| | TUCSON -- In a way, the magic number for Arizona is three --
at least, that's the number to be avoided.
While still having a chance for a Pac-10 title and a No. 1 seed
in the NCAA Tournament, Arizona (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, No. 9 AP) is trying to avoid a third
straight loss that would be the first in eight years.
|  | | Arizona beat Stanford earlier this season by keeping the Cardinal under wraps inside. |
The Wildcats (24-6, 13-3) thought their Pac-10 title hopes were
crushed after losing to Oregon State, but despite another loss to
Oregon, Arizona received a reprieve when formerly top-ranked
Stanford fell to UCLA.
That makes Thursday's game at home against the Cardinal (No. 3 ESPN/USA Today, No. 2 AP) for all the marbles.
"It is a big week," Arizona coach Lute Olson said. "The good
news is despite last weekend, we still have a chance to get a share
of the title.
"It's nice to have that opportunity on your home court instead
of going somewhere else to play. Certainly we have our work cut out
for us, but I think we are capable of getting it done."
The Cardinal has a huge size advantage over Arizona, especially with Loren Woods still on the shelf due to a compressed back injury. He'll likely be out until at least the start
of the NCAA tournament.
"We still don't know if he will be available," Olson said.
"We are still waiting for some results to come back on another
test. It is not going to be anything we know until the doctors
know. I'm not sure that is going to be in the next couple of days
or Thursday or Friday."
The last time Arizona lost three straight was during the 1991-92
season when the Wildcats lost to USC and UCLA to end the regular
season, and then fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament to
East Tennessee State.
Arizona has not lost three consecutive regular season games
since Olson's first year in the program during the 1983-84
campaign.
"This game is huge," Arizona's Luke Walton said. "Losing
three straight ... I don't think I've ever done that. I talked to
(teammate) Richard (Jefferson), Rich doesn't remember doing that. I
don't remember the last time Arizona lost three straight. This is
not about what happened last week, it is about us and Stanford
playing for the Pac-10 title."
The Wildcats had chances to pull off victories in both games,
leading by six in overtime to Oregon State before losing 70-69 on a
3-pointer at the buzzer. Against Oregon, Arizona blew a 17-point
lead with 12:20 remaining in the second half for an 86-81 defeat.
Olson complained after both games that his team didn't have the
necessary killer mentality.
The Wildcats realize the margin for error will be smaller
against the Cardinal. Stanford had been destroying its competition
until being upset 94-93 by UCLA on Saturday.
"Any time you lose I think you also lose some confidence, but
we are in a situation where you can't be worried about what has
happened," Arizona's Jason Gardner said. "We have to be prepared
for Thursday and Saturday against Cal if we want to win the Pac-10
title."
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