Instead, the No. 6-seeded Jayhawks wilted in an 88-77 loss at T-Mobile Center. A prime example came when Kansas trailed by five with 4:06 left. Kansas turned the ball over on two straight possessions and eventually lost another winnable game.

Arizona kicks off postseason play Thursday during the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals. The Wildcats benefit from a double-bye in their debut appearance in Kansas City and will square off with Kansas.

After 45 exhausting, exhilarating minutes of basketball on Wednesday night, the Kansas Jayhawks have just 21 hours to prepare for their quarterfinal matchup against the third-seeded Arizona Wildcats. Thankfully for Kansas, there’s a definite familiarity to the matchup with the Wildcats.