I hate losing as much as anyone.  The Florida loss would not hurt as much if it was not right after the Ole Miss game.  However, it is only the first time since Cal has been here that we have lost 2 in a row.  How quickly we forget how lucky we have been over the last season and a half.  In addition, I can think of 5 games last year where the result could have quickly gone the other way.   It did not, but you have to admit that last year, the last second shot went our way and this year (so far) it has not.

The list of the 5 games that could have gone against us in the last 10 seconds from last year are after the jump - Can you recall them before you cross the jump?

The games last year that could have gone against us:

#1 - John Wall's first game versus Miami of Ohio.  He drives the length of the court to hit a shot and win it regulation

#2 - Versus Stanford in Cancun.  John Wall hits a shot with 30 seconds left and then 2 free throws with under 5 seconds to send it to overtime

#3 - John Wall blocks a shot with under 10 seconds (I think) to seal the win at Vanderbilt

#4 - We need OT to dismiss Miss State @ Starkville

#5 - We need OT to dismiss Miss State @ SECT: We tie it in regulation after an intentionally missed free throw, getting the rebound, and hitting the shot.

So what's my point?  You can certainly argue that last year's team was better than this year's team, but I do not believe it is that easy.  Although I am a big believer that you create your own luck through hard work, you have to say that last year, the last second bounces went our way and this year they have not (sort of like the takeaway ratio in football).   Also, only 2 of the above took place on away courts.  So far this year, our team has only been asked to make heroic shots on away courts.  Again, this team has put itself in that position, but it is hard to say what last year's team would have done if all the above at been at away venues.

Ultimately, my point is that I hate losing, but I have to admit after last year's heroics, I have become spoiled - expecting us to win every close game.  I realize we have not won one this year - but last year we won them all.  Perhaps it is a reversion to the mean......