Arizona and San Diego State return to NCAA West Regional 3 years after failing to advance

San Diego State guard Xavier Thames dribbles the ball during practice at the NCAA college basketball tournament, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Anaheim, Calif. San Diego State is scheduled to play Arizona on Thursday in a regional semifinal. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (The Associated Press)

San Diego State forward Josh Davis, right, laughs as guard Xavier Thames goes by him during practice at the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Anaheim, Calif. San Diego State is scheduled to play Arizona on Thursday in a regional semifinal. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (The Associated Press)

Arizona and San Diego State are back on familiar ground in the NCAA West Regional. Three years ago, both schools failed to advance out of the Sweet 16. They didn't play each other; this time one of them is going home early again.

Coach Steve Fisher has yet to watch the tape of the Aztecs' loss to Connecticut as a No. 2 seed in the 2011 regional semifinals at Honda Center. Fourth-seeded SDSU (31-4) is back in the regional for the first time since then.

The top-seeded Wildcats (32-4) are playing in their third Sweet 16 in four years. Three years ago in Anaheim, they lost to UConn by two points in the regional final.

Thursday night's semifinal is a rematch between two teams that last played on Nov. 14, a lifetime ago in college basketball.