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KANSAN.COM
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CHAMPS!
KANSAS OVERCOMES LATE DEFICIT TO CLINCH CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2008 Kansas Jayhawks look at the scoreboard after defeating Memphis 75-68 for the national championship title.
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN championship title
KANSAN STAFF APRIL 8, 2008
Mario Chalmers could dance now,now that his name had been permanently etched into the Kansas basketball history books.
He moved his hips to "Celebrate" and slapped hands all around with his teammates in the confetti-filled jubilation of their national championship.
That's right national championship. Kansas (37-3) beat Memphis (38-2) 75-68 in overtime Monday night at the Alamodome, winning its first title since 1988 and third in program history after coming back from a late nine-point deficit.
"God, we competed hard," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "It's one thing to win. It's another thing to win the way these guys did."
Chalmers' celebratory dance moves seemed so natural, just like the shot he made about 30 minutes earlier that sent the game to overtime. The play started with Sherron Collins. He had 10 seconds to make sure Kansas extended the game and kept its dream season alive. He dribbled to the right wing behind the three-point line and nearly lost the ball.
Then, Chalmers separated
from his man for just long enough. Collins found him. Traalling 63-60, Chalmers shot a three near the top of the key. Overtime.
The game should've been finished long before that play. The Jayhawks got a gift from the Tigers when they missed five of six free throws that would've iced the game. They didn't waste the good fortune in overtime. The extra period was all Kansas.
Brandon Rush started out with a layup. Chalmers and Darrell Arthur combined for an alley-oop. When Collins made two free throws to put Kansas up 75-68, the game was finished. Chalmers' shot had sparked all of it.
"I just knew we had the game after that," Arthur said.
A happy ending seemed implausible late in the second half. Memphis' Derrick Rose nearly killed Kansas. He was ready to put himself at the top of the list of Jayhawk Final Four villains right up there with Carmelo Anthony, Juan Dixon and Grant Hill. With Memphis down 45-42 midway in the second half, Rose scored 12 straight points for Memphis. He couldn't miss if he tried. Really. Rose fired a long off-balance jumper at the end of the shot clock and banked it in. The basket gave Memphis a 56-49 lead with 4:10 left.
The Tigers stretched that lead to 60-51, and it looked
like Memphis would cut down the nets.
A lot of guys thought the game was over," Darnell Jackson said, "but we just kept saying believe."
Self said those exact words to his team. Chalmers used Self's message and the memories from last season's comeback victories against Texas to motivate him.
Arthur took the inspirational words to heart as well. It was no surprise to see Chalmers take over in the clutch. Arthur was more of an unexpected hero.
Kansas has known all season it plays superior ball when Arthur is active. Problem was, that didn't happen too often.
In the tournament, Arthur's
inconsistency got even worse. The one they call Shady reverted to his mind-bogglingly inconsistent ways throughout the postseason, disappearing in every game.
Monday night he was a changed man. Arthur scored two big baskets toward the end of regulation and got another one in overtime. He finished with 20 points. Ar-
ed his best game in the biggest game of his life. It's something he'll never forget, something all of the Jayhawks will never forget. They battled through adversity after two losses in three games in late February and didn't lose the rest of the way. Now, they're champions. They'll go down as one of the best teams in Kansas history.
KANSAS WINS ORANGE BOWL, SEALS 12-1 SEASON
KANSAN
STAFF
JAN.4.
2008
Kansas didn't do anything out of the ordinary to defeat Virginia Tech and capture the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl title. Well, at least nothing more unexpected than the 12-1 team had done already this season.
The team that turned analysts' predictions and preconceptions on their heads all season continued to upset college football's natural order Thursday night in a way that has become strangely normal for the winningest team in the history of Kansas football.
Jayhawks (12-1) overcame several exceptional kick and punt returns by Virginia Tech (11-3) with a timely blocked field goal and an expertly executed fake punt.
Members of the football team celebrate the win against Virginia Tech at the Orange Bowl
"We were able to make a big, big play on that punt and turn the game around with the blocked field goal." Kansas junior wide receiver Dexton Fields said. "When we blocked the field goal it was really a big momentum-stopper and it gave us some extra confidence."
Over the course of the season, the Jayhawks emerged from a decade-long stint of mediocrity to win 12 games and a BCS bowl. On Thursday night in Dolphin Stadium, the Jayhawks defeated Virginia Tech, 24-21, by beating the Hokies at their own game: special teams. The
The game-cinching touch down run was one of many excellent plays the Jayhawk field general made Thursday night. Kansas sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing finished 20-of-37 with 227 passing yards and one passing touchdown. Senior wide receiver Marcus Henry was the beneficiary of Reesing's touchdown pass, and totaled 20 yards in his final collegiate contest. The Jayhawks spread the ball around on offense, completing passes to eight receivers and rushing the ball nine or more times with three different ballcarriers. The Kansas defense made the offense's job easier by forcing three turnovers, setting the team up with good field position.
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
The blocked field goal may have been the biggest play in a game full of momentum swings, big hits and closely contested short-yardage struggles. With six minutes and 31 seconds to play in the third quarter, Virginia Tech was picking up steam. An 84-yard punt return touchdown by senior wide receiver Justin Harper with 11:35 remaining in the third pulled the Hokies within three points, 17-14, and the pro-Virginia Tech fans at Dolphin Stadium were at full volume.
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"It was really an up-and-down game, a roller coaster of emotions," Reesing said. "Our defense was able to get turnovers and get us the ball in good position, and that was huge for the game. The offense came through when we had to, made plays when we needed to and
The Jayhawks needed nearly all of their 24 points to hang on and defeat a Virginia Tech team
got the ball in the end zone and points on the board."
that fought until the clock filled with zeros. The Hokies scored on a 15-play, 78-yard drive with 2:51 remaining to cut the Jayhawks' lead to three, but
McAnderson rumored his way to the first down marker several times on Kansas' next drive to run out the clock and seal the victory.
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