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Here are my top five takeaways from the UA’s 86-80 victory over Texas Tech in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday in Kansas City, Missouri:

1. Depleted and defeated

Sometimes the breaks go your way. Such was the case Friday night.

Texas Tech was without the services of its second- and third-leading scorers, Darrion Williams and Chance McMillan, because of injuries. The two combine for nearly 29 points per game. McMillan is one of the best 3-point shooters in the conference.

With those two out of the lineup — and Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin battling nausea in the first half — Arizona should have won this game easily. It’s a little worrisome that the Wildcats didn’t.

Credit to Texas Tech, which plays with a ton of heart and grit for Grant McCasland. The Red Raiders never stopped battling. It was a five-point game with 47 seconds left. Arizona did just enough to hang on.

Despite being shorthanded, Texas Tech executed its pick-and-roll actions well. The Wildcats had issues defending them. At times they doubled the ball-handler but didn’t rotate to the roller. The coverage got better down the stretch. It’ll have to be a lot better against No. 1 seed Houston on Saturday.

Arizona also will need to keep the Cougars off the glass. The Red Raiders had 14 offensive rebounds. They managed just three second-chance points. But that’s a dangerous game to play.

The Wildcats weren’t quite as attentive on the defensive end as the night before vs. Kansas. Too many 50/50 balls went Texas Tech’s way.

It didn’t matter in the end. Arizona could get away with a B-minus performance because Tech was missing two-fifths of its starting lineup.

2. Nothing but Love

Speaking of grades, I said after the quarterfinals that Arizona would be just fine with Caleb Love posting a B-plus performance throughout the postseason.

But if he can bring his A-game the rest of the way, the Wildcats can beat anyone.

Love was feeling it from the get-go Friday. His 3-point shot was falling. His float game was on point. He shot with excellent balance. He forced a couple, but when you’re that hot, it’s hard to resist.

Love finished with 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc. He also had five rebounds.

Love’s 66.7% shooting from the floor was his best mark of the season — as was his 62.5% clip from 3-point range.

It’s unreasonable to expect Love to shoot that efficiently even once the rest of the season. He’s a sub-40% shooter for his career.

But it isn’t crazy to think he can get on a roll for three weeks. He’s a streaky shooter. His confidence has to be sky high.

The key for Love is to continue to play within the offense. Take what’s there. Play off your teammates. No contested 3-pointers early in the shot clock.

There might not be a bigger X-factor in the NCAA Tournament than Caleb Love. I like the way he’s trending as the tourney approaches.

3. Off Toppin

With fewer proven offensive options to worry about, Arizona was able to focus its defense on Toppin. He had one of his least efficient performances of the season, making just 4 of 13 shots for 11 points. (Toppin also struggled at the foul line, going 3 of 8.)

At times the Wildcats double-teamed him. At times they triple-teamed him.

Mostly, though, it was the long reach of Henri Veesaar that made it difficult for Toppin to score.

Veesaar was not credited with a blocked shot. But he altered several. He made it hard for Toppin, who averaged 20.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in the previous two meetings.

Veesaar was having a hard time on the offensive end until the final five minutes. Texas Tech did a good job of bodying him. The Red Raiders also slapped at the ball every time Veesaar got his hands on it.

Over the final 5:08, Veesaar made 4 of 5 shots. Up to that point, he’d been 1 of 4.

Two buckets came on pick-and-roll dives to the hole. Two came on putbacks. The second of those was a sublime reverse jam after Jaden Bradley’s reverse layup attempt hit the underside of the rim.

Veesaar finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. It was a solid follow-up to his 15-point, eight-rebound performance vs. Texas Tech on Feb. 8. He was a nonfactor in the first matchup (zero points, two rebounds).

Guess which one of those Arizona lost?

4. ‘Stocks’ and bonds

After a strong game against Kansas, KJ Lewis got off to a shaky start vs. Texas Tech. He turned the ball over twice in a span of 47 seconds.

But Lewis never stopped being aggressive, and he ended up stuffing the stat sheet.

Although he made only 4 of 12 field goals, Lewis finished with 15 points. He also led the Wildcats in rebounds (eight), assists (six), blocks (three) and steals (two).

Lewis still isn’t a polished offensive player. He hasn’t developed his 3-point shot. He’s added a pullup jumper that’s effective inside the arc. He’s at his best bullying his way to the basket and drawing fouls. Lewis is stronger than most guards he faces.

Lewis makes up for his inconsistency on offense by playing his you-know-what off on defense. At times he gets himself out of position. But no Wildcat is better at getting into the passing lane, stealing the ball and motoring the other way.

Lewis’ five “stocks� (steals plus blocks) tied his season high. He’s done it three times. He’s the only Wildcat who averages more than two stocks per game.

Lewis hasn’t elevated his NBA Draft stock this season and seems destined to return for another year of school. Some fans believe Lewis has plateaued and ought to transfer. I see no reason he couldn’t continue to grow under Tommy Lloyd’s tutelage.

5. Carter’s conundrum

Speaking of NBA Draft stock, the most intriguing prospect on the roster is freshman Carter Bryant.

Bryant is No. 19 on ’s latest Big Board. It’s easy to understand why.

Bryant is an elite help defender who gets his hands into passing lanes and has natural timing to block shots. He’s also, already, an excellent catch-and-shoot 3-point bomber.

Bryant played a significant role on the boards in the second half Friday, pulling down four of his five rebounds in the second half. He also showed his youth down the stretch.

Bryant got caught shoving Kevin Overton after Lewis missed a free throw with less than a minute to play. The Wildcats led 82-76 at the time. The last thing they needed was to give the Red Raiders an opportunity to score with no time coming off the clock.

Twelves second later, Bryant committed another foul, this time on Toppin near the UA basket. Again, not what you want in that situation.

Bryant is still growing into his body and learning when to say when. It’ll come with time.

Is the NBA the best place to figure that out? Or would Carter be better served to spend another year at Arizona, possibly as the Wildcats’ go-to guy?

I’d advise him to choose the latter. He has lottery-pick potential. With another year of seasoning, he just might get there.