Consider the plight of Arizona, the program that has been in the NCAA Tournament 24 years in a row now, better than anyone else in the country, and was about as perilously perched on this season’s bubble as is imaginable. You don’t want to be a part of the team that snaps that streak.

Well, the hopeful Wildcats gathered and waited … and waited … and waited until their invitation was revealed in the West Region, the last of the four regions to be announced. Arizona is 4-8 in the past 12 games and of late shows two victories against Oregon State (6-24, 0-18 Pac-10, maybe the worst team in a major conference) and one against California (16-15, RPI No. 92) and Washington State (24-8, but 7-6 in final 13 games). The Wildcats also lost twice to fellow bubble dweller Arizona State. It was close, but the Wildcats are in. Again.

UA interim head coach Kevin O’Neill, previously confident of his 19-14 team’s chances for a 24th straight NCAA tournament bid, couldn’t help keep his mind from racing.

The last “spots were left and I was like. ‘C’mon, now. We did play the best schedule.’ ” O’Neill said. “This was a little bit hair-raising for myself and my wife sitting at home watching.”

So by the time O’Neill and his wife, Roberta, raced down to McKale Center 30 minutes later, the Wildcats’ tournament streak alive with a No. 10 seed in the West region despite a precarious month on the bubble, the sense of relief was palpable.

“It beats the alternative of being the guy who was coaching when they didn’t continue the streak,” O’Neill said. “I’ll be honest with you: Those thoughts always run through your mind.”

This is worth mentioning because WVU, which was snubbed last season, then went to win the NIT and prove it really did belong, had to wait to the end, too. Despite confidence they were in, the Mountaineers had some tense moments.

“I was having a nightmare we weren’t going to get in that last bracket,” said guard Alex Ruoff, who admitted his sleep was interrupted Saturday night by such a thought. “It was almost just as tough as last year. We went to a meeting at 5 o’clock and I was feeling OK. We were definitely in. Then it got to the last bracket and I was like, ‘We’ve got to be in here.’ I saw Villanova was in and I knew we’d be in before Villanova, but I knew they beat us. I was still like, ‘We have to be in. Right? Please?’ I was looking for some closure there.”