Post by MizzouTiger on Apr 7, 2008 11:27:05 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/564358.html
NCAA Tournament final: Memphis vs. Kansas
BY J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH | THE KANSAS CITY STAR
•ABOUT MEMPHIS (38-1): The Tigers have played the respect card all the way to the championship game. Despite beating NCAA Tournament teams Oklahoma, Connecticut, Austin Peay, Southern California, Georgetown, Arizona, Siena and Gonzaga during the season, Memphis was looked down upon because of its Conference USA schedule. The league didn’t get two teams into the tournament, and that meant Memphis would be the first No. 1 seed to lose. Well, it didn’t happen. Memphis blew out Michigan State and Texas in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, respectively, and then pasted fellow No. 1 seed UCLA on Saturday night in the national semifinals. The Tigers appear to be peaking at the right time.
•ABOUT KANSAS (36-3): The Jayhawks similarly have felt like an underdog, particularly Saturday night against North Carolina. During the season, KU beat NCAA Tournament teams Arizona, Southern California, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M on its way to the Big Dance. The Jayhawks have won 12 games in a row since losing to Oklahoma State on Feb. 23, and they certainly hope that 13 will be lucky tonight. Kansas took a relatively smooth road to the Final Four, beating No. 16 seed Portland State, No. 8 seed UNLV, No. 12 seed Villanova and No. 10 seed Davidson. The Jayhawks played their finest game of the year in beating North Carolina 84-66 on Saturday night, and like Memphis, look to be on an upswing in April.
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GUARD Memphis’ Derrick Rose (above) vs. Kansas’ Russell Robinson
Edge >> Memphis
Rose will undoubtedly be the best point guard Robinson has seen all season — and that includes first-team All-American D.J. Augustin of Texas. Rose can go from zero to 60 faster than any other guard in the country, and he can finish at the rim with the force of a wing player. History shows that Robinson will be ready, though. He helped stop Augustin in Austin, holding him to one-of-13 shooting, and shut down Scottie Reynolds of Villanova in the Sweet 16. Robinson is judged by a different set of standards than Rose. He just has to find a way to get Kansas a ‘W.’
GUARD Memphis’ Antonio Anderson vs. Kansas’ Mario Chalmers
Edge >> Kansas
Anderson is asked by Memphis coach John Calipari to defend the opposing team’s best offensive player, so he’ll probably play some on Chalmers and Brandon Rush. Any scoring the Tigers get from Anderson is a bonus. Chalmers is KU’s do-it-all guard, and he plays his best in big games. Chalmers will have a big advantage guarding Anderson because it should free him to patrol the passing lanes, looking for opportunities for steals and a chance to create fast-break points. Chalmers had 30 points in the last title game KU played — against Texas in the Big 12 tournament.
GUARD Memphis’ Chris Douglas-Roberts vs. Kansas’ Brandon Rush
Edge >> Memphis
Douglas-Roberts — his teammates call him “CDR” — is a first-team All-American and will be Rush’s toughest defensive assignment of the season. Rush is clearly the man to guard Douglas-Roberts, who is long and is normally a matchup problem for opposing wing players. He was just about unguardable Saturday night against UCLA, when he scored 28 points. Rush’s challenge will be to limit Douglas-Roberts’ ability to get into the lane, but Rush will also have to save some energy for the offensive end. Talk about a great stage for Rush, a guy who has NBA ambitions after this season. Rush scored 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting against North Carolina, so he comes in with some momentum.
FORWARD Memphis’ Joey Dorsey vs. Kansas’ Darnell Jackson
Edge >> Memphis
Jackson talks about his background playing football in Oklahoma City as a kid, and he’ll need that experience more than ever against the 6-foot-9, 265-pound Dorsey. Dorsey averages around 10 rebounds a game for the Tigers and had a 22-rebound performance earlier this season against Houston. On Saturday against UCLA, he had 15 boards. His physicality frustrated UCLA standout Kevin Love. Jackson’s job will be to keep Dorsey off the offensive glass, much as he was able to do against North Carolina’s big men. Jackson contributed 12 key points for the Jayhawks, but his scoring is only a bonus in this matchup. Jackson’s job is to bang with the big guy.
FORWARD Memphis’ Robert Dozier vs. Kansas’ Darrell Arthur
Edge >> Kansas
Calipari identified Dozier’s performance tonight as a key for the Tigers. He seemed to think that if Dozier plays well, his team will follow suit. Dozier will have his hands full with KU’s Arthur. That is, if Arthur plays with the same fire that he came out with Saturday night. Arthur scored six points early in the game and didn’t hit the scoring column again. But his presence was felt elsewhere on the floor, particularly in his defense against Tyler Hansbrough, and his rebounding. Arthur matched Hansbrough with nine rebounds and added four blocks. If Arthur can add 12-15 points to that stat line, KU will be in good shape.
BENCH
Edge >> Kansas
Each team will play three bench players consistently throughout tonight’s game. Memphis gets a combined 18 points per game from Doneal Mack, Shawn Taggart and Willie Kemp. Kansas brings a total of 19 points per game from Sherron Collins, Sasha Kaun and Cole Aldrich. Still, despite the equal production, there is little doubt which bench can affect a game more — particularly after Aldrich’s eight points and seven rebounds against North Carolina. You might as well have called the guy “Psycho-C.” Collins played 30 minutes, which was a great sign for the Jayhawks, and Kaun is one of the main reasons KU even made it to the Final Four. Kansas brings two McDonald’s All-Americans off the bench. What a luxury.
COACHING
Edge >> Kansas
John Calipari has taken two programs from smaller conferences — Massachusetts and Memphis — to the Final Four. You can’t argue with his ability to build a national program at a regional school, and you can’t argue with his ability to recruit top talent. Calipari and Bill Self both coached under Larry Brown at Kansas: Calipari during 1983-85, and Self in the 1985-86 season. They were never in Lawrence at the same time, though. Self and Calipari play similar styles and will not be afraid to run tonight. Self never brought a team to the Final Four until this year, but you get the feeling that his whole career has been leading up to this moment. He has his team playing relaxed and free, and he kept Kansas focused Saturday night when things started to fall apart.
INTANGIBLES
Edge >> Memphis
Kansas used the underdog role to push North Carolina out of the Alamodome, but that won’t work for a second night. The Jayhawks will have to stay loose and not revert to the uptight way they played against Davidson in the Elite Eight. Memphis is playing the “us against the world” theme to perfection, and the Tigers also believe that they are playing not only for themselves, but for the city of Memphis, which has never had something like this to celebrate.
WHY KANSAS WILL WIN
The Jayhawks are bigger inside and better shooters on the outside. After seeing Aldrich play against Hansbrough, it looks as if KU has eight players capable of starting on most college teams. And you can’t forget that KU is just plain due for a title. This is the Jayhawks’ third national championship game since winning it all in 1988, and this team is led by seniors who want it more than Memphis freshman Rose ever could.
WHY MEMPHIS WILL WIN
The Tigers’ guards are taller, more athletic and quick enough to get into the lane to create easy shots. Rose has taken over this tournament, and he will be too much for Robinson, Chalmers and Collins to handle. Douglas-Roberts will wear Rush out on the offensive end so that Rush won’t have the energy to put up a 25-point night as he did against North Carolina. Memphis’ swagger and easy manner will make the national championship game feel like a backyard brawl.
BOTTOM LINE
These two teams have been on a crash course all season. They were the last two undefeated teams before KU lost on Jan. 30, and they figured out how to play their best basketball in March after a few lapses in February. Now, it all comes down to one game. Kansas’ combination of depth, experience and talent will be too lethal for the Tigers to handle. Kansas 77, Memphis 74
NCAA Tournament final: Memphis vs. Kansas
BY J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH | THE KANSAS CITY STAR
•ABOUT MEMPHIS (38-1): The Tigers have played the respect card all the way to the championship game. Despite beating NCAA Tournament teams Oklahoma, Connecticut, Austin Peay, Southern California, Georgetown, Arizona, Siena and Gonzaga during the season, Memphis was looked down upon because of its Conference USA schedule. The league didn’t get two teams into the tournament, and that meant Memphis would be the first No. 1 seed to lose. Well, it didn’t happen. Memphis blew out Michigan State and Texas in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, respectively, and then pasted fellow No. 1 seed UCLA on Saturday night in the national semifinals. The Tigers appear to be peaking at the right time.
•ABOUT KANSAS (36-3): The Jayhawks similarly have felt like an underdog, particularly Saturday night against North Carolina. During the season, KU beat NCAA Tournament teams Arizona, Southern California, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M on its way to the Big Dance. The Jayhawks have won 12 games in a row since losing to Oklahoma State on Feb. 23, and they certainly hope that 13 will be lucky tonight. Kansas took a relatively smooth road to the Final Four, beating No. 16 seed Portland State, No. 8 seed UNLV, No. 12 seed Villanova and No. 10 seed Davidson. The Jayhawks played their finest game of the year in beating North Carolina 84-66 on Saturday night, and like Memphis, look to be on an upswing in April.
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GUARD Memphis’ Derrick Rose (above) vs. Kansas’ Russell Robinson
Edge >> Memphis
Rose will undoubtedly be the best point guard Robinson has seen all season — and that includes first-team All-American D.J. Augustin of Texas. Rose can go from zero to 60 faster than any other guard in the country, and he can finish at the rim with the force of a wing player. History shows that Robinson will be ready, though. He helped stop Augustin in Austin, holding him to one-of-13 shooting, and shut down Scottie Reynolds of Villanova in the Sweet 16. Robinson is judged by a different set of standards than Rose. He just has to find a way to get Kansas a ‘W.’
GUARD Memphis’ Antonio Anderson vs. Kansas’ Mario Chalmers
Edge >> Kansas
Anderson is asked by Memphis coach John Calipari to defend the opposing team’s best offensive player, so he’ll probably play some on Chalmers and Brandon Rush. Any scoring the Tigers get from Anderson is a bonus. Chalmers is KU’s do-it-all guard, and he plays his best in big games. Chalmers will have a big advantage guarding Anderson because it should free him to patrol the passing lanes, looking for opportunities for steals and a chance to create fast-break points. Chalmers had 30 points in the last title game KU played — against Texas in the Big 12 tournament.
GUARD Memphis’ Chris Douglas-Roberts vs. Kansas’ Brandon Rush
Edge >> Memphis
Douglas-Roberts — his teammates call him “CDR” — is a first-team All-American and will be Rush’s toughest defensive assignment of the season. Rush is clearly the man to guard Douglas-Roberts, who is long and is normally a matchup problem for opposing wing players. He was just about unguardable Saturday night against UCLA, when he scored 28 points. Rush’s challenge will be to limit Douglas-Roberts’ ability to get into the lane, but Rush will also have to save some energy for the offensive end. Talk about a great stage for Rush, a guy who has NBA ambitions after this season. Rush scored 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting against North Carolina, so he comes in with some momentum.
FORWARD Memphis’ Joey Dorsey vs. Kansas’ Darnell Jackson
Edge >> Memphis
Jackson talks about his background playing football in Oklahoma City as a kid, and he’ll need that experience more than ever against the 6-foot-9, 265-pound Dorsey. Dorsey averages around 10 rebounds a game for the Tigers and had a 22-rebound performance earlier this season against Houston. On Saturday against UCLA, he had 15 boards. His physicality frustrated UCLA standout Kevin Love. Jackson’s job will be to keep Dorsey off the offensive glass, much as he was able to do against North Carolina’s big men. Jackson contributed 12 key points for the Jayhawks, but his scoring is only a bonus in this matchup. Jackson’s job is to bang with the big guy.
FORWARD Memphis’ Robert Dozier vs. Kansas’ Darrell Arthur
Edge >> Kansas
Calipari identified Dozier’s performance tonight as a key for the Tigers. He seemed to think that if Dozier plays well, his team will follow suit. Dozier will have his hands full with KU’s Arthur. That is, if Arthur plays with the same fire that he came out with Saturday night. Arthur scored six points early in the game and didn’t hit the scoring column again. But his presence was felt elsewhere on the floor, particularly in his defense against Tyler Hansbrough, and his rebounding. Arthur matched Hansbrough with nine rebounds and added four blocks. If Arthur can add 12-15 points to that stat line, KU will be in good shape.
BENCH
Edge >> Kansas
Each team will play three bench players consistently throughout tonight’s game. Memphis gets a combined 18 points per game from Doneal Mack, Shawn Taggart and Willie Kemp. Kansas brings a total of 19 points per game from Sherron Collins, Sasha Kaun and Cole Aldrich. Still, despite the equal production, there is little doubt which bench can affect a game more — particularly after Aldrich’s eight points and seven rebounds against North Carolina. You might as well have called the guy “Psycho-C.” Collins played 30 minutes, which was a great sign for the Jayhawks, and Kaun is one of the main reasons KU even made it to the Final Four. Kansas brings two McDonald’s All-Americans off the bench. What a luxury.
COACHING
Edge >> Kansas
John Calipari has taken two programs from smaller conferences — Massachusetts and Memphis — to the Final Four. You can’t argue with his ability to build a national program at a regional school, and you can’t argue with his ability to recruit top talent. Calipari and Bill Self both coached under Larry Brown at Kansas: Calipari during 1983-85, and Self in the 1985-86 season. They were never in Lawrence at the same time, though. Self and Calipari play similar styles and will not be afraid to run tonight. Self never brought a team to the Final Four until this year, but you get the feeling that his whole career has been leading up to this moment. He has his team playing relaxed and free, and he kept Kansas focused Saturday night when things started to fall apart.
INTANGIBLES
Edge >> Memphis
Kansas used the underdog role to push North Carolina out of the Alamodome, but that won’t work for a second night. The Jayhawks will have to stay loose and not revert to the uptight way they played against Davidson in the Elite Eight. Memphis is playing the “us against the world” theme to perfection, and the Tigers also believe that they are playing not only for themselves, but for the city of Memphis, which has never had something like this to celebrate.
WHY KANSAS WILL WIN
The Jayhawks are bigger inside and better shooters on the outside. After seeing Aldrich play against Hansbrough, it looks as if KU has eight players capable of starting on most college teams. And you can’t forget that KU is just plain due for a title. This is the Jayhawks’ third national championship game since winning it all in 1988, and this team is led by seniors who want it more than Memphis freshman Rose ever could.
WHY MEMPHIS WILL WIN
The Tigers’ guards are taller, more athletic and quick enough to get into the lane to create easy shots. Rose has taken over this tournament, and he will be too much for Robinson, Chalmers and Collins to handle. Douglas-Roberts will wear Rush out on the offensive end so that Rush won’t have the energy to put up a 25-point night as he did against North Carolina. Memphis’ swagger and easy manner will make the national championship game feel like a backyard brawl.
BOTTOM LINE
These two teams have been on a crash course all season. They were the last two undefeated teams before KU lost on Jan. 30, and they figured out how to play their best basketball in March after a few lapses in February. Now, it all comes down to one game. Kansas’ combination of depth, experience and talent will be too lethal for the Tigers to handle. Kansas 77, Memphis 74
