Potential rematches stand in way for 1-seed Arizona Basketball

Mar 12, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) is pictured during a game against the UCLA Bruins near the end of the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) is pictured during a game against the UCLA Bruins near the end of the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

As Arizona Basketball gets selected as the 1-seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament, several potential rematches stand in the way of the Cats. 

Selection Sunday has come and gone, and just like we suspected, the Arizona Basketball team has secured a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament and is the No. 2 seed overall.

Playing in the South Region, it looks as if the Wildcats should have a fairly favorable road in the tournament, at least compared to a few of the other regions; however, Arizona could also have several potential rematches looming.

Stream the Arizona Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament with a free trial of Sling TV. 

Also in the Wildcats’ bracket are Illinois, Tennessee, and Michigan, all teams that the Wildcats faced earlier this season, and would possibly have to face again as the tournament progresses.

However, up first will be the first and second rounds which will be hosted in San Diego. 

Tournament action kicks off on Friday for the Wildcats, where Arizona will have a showdown against either 16-seed Bryant or Wright State. The winner of that game will be settled on Wednesday as part of the NCAA play-in game.

A game in which Arizona should be heavily-favored in, it may still possibly be without Kerr Kriisa as well, as the sophomore point guard still recovers from the ankle injury he suffered last week.

Assuming Arizona wins their first game, a matchup against either No. 8 Seton Hall or No. 9 TCU would then be looming, which would provide a tough test.

Should Arizona Basketball make the Sweet 16, that is when the possible rematches would begin for the Wildcats.

As the tournament progresses, the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds will be hosted in San Antonio. Now granted, upsets can happen, and all of this may ultimately be moot anyways; however, assuming no upsets happen, a potential rematch vs Illinois would await the Cats in the Sweet 16.

The last time the Wildcats met was in Champaign, where Arizona came away with the 83-79 win over the Illini.

After that, the road to the Final Four would then go through possibly No. 2 Villanova or No. 3 Tennessee, again, assuming no upsets were to happen before then.

The road should be a daunting one, but the Wildcats are a deep team and are playing well. Fingers crossed that Arizona has a good showing!

Here’s the full bracket for the Wildcats!

Schedule

Schedule