Arizona Wildcats In The Sweet 16? Who Woulda Thunk It?

When the Arizona Wildcats fans found their team in the NCAA tournament, many were geared up for another first-round loss. That had happened to many AZ teams who had far more talent on board than the 2008-09 version. One can never guess what may or may not happen.

Listed as a 12th seed, AZ drew the Utah Utes, and the Utes had been very successful in winning both their regular season and conference tournament. AZ had been in the middle of the Pac-10 and bowed out of the conference tournament by losing to Arizona State University in the first round.

Utah had a seven-foot center by the name of Nevill, the biggest player faced by Arizona's Jordan Hill. Most felt that No. 43 was far superior athletically and could out-hustle Nevill. The one area where AZ had done poorly was defending the three-point shot, and Utah had been quite successful at shooting the three.

As it turned out, Arizona handled the Utes with absolutely no problem. Nevill was neutralized by foul problems three minutes into the game. He spent much of his day on the bench. Nic Wise was a whirling, racing, dime-dishing madman on the court. Among other things, Wise scored 29 points. 

Chase Budinger had one of his best games as a Wildcat, maybe his most complete. Of the Arizona Big Three, Jordan Hill was the quietest. To the surprise of Wildcat fans everywhere, Jamelle Horne played a stellar game. He was amazing on defense. 

Horne is long and quick, and like Budinger, he has some hops. Arizona's trapping defense wore the Utes down completely and forced way, way too many turnovers.

After dispatching Utah, most felt AZ would face Wake Forest. Cleveland State had other plans for the Demon Deacons. The 13-seed Cleveland State dispatched Wake and got ready to face Arizona. The Wildcats came prepared to take care of business, and that is just what they did. 

In the two tournament games played, Arizona has been behind a total of 30 seconds.  They have faced two pretty-good three-point teams, and have done a better job of defending the long-range bomb than they've done all season. By the time the second round had ended, it was clear that Arizona belonged in the tournament.

Arizona will face Louisville, the top No. 1 seed on the tournament on Friday afternoon. Victory will depend on everyone bringing their A game, playing smart, and playing hard for 40 minutes. Rick Pitino will have his Cardinals ready, and Pitino hates to lose. I expect to see another epic battle between AZ and a Rick Pitino-coached team.

There have been some really good matchups between the Wildcats and whoever Coach Pitino was coaching. In the early 1990s, Khalid Reeves forgot to block out, and KY won a game in Hawaii in about the last two seconds. In 1997, Arizona beat the Kentucky Wildcats in the national championship game, and of course Pitino was coaching KY.

I believe everything has to go right for Arizona in order for the Wildcats to advance to the Elite Eight. However, I'm willing to bet the farm that very few Wildcat fans expected to see their team in the Sweet Sixteen.

Bear down, Arizona!