Kevin O’Neill, Arizona’s interim head coach, couldn’t be happier that the Wildcats were selected for a national-best 24th consecutive trip to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and will play West Virginia in the first round.

“It sounds crazy but this is the most excited I’ve been in basketball my whole career for many reasons,” he told reporters after Sunday night’s Selection Show. “I’m excited for the players. I’m excited for myself. I’m excited for everyone involved.”

With veteran coach Luke Olsen on a leave of absence this year, O’Neill directed Arizona to a 19-14 mark. But Tom O’Connor, selection committee chairman, said it earned an at-large bid in part because of its No. 2 overall strength of schedule and No. 4 non-conference schedule.

Injuries also were a factor, but UA is expected to be at or near full strength after having lost eight of its last 12 games. Ironically, two of the Wildcats’ losses were to Arizona State, which isn’t in the NCAA tourney.

The Wildcats, seeded No.10 in the West Region, and the seventh-seeded Mountaineers (24-10) will clash in the last of four games at approximately 9:40 p.m. Thursday in Washington’s Verizon Center.

Winner of that contest will advance to the second round at 2:10 p.m. Saturday against either No. 2 Duke (27-5) or No. 15 Belmont (25-8). Those two teams will meet at about 7:10 on Thursday.

Other games that day in Washington will be Xavier (27-6) vs. Georgia (17-16) and Purdue (24-8) vs. Baylor (21-10).

After the first two rounds, the West Region’s four survivors will advance to the NCAA “Sweet 16” for games at Phoenix, Ariz.. March 20-23.

Like West Virginia, Arizona is a young team with eight of its 16 players freshmen and sophomores. The two teams also are similar in size.

O’Neill said, “The bottom line is that we’re a pretty good team. A 10 seed isn’t awful. It says a lot about our non-conference schedule. I think the committee realized we had some injuries that really debilitated us at different times.”

He thinks the Wildcats could have won at least two or three more games had they been able to play together all season.

As a team, UA is averaging 72.1 points per game to opponents’ 66.7 while shooting 47.8 percent from the field to 43.9. But it’s being outrebounded slightly, 31.1 to 32.6 . The Wildcats have blocked 117 shots and come up with 186 steals in the 33 games.

By comparison, WVU is scoring at a 74.9 clip and holding foes to 63.0, shooting 45.4 percent to 41.9, and maintaining a 35.9-33.9 edge in rebounding. For 34 games, the Mountaineers show 174 shot-blocks and 245 steals.

Jerry Baylor, a 6-3 freshman guard, is Arizona’s leading scorer at 20 points per game. Chase Budinger, 6-7 sophomore forward, is next at 17.0 and Jordan Hill, 6-10 sophomore forward, ranks third at 13.2 and is averaging team-best 7.8 rebounds.

Rounding out the starting lineup are 6-4 senior guard Jawann (8.6 ppg) and 5-10 sophomore forward Nic Wise (9.1).

Arizona’s top reserves, all averaging about 15 minutes per game, include 6-6 freshman forward Jamelle Horne, 6-3 senior guard Daniel Dillon and 6-7 junior forward Fendi Onodon .

O’Neill said he knows WVU coach Bob Huggins really well. “He’s a hell of a coach,” he said. “I know his team is going to play really hard. I guarantee they’ll play their rears off.”

Huggins said earlier that he has known O’Neill for several years and is similarly impressed with his coaching ability and success.

This will be West Virginia’s 21st appearance in the NCAA tournament.

The Mountaineers will leave for Washington and a final practice session Wednesday after having had two days of preparation at the Coliseum.

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