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That much was clear again Saturday, when the Cougars beat Arizona 72-64 in the Big 12 tournament final at T-Mobile Center despite being without top post presence J’Wan Roberts, finding a way to one-on-one its way around the Wildcats’ interior wall of Henri Veesaar, Tobe Awaka and Trey Townsend.

But this much was also apparent: By beating ninth-ranked Texas Tech to reach Saturday's final, then keeping Houston (30-4) mostly within two possessions for the second time this season, the Wildcats may have played themselves back into a top four NCAA tournament seed.

Arizona (22-12) was a tentative No. 3 NCAA Tournament seed when the selection committee made an early reveal the morning of Feb. 15, though the Wildcats lost four of their seven regular season games after that announcement, including a 62-58 overtime loss to Houston at McKale that afternoon.

Some projections have had the Wildcats falling as far as No. 7 but ESPN bracket prognosticator Joe Lunardi moved them from a No. 5 into a No. 4 after the Big 12 championship game, and projected the Wildcats to open in Denver. CBS had the Wildcats as a No. 4 even before the Big 12 final was played.

“That's a good team,� Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said of Arizona. “They get the right draw, they can play for a long time next week and the following week.�

But, when asked if he felt like the Wildcats were worthy of a No. 4 seed, UA coach Tommy Lloyd wasn't about to speculate.

“I have no idea,� he said. “Even if we're a 13-seed we'll be fine. We can't wait till Thursday. …. Whatever they give us, I'm ready.�

This attitude appeared to bleed into the locker room. Veesaar said seeding wasn’t up to the Wildcats and guard Caleb Love, who led the Wildcats with 19 points and made the five-player all-tournament team, said he didn’t know what might happen.

“Really don't know," Love said. "Probably around a four-seed. Four or five.�

The Wildcats nearly made an argument for an even better seed had they been able to hand Houston what would have been only their second loss since November.

Arizona was leading 33-28 at halftime but Houston went on a 19-6 run early in the second half to take a 56-46 lead when guard Milos Uzan hit a jumper with 11:43 to go. The Cougars had begun to find a way to score effectively without Roberts, hitting 55.6% of their field goals in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

Calling Veesaar a future first-round NBA draft pick and an “excellent pick and roll defender,� Sampson said he identified Uzan, Emanual Sharp, LJ Cryer and reserve Mylik Wilson as guys he aimed to isolate.

“The thing about not having J'Wan Roberts is he's our best scoring big,� Sampson said. “We couldn't throw it inside. So we weren't going to manufacturer a lot of shots in the paint unless the ball was driven into the paint…. Once we got it into the paint, we could spray it or shoot it.�

The strategy made for a frustrating second half for the Wildcats, who never led again after Uzan hit a 3-pointer to give Houston a 64-62 lead with 5:09 to go.

Love hit two free throws with 1:37 left to bring UA within 66-64 but, after a missed Houston shot, was called for a travel violation on the other end that eventually led to a dunk from Houston’s Ja’Vier Francis.

That gave the Cougars a 68-64 lead with 43 seconds left and a turnover by UA point guard Jaden Bradley with 32 seconds left forced the Wildcats to foul. Cryer and Sharp then each hit a pair of free throws to account for the final score.

“It was just a lot of iso ball on their end on the offense, and we decided to play one-on-one,� Love said. “That's something we gotta get better at.

“Then on offense, me and J.B., we gotta own those two turnovers we had in the clutch. Coach put a lot of confidence into us and a lot of responsibility, putting the ball in our hands in those moments and we gotta deliver.�

A week from now, two turnovers in the final minute or two can end a season.

That’s why Lloyd said it didn’t matter if Arizona played Houston better this season, compared to how then-top-seeded Wildcats were drubbed by Houston in the 2022 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

“Doesn't matter if you close the gap or not,� Lloyd said. “You gotta get it done. We're Arizona basketball. We're used to winning championships, too. We know that's where we belong and that's where we want to get.�