gets blown out, let alone twice in the same season. But their weekend in California resulted in two of them back-to-back, an 80-57 defeat at the hands of USC on Thursday and a loss to UCLA by 21 on Saturday.

It’s the first time in conference play the Wildcats have lost two games of a weekend set by 20 or more points.

“If you get blown out it’s a lot more difficult than if you lose a tough game,” Miller said after Saturday’s loss. “If you get blown out in both games then it’s more difficult to handle that than if you got blown out in one.

“No doubt about it. Takes its toll. No one likes to lose. But losing big by the score that we lost both games — it’s more difficult to handle.”

Miller has only lost three games in a row on three different occasions since taking over the program in 2009.

The response to the two-game skid was always going to be important regardless of the opponent, but Thursday’s matchup and only game of the week is in Tempe against Arizona State.

Miller’s teams create an identity through defense but the coach perhaps doesn’t get enough credit for the offensive side of the ball, where he’s had a top-20 group in offensive efficiency each of the last six seasons, per Kenpom.

The overall efficiency of his group, however, and lack of top-tier talent has led to an expected nosedive for the offense.

The Wildcats rank an abysmal 139th in offensive efficiency this season.

In Miller’s nine Arizona seasons, he’s been able to recruit big-time talents but also groom others into terrific players. Looking back, Miller-coached teams in Tucson have produced 16 players who made the first or second team All-Pac 12.

This team both lacks the five-star recruits that received those accolades, or juniors and seniors that Miller has helped mold.

For every time there isn’t a Deandre Ayton on the roster, there’s also not a seasoned Nick Johnson or Kyle Fogg.

Of Arizona’s five leading scorers, sophomore Brandon Randolph is the only one who played for Miller last season but that was in a limited role of only 11.6 minutes per game.

To no surprise, Randolph going from seventh man to leading scorer has led to some inconsistency.

In the Wildcats’ three conference losses, Randolph is shooting 10-of-36 from the field. Randolph, in fact, has shot 50 percent or better in just two of his last 10 games.

The interior presence of junior Chase Jeter has helped but his status is up in the air for Thursday. The team’s leading rebounder and only true big man at the center spot didn’t play in either game this past weekend. Miller said on Tuesday that Jeter did not practice on Monday and while Miller noted Jeter has progressed, he provided no timeline for his return.

The Sun Devils have proven to be mistake-prone with basic defensive coverages, though Arizona having Jeter as an option inside would help force those more often.

In a surprising twist, ASU has the advantage with superior athleticism and length on the perimeter, a staple of Arizona’s roster this decade.

Look for Bobby Hurley to throw the likes of Luguentz Dort, Rob Edwards and Remy Martin at Randolph to keep him under pressure.

On the other end, Miller’s defense isn’t elite enough to bail out the offense, either. Kenpom ranks the Wildcats at No. 43 in defensive efficiency. A strong number, no doubt, but nothing to help supplant one of the worst offenses in the conference.

If Arizona can stick to the principles of the defensive system and give the Sun Devils trouble in shot creation (where ASU has had issues all year) then they could make the game ugly — an edge for Arizona.

You can listen live to the matchup on Thursday at 7 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station and ESPN 620 AM.

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