Wildcats start from scratch in D.C.

Don’t be alarmed if you heard an unseasonably deep gust of wind work its way through the region on Sunday afternoon.

It might have simply been thousands of Southern Arizona basketball fans simultaneously exhaling a sigh of relief.

Despite a tumultuous, injury-plagued season that put the Arizona Wildcats’ (19-14, 8-10 Pac-10) tournament chances in jeopardy, the selection committee ultimately decided it wouldn’t be a “Big Dance” without the 1997 national champs.

Arizona’s Cal Ripken-esque streak of tournament appearances — 24 and counting — is still in tact, as is this region’s athletic identity.

Interim head coach Kevin O’Neill watched the selection show with his wife, waiting as the CBS college basketball crew broke down the East, Midwest and South brackets.

With 48 teams announced and only the West bracket left, the tension started to mount.

Arizona’s name finally popped on the screen, resulting in an avalanche of celebratory phone calls.

“Obviously, there was never a doubt,” O’Neill said, tongue firmly planted in cheek. “Seriously, that was the most excited I’ve been during my basketball coaching career.”

O’Neill spent most of Sunday’s news conference praising his group for its level-headed, dedicated approach during what has obviously been a difficult season.

With a record below .500 in conference play for the first time since 1984, the team hopes its brutally tough schedule has served as sufficient preparation for what will certainly be a tough tournament draw.

First up, Thursday night’s game against West Virginia in Washington, D.C. (CBS, 6:40 p.m.).

While the Wildcats and Mountaineers have yet to make each other’s acquaintence, O’Neill will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline.

Back when O’Neill ran the Marquette basketball program, he locked horns with the Cincinnati Bearcats and their fiery head man, Bob Huggins.

Now as West Virginia’s head coach, Huggins has brought his defensive-minded approach with him, helping establish the seventh-seeded Mountaineers (24-10, 11-7 Big East) as one of the region’s toughest teams.

“I’ve coached against Bob a number of times,” O’Neill said. “The man’s record speaks for itself. I don’t think I ever had much success against him.”

That is an understatement. O’Neill went 1-7 against Huggins during their Midwest duels.

In order for the Wildcats to top last year’s tournament performance and make it out of the first round, they must find a way to slow down Joe Alexander.

The athletic 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 16.8 points and 6.1 rebounds. In his last six games, Alexander has eclipsed the 29-point plateau in four of them.

Three other Mountaineers — Alex Ruoff, Da’Sean Butler and Darris Nichols — also post double-digit point averages.

The winner of this matchup would likely see the second-seeded Duke Blue Devils in round two on Saturday.

“We think we can play for a while this month,” O’Neill said. “We know what this team is capable of when everyone is healthy.”

Rarely a man for reflection — especially with another game on the horizon — O’Neill did take a moment to acknowledge what this team managed to accomplish amidst the chaos.

“This team did something special this year,” O’Neill said. “I’m eternally grateful for our group’s effort. I would’v been disappointed had we not gotten in, but I’m ecstatic that we get an opportunity to show people who we are.”

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747

Game detailsz

No. 7 West Virginia (24-10, 11-7 Big East) versus No. 10 Arizona (19-14, 8-10 Pac-10)

Venue: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.

Time: 6:40 p.m.

Channel: CBS, (Cox, channel 13)

Radio: Wildcat Radio Network, 107.5-FM, 1290-AM