Austin Hill becomes the fourth significant Arizona player to be potentially lost for the season because of injury following Rob Gronkowski, Jake Fischer and Adam Hall

Season-ending injuries to significant players debilitated the Arizona football program since its fortunes appeared to be golden after the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl win over BYU.

The Wildcats have been forced to endure season-ending injuries to starting tight end Rob Gronkowski (back), linebacker Jake Fischer (knee) and safety Adam Hall (knee and ankle) in the last four years. The UA’s top returning receiver, Austin Hill, a bonafide pro prospect, suffered a torn ACL last week in practice, requiring surgery and endangering his chance to play in the 2013 season.

Knee injuries have riddled the UA football program to the point that former defensive lineman Willie Mobley (who has transferred to New Mexico State) tore his ACL playing a pickup basketball game in 2011.

Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez was quoted as saying by Anthony Gimino of TucsonCitizen.com that he is “sick” about Hill’s injury.

“It just makes me sick, because he was such a great player. But he still will be,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t know when his time frame is to return, but he’ll be back bigger and stronger with the way technology is today and all that.

“I really felt bad for him. I know Austin is a tough, strong guy, and he’ll bounce back.”

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Solomon Hill had 16 points against Ohio State in his last collegiate game (TBS screen shot)

Arizona’s 73-70 loss to Ohio State in the Sweet 16 Thursday night was the Wildcats’ season in microcosm.

The UA started strong then encountered a difficult stretch but never doubted its chances. The Wildcats scratched back to respectability but came up short. They did not lose because of a lack of effort but because of a defensive breakdown that left LaQuinton Ross open just long enough to drain a three-pointer to put the Buckeyes ahead with 2.1 seconds left.

Arizona started the season 14-0, struggled through must of the Pac-12 season, but never fell apart. They were a basket away from extending their game against UCLA in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals and against the Buckeyes at the Staples Center. Defense was one of Sean Miller’s concerns for most of the season. One defensive lapse in which freshman Grant Jerrett drifted to a double-team of Aaron Craft allowed Ross a chance to square up for the game-winning three-pointer.

“The last shot of the game, we switched probably 400 handoffs and ball screens in the game,” Miller said. “We didn’t switch the last one. That’s the other part. Players make big plays. Teams make big plays. The pressure of the moment, the Sweet Sixteen, going to the Elite Eight, two guys go on one.

“Whether he made the shot or not, I think we all live with it when it’s challenged and we do what we’re supposed to do. But part of the reason he had such a great look at the end there was two guys went with the ball, when, in reality, we’ve switched every single handoff and ball screen from the opening tip to that one right there.”

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Arizona’s Nick Johnson (13) and Mark Lyons celebrate in the second half against Colorado (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS — An Arizona player who struggled the most with his confidence in the second half of the season — sophomore guard Nick Johnson — said that getting a rematch with UCLA in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament is a “great blessing”.

Most players would not use that expression when talking about playing an opponent that has swept the season series. That indicates the transition Johnson and Arizona have made in the last couple of weeks since UCLA defeated the Wildcats 74-69 on March 2 at Pauley Pavilion. That loss was not only the second of the season to UCLA, but it added to the UA’s stretch of four losses in seven games.

Instead of continuing to have sand kicked in their faces, the Wildcats have become muscle-bound with their attitude in convincing victories over ASU and Colorado. For the rejuvenated Wildcats, playing UCLA at the MGM Grand Garden Arena tomorrow night at 6 will be like the prize fights at this venue.

“It’s a great blessing being able to play UCLA,” said Johnson, who led the Wildcats with 18 points in Arizona’s 79-69 win in front of a partisan Arizona crowd at the Garden Arena.

“We know they got us two times in the season, so we are definitely looking forward to it. I think this time we will play better defense against them. That got away from us in the middle of the season.”

Johnson’s performances against ASU and Colorado in the last week are reminiscent of his play early in the non-conference portion of the schedule when the Wildcats started 12-0. He scored 35 points, making 12 of 18 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 6 from three-point range, in the UA’s recent wins over ASU and Colorado. His scoring output in the last two games matches that of his previous five.

Arizona coach Sean Miller talked more about Johnson’s defense after the game Thursday, which is appropriate because, to a man, the UA players said in the locker room that the Wildcats’ recent practices have focused on defense.

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