It wasn’t that long ago when coaches would blow up Adia Barnes’ phone, wondering if they could set up a date with the Arizona Wildcats.
For many programs, especially mid-majors, such a game represented a chance to knock off a Pac-12 team on its homecourt. To capture a statement win, if you will.
Loyola Marymount, Long Beach State, Hawaii, San Diego State and North Texas all escaped McKale Center with wins in Barnes’ first three seasons at the helm, with three of those UA losses coming back in 2017-18 when the Wildcats went 6-24.