Turn Out the Lutes, the Party’s Over--Again : Midwest: Arizona takes another first-round knockout on the chin, this one from Miami of Ohio.

How would UCLA’s unfaithful have reacted to this?

When Arizona was ousted by Miami of Ohio in Thursday’s Midwest Regional in Dayton, 71-62, it was the third time in four years that the Wildcats had lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

In 1992, East Tennessee State shocked second-ranked Arizona, 87-80. In ‘93, it was the surfers from Santa Clara over the No. 5 Wildcats, 64-61.

Now this.

Bruin Coach Jim Harrick could hardly expect to survive, considering the reaction after last season’s first-round ouster by Tulsa.

But in the Sonora Desert, where questions about the Wildcats’ tournament play have been as prickly as Saguaro cactus, Coach Lute Olson has weathered the attacks.

He’s used to them. Arizona also lost in the first round in 1985, ’86 and ’87.

Olson did reach the Final Four in 1988 and last season, when the Wildcats lost to eventual champion Arkansas, 91-82, in the semifinals.

Still, Thursday’s loss stung Tucson as Wildcat fans were left to ponder another disappointing finish.

“It Was One and Done in Dayton,” the Arizona Daily Star’s headline said in today’s editions.

“Kind of knocks the wind out of you,” said Art Allis, Tucson hotel and bar owner.

Fifth-seeded Arizona began the tournament clouded by an NCAA investigation involving a sports agent. Its star player, Damon Stoudamire, was cleared to play after having missed the last regular-season game, but forward Ben Davis remained ineligible.

But some fans said that wasn’t the problem against the 12th-seeded Redskins (23-6).

“Maybe they need to bring in a motivational speaker before the NCAA tournament,” Allis suggested.

John Schuster, assistant editor of Cat Tracks, a weekly publication dedicated to Arizona sports, said Tucson was in a daze Thursday afternoon.

“This was a year when nothing went right,” he said of the 15th-ranked Wildcats (23-8).

Still, Mayor George Miller kept the optimism shared by sports fans universally.

“It’s like the Brooklyn (Dodgers’ fans),” he said. “Wait till next year.”

But what a wait. Arizona’s hated rival, Arizona State, advanced to the second round by defeating Ball State, 81-66.

Now Wildcat fans will have to put up with boasts from Tempe.

“We don’t like that!” Allis said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Going Down Hard, Again

A look at the years that Lute Olson-coached Arizona teams have lost their first NCAA tournament game:

Year Result 1985 Seeded 10th,lost to 7th-seeded Alabama, 50-41 1986 Seeded 9th,lost to 10th-seeded Auburn, 73-63 1987 Seeded 10th,lost to 7th-seeded Texas El Paso, 98-91 (OT) 1992 Seeded 3rd,lost to 14th-seeded East Tenn State, 87-80 1993 Seeded 2nd,lost to 15th-seeded Santa Clara, 64-61 1995 Seeded 5th,lost to 12th-seeded Miami of Ohio, 71-62