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TechnographJayhawks grind their way to title over Tigers in overtime thriller
Missed FTs open door for Kansas to force OT
By Eddie Pells, The Associated Press
Posted: 4/8/08 Section: Sports
SAN ANTONIO - So patient for 20 years, Kansas had no problem working an extra five minutes to bring a long-awaited championship back to the heartland.
Mario Chalmers hit a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to push the game into overtime, and the Jayhawks grinded it out from there for a 75-68 victory Monday night over Memphis in one of the best title games in recent memory.
Chalmers' shot pulled Kansas into a tie after being down nine with 2:12 left.
"We got the ball in our most clutch player's hands, and he delivered," Kansas coach Bill Self said.
It was the first title for Kansas since 1988, when Danny Manning, now an assistant coach for the Jayhawks, led them to an upset of Oklahoma. And the shot earned Chalmers the most outstanding player honor.
"I had a good look at it," Chalmers said. "When it left my hands it felt like it was good, and it just went in."
The most memorable performance in this one came from freshman Derrick Rose of Memphis, who completely took over the game in the second half, scoring 14 of his team's 16 points during one stretch to lift the Tigers to a 60-51 lead with 2:12 left.
But Kansas (37-3) used the strategy any smart opponent of Memphis' would - fouling the heck out of one of the country's worst free-throw-shooting teams - and when Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts combined to miss four of five over the last 1:12, it left the door open for KU.
Hustling the ball down the court with 10.8 seconds left and no timeouts, Sherron Collins handed off to Chalmers at the top of the three-point line and Chalmers took the shot. It hit nothing but net and tied the score at 63.
Robert Dozier missed a desperation shot at the buzzer, and Rose went limping to the bench, favoring his right leg. Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson scored the first six points of overtime to put Kansas ahead 69-63. Memphis, clearly exhausted, didn't pull within three.
Arthur was dominant inside, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds, lots of dunks and easy layups off lob passes. Chalmers finished with 18 points. Rush had 12 and Collins had 11 points, six assists and did a wonderful job shutting down Rose for the first 28 minutes.
Mario Chalmers hit a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to push the game into overtime, and the Jayhawks grinded it out from there for a 75-68 victory Monday night over Memphis in one of the best title games in recent memory.
Chalmers' shot pulled Kansas into a tie after being down nine with 2:12 left.
"We got the ball in our most clutch player's hands, and he delivered," Kansas coach Bill Self said.
It was the first title for Kansas since 1988, when Danny Manning, now an assistant coach for the Jayhawks, led them to an upset of Oklahoma. And the shot earned Chalmers the most outstanding player honor.
"I had a good look at it," Chalmers said. "When it left my hands it felt like it was good, and it just went in."
The most memorable performance in this one came from freshman Derrick Rose of Memphis, who completely took over the game in the second half, scoring 14 of his team's 16 points during one stretch to lift the Tigers to a 60-51 lead with 2:12 left.
But Kansas (37-3) used the strategy any smart opponent of Memphis' would - fouling the heck out of one of the country's worst free-throw-shooting teams - and when Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts combined to miss four of five over the last 1:12, it left the door open for KU.
Hustling the ball down the court with 10.8 seconds left and no timeouts, Sherron Collins handed off to Chalmers at the top of the three-point line and Chalmers took the shot. It hit nothing but net and tied the score at 63.
Robert Dozier missed a desperation shot at the buzzer, and Rose went limping to the bench, favoring his right leg. Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson scored the first six points of overtime to put Kansas ahead 69-63. Memphis, clearly exhausted, didn't pull within three.
Arthur was dominant inside, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds, lots of dunks and easy layups off lob passes. Chalmers finished with 18 points. Rush had 12 and Collins had 11 points, six assists and did a wonderful job shutting down Rose for the first 28 minutes.
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