SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Gonzaga coach Mark Few can identify exactly when the basketball season changed for a team that fell out of the Top 25 on Monday after being ranked as high as No. 4 earlier in the season.

It's when Connecticut's A.J. Price hit a desperation 3-pointer against the Zags that sent their Dec. 20 game into overtime. The Zags went on to lose that game, and have since fallen to unheralded Portland State and Utah to drop from the AP poll for the first time this season.

"If A.J.'s prayer three doesn't go it, I think it changes our whole reality," Few said. "Mentally that has had a huge impact on this club."

The loss rocked the Zags' confidence, opening the door for Portland State and Utah, which played well in their victories, Few said.

"What we should have taken out of that (Connecticut) game is we can play with any team in the country," Few said. "But they are 18- to 22-year-olds and it really knocked us back confidence-wise and made us lose our swagger a little bit."

The Zags (8-4) will try to reclaim some swagger Wednesday when they play at No. 15 Tennessee (9-3). They beat the Volunteers earlier this season to claim the Old Spice tournament title in Orlando.

Few expects the Volunteers to play even tougher in Knoxville.

"They'll be at home and fired up," he said.

And his own team won't be undefeated, as they were in the first game, when they played solid defense, Few said.

"That has slipped in the last couple of games," Few said.

The Zags are having more trouble scoring, especially at crunch time in their three consecutive losses. They could have won all three if the ball had dropped.

"Life becomes a lot easier if guys make shots," Few said.

Few also pointed to the Zags' typically tough schedule, which has seen them play Oklahoma State, Maryland, Tennessee, Indiana, Washington State, Arizona, Texas Southern, Connecticut, Portland State and Utah. While most major conference teams play a non-conference schedule loaded with creampuffs, the Zags take the opposite approach because their West Coast Conference is lightly regarded.

"We've played the toughest non-conference schedule in the country," Few said, especially considering that only the Texas Southern and Portland State games were at home.

Gonzaga opens WCC play at home against Portland on Saturday. The Pilots have already beaten Washington this season, and are one of several teams that threaten the Zags' lock on the league. Saint Mary's and San Diego will also contend.

One of the main deficiencies for the Zags this season has been a thin game on the front line, where Josh Heytvelt and Austin Daye have to carry the load alone because of a foot injury to backup Robert Sacre.

The team is waiting for the crack to heal, but Sacre may not be able to play again this season, Few said.