Arizona State and UCLA will meet in Los Angeles on Saturday to cap a regular season full of frustration for both.
The Sun Devils (14-16, 8-11 Pac-12) enter the game at Pauley Pavilion with four losses in their last five games.
The Bruins (14-16, 9-10) are on a five-game skid after Thursday’s 88-65 loss at home against Arizona, which then celebrated a conference regular-season title on UCLA’s home court.
Bruins coach Mick Cronin was critical of his players, especially his freshmen, after the loss.
“You just have to evaluate who you can build with and who gets better,” Cronin said. “I mean, a lot of our freshmen have not played the way and developed the way I would’ve hoped. When you get outclassed, it’s obvious.”
Two freshmen who play a considerable amount — guards Sebastian Mack and Brandon Williams — were non-factors against Arizona.
Williams started and played 25 minutes but did not score while taking two shots from the floor.
Mack came off the bench to score seven points on 2-of-6 shooting from the floor in 27 minutes.
Jan Vide, one of four freshmen from Europe, had eight points in 14 minutes in a reserve role.
Two others — Aday Mara and Berke Buyuktuncel — did not score, and the fourth, Ilane Fibleuil, did not get off the bench.
Arizona State is coming off an 81-73 loss at Southern California on Thursday.
The Sun Devils went 3-of-16 on 3-pointers, continuing a season-long problem. They are shooting 30.5 percent from long range.
Southern California made 12 of 24 from 3-point range.
“They were hitting all their 3’s,” said Arizona State forward Jose Perez, who had 25 points. “It was three for two basically. We made more field goals but unfortunately they had more threes, particularly down the stretch. Sometimes that happens.”
Arizona State was 24-of-48 from the floor while the Trojans were 22-of-48.
The Sun Devils were outrebounded 32-22 but outscored USC 32-14 in the paint.
–Field Level Media