Desert Swarmed

Arizona completed a season sweep of UCLA and USC on Saturday for only the fourth time. A look at the margins of victory and where the Wildcats, Bruins and Trojans ended up during those seasons:

Season: 2002-03

At UCLA: 87-52

At USC: 81-72

Vs. UCLA: 106-70

Vs. USC: 86-59

Total margin: 107

Outcome: Arizona (20-2) is ranked No. 1 in the nation and holds a one-game lead over California in the Pacific 10 Conference race. UCLA (5-16) is on 10-game conference losing streak and in ninth place in the Pac-10. USC (10-11) is fifth and has lost five of its last seven conference games.

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Season: 1992-93

at UCLA: 82-80

at USC: 81-73

vs. UCLA: 99-80

vs. USC: 87-76

Total margin: 40

Outcome: Arizona (24-4) won the Pac-10 behind conference player of the year Chris Mills (20.4 ppg) and sophomore guard Damon Stoudamire. The Wildcats lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to 15th-seeded Santa Clara, 64-61. UCLA (22-11), led by Mitchell Butler and Shon Tarver, finished tied for third in the conference and reached the second round of the tournament, losing to Michigan in overtime, 86-84. USC (18-12), led by Phil Glenn and Rodney Chatman, finished tied for fifth in the conference and reached the quarterfinals of the NIT, losing to Minnesota, 76-58.

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Season: 1988-89

at UCLA: 89-86

at USC: 97-69

vs. UCLA: 102-64

vs. USC: 93-70

Total margin: 92

Outcome: Arizona (29-4) won the Pac-10 led by two-time All-American Sean Elliott and center Anthony Cook. The Wildcats lost in the Sweet 16 to Nevada Las Vegas, 68-67. UCLA (21-10) returned to the tournament in Jim Harrick’s first season but lost to North Carolina, 88-81, in the second round after finishing third in the Pac-10 behind the play of Trevor Wilson, Pooh Richardson and freshman Don MacLean. USC (10-22) finished last in the Pac-10 with a 2-16 record.

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Season: 1987-88

at UCLA: 78-76

at USC: 103-68

vs. UCLA: 86-74

vs. USC: 92-48

Total margin: 89

Outcome: After winning the Pac-10, Arizona (35-3) reached the Final Four for the first of four times in Coach Lute Olson’s career, led by Elliott, Cook, Steve Kerr and Tom Tolbert. Arizona lost to Stacy King-led Oklahoma, 86-78, in a national semifinal. UCLA (16-14) didn’t do enough to help Walt Hazzard keep his job despite finishing tied for second in the Pac-10. A 73-71 loss to Washington State in the first round of the Pac-10 tournament did in the Bruins. USC (7-21) finished seventh in the Pac-10.

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-- Jim Barrero