*HOUSTON 72, ARIZONA 60: The top-seeded Wildcats were beaten from start to finish, never leading against the fifth-seeded Cougars. The UA did narrow a 10-point deficit to 49-47, but Houston responded with a 17-9 run to immediately end any doubt.

        *THESE TEAM STATS BEST ILLUSTRATED THE DOMINANCE: Two-point field goals – UA 11 of 32, Houston 14 of 30 … Points in paint – Houston 26-18 … Second chance points – Houston 19-13 … Points off turnovers – Houston 24-6.

        *BENNEDICT MATHURIN SELDOM FACED ONE DEFENDER: He finished with 15 points on four of 14 from the field, including two of seven from behind the arc.

        *KERR KRIISA AND AZOULAS TUBELIS, NOT SURPRISINGLY, WERE OVERMATCHED: They are not good enough to be starters at the highest level. On Thursday, they combined for five points on 1 of 15 shooting, two assists, six turnovers, zero defense and a combined -17 plus/minus.

        *DALEN TERRY, NOT SURPRISINGLY, WAS THE UA’S BEST PLAYER AGAINST A PHYSICAL OPPONENT: He finished with a team-high 17 points and added six rebounds.

        *THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE UA SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED FOR AN UNEXPECTED EXCELLENT SEASON: Picked to finish fourth in the Pac 12 in Tommy Lloyd’s first year, the UA finished 33-4 while winning the conference regular season and tournament championships. With multiple top recruits verbally committed over the next two seasons, it seems the only thing that could delay the process is an NCAA probation hammer.