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The Wildcats were assigned a No. 4 NCAA Tournament seed in the East Region and a first-round game against Akron on Friday in Seattle, where they used to play Pac-12 games in front of sizable crowds of UA alums and fans nearby at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Friday's ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-Akron game at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, scheduled to tipoff at 4:35 p.m. and be televised on TruTV, will also only be about a two-hour drive north of Lloyd’s hometown in Kelso, Washington. 

What’s more: If the seeds hold up in the Wildcats' Seattle pod, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will face a second-round game on Sunday against No. 5 seed Oregon, an old Pac-12 rival. But after losing to No. 15 seed Princeton in the tournament two years ago, Lloyd wasn’t about to discuss such a thing.

“Listen, I’m not even thinking about that,� Lloyd said of a possible Oregon matchup. “We’re gonna be 100% focused on Akron. No one knows that more than us. But, yeah, it’s good go to back to the place where I’m from and a place that hopefully our fans can get to and support us.�

Lloyd spoke highly of Akron coach John Groce, whose Zips run the nation's 14th most uptempo offense and generate 38.1% of their points from the 3-point arc, the 40th highest percentage in Division I. Akron (28-6) shoots 3s at a 36.6% rate, ranking 49th nationally.

The Zips blew away Mid American Conference competition in the regular season and conference tournament. They won the league by three games with a 17-1 record, then beat Bowling Green, Toledo and Miami of Ohio to win the MAC tournament in nearby Cleveland.

"Looks like they had a great year," Lloyd said, shortly after ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s selection was announced. "I will be honest, I haven't watched them play but just looking at their stats, they get up and down, they shoot the 3."

Lloyd said he was excited to receive a No. 4 seed, which appeared to be the Wildcats’ ceiling after they lost five of their final eight Big 12 regular-season games but beat Kansas and Texas Tech to reach the Big 12 tournament championship game.

While doing his radio show in the hour leading up to the Selection Sunday announcements at St. Phillips Plaza, Lloyd indicated such a seed would be no surprise.

“Seems like I heard it day after day: Four or five,� Lloyd said. "But that's our reality."

By defeating Kansas and Texas Tech to reach the Big 12 tournament final Saturday in Kansas City, the Wildcats appeared to put themselves in contention for a No. 4, with a 5 seed appearing their floor.

Ultimately they were almost in between. According to the NCAA, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was seeded 16th overall, so the Wildcats received the last No. 4 spot.

ESPN’s final bracket projection forecasted ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s 4-13 matchup with Akron exactly -- and had Oregon as the No. 5 in the same pod -- though it put that grouping within the South Region. CBS, meanwhile, had UA as a No. 5 in the Midwest but also starting in Seattle with a potential second-round game against Texas A&M.

The Bracket Matrix, a compilation of bracket forecasts, listed ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ as a No. 4 seed.

As it turned out, the East Region assignment also meant ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was lined up for a potential rematch in the Sweet 16 with Duke, the East's No. 1 seed, should both the Wildcats and Blue Devils win two games next weekend.

“We’re excited but now that the tournament's set, you’ve got to throw the seeds out now, and go play the games,� Lloyd said.

Nobody may know that better than UA forward Trey Townsend, who played a major role for No. 14 seed Oakland in its first round upset victory over Kentucky last season.

“One hundred percent,� Townsend said. “It is March and anything can happen, especially nowadays. Any team can beat anybody. You don't want to overlook anyone. You face problems if you are overlooking anybody, thinking about what's ahead.

“We’ve learned from our struggles at the beginning of the season to never underestimate any opponent, and just play like it is your last game. Because really, now that we're here, every time we stand on the court, it could be the last time.�

To Townsend's point: UA finished nonconference play at 6-5 but without any wins over a high-major opponent, then got off to an 11-1 Big 12 start before losing five of their last eight regular-season games.

“We've overcome so much adversity and hardship, I'm just proud we made it this far,� UA guard Love said. “We will be ready for the postseason and March madness.�

The Wildcats will enter the tournament on another loss, with Houston beating them 72-64 in the Big 12 tournament final Saturday. Lloyd said he was disappointed that the Wildcats didn't better handle the one-on-one matchups the Cougars created, having to try to score off them without the injured J'Wan Roberts to go to in the post.

Still, the Wildcats left an impression on Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, whose Cougars received Midwest Region's No. 1 seed after winning the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles.

After Saturday’s game, Sampson said he thought  Love, point guard Jaden Bradley, as well as forward Henri Veesaar and Tobe Awaka, were tough. He also predicted Veesaar would become a first-round NBA pick.

“That's a good team,� Sampson said. “They get the right draw, they can play for a long time next week and the following week.�