Kansas coach Bill Self said it best, "We got the ball in our most clutch player's hands, and he delivered."
That clutch player he refers to is none other than junior guard Mario Chalmers, whose three pointer with under five seconds to play in regulation sent the game into an extra frame. The momentum built from the late half comeback propelled the Jayhawks to the 75-68 victory over the Memphis Tigers. Chalmers finished the game with 18 points.
The Tigers blew a late nine point lead to allow the Jayhawks to send the game into overtime. Up 60-51, Memphis just needed to slow down the pace of the game and get the ball to their premiere players, Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts. An unintentional foul though by Joey Dorsey with that lead gave Kansas free points at the line, sat out Dorsey for the remainder of the contest, and on the ensuing inbounds play, a turnover led to a Jayhawks three-pointer to cut the Tigers' lead to four points.
The title is Kansas' third in school history and first since Danny Manning and the Miracles 20 years ago in 1988.
There are plenty of fingers you can point on the Memphis side. Free throws down the stretch, Dorsey fouling out, the turnover leading to the three pointer, lack of motivation in overtime. They all played their part in eventually spelling the end of the Tigers run.
On the other side, you have to give due where it is due. Coach Self had his team prepared for a game that many people thought that they would not even reach. They made their way through a decently easy region (they never played Georgetown due to Hoyas getting bumped early) with playing three teams in their region with the lowest seed being #8 UNLV (#10 Davidson, #12 Villanova, #16 Portland St.) before they made it to the Final Four. They showed America why they are the #1 of #1's.
Remember, this team went through two number one's after they lost one of their better interior forwards Rodrick Stewart during a practice before the Final Four. Congratulations Lawrence, enjoy it!
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