UCLA has limped into January for the second straight year, opening its Pac-12 schedule with back-to-back losses at Washington and Washington State.

Perhaps most troubling, according to Steve Alford, was the team’s lack of energy in an 85-78 loss at WSU — a team picked to finish last in the conference.

“We can deal with the other things,” said the third-year coach. “If we’ve got mistakes offensively, if we’ve got mistakes defensively — that’s all part of the game you’ve got to work to fix. But that passion, that’s got to be there all the time. …

“We did not grow in the last two games. That’s what I’m most frustrated with.”

The Bruins return to Pauley Pavilion on Thursday at 6 p.m. against No. 7 Arizona. The Wildcats have won three of their last four meetings.