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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE GRADING SCALE
Kansas lacked enough momentum, strength
NATHAN FORDYCE
nfordyce@kansan.com
OVERALL PERFORMANCE
The Kansas Jayhawks were never supposed to be in this situation, fighting for a national title. The season was as much of a "Cinderella" season the Jayhawk team could have, especially after going 32-7 and winning their eight straight Big 12 title. But they went up against the best team in the country in the Kentucky Wildcats. They were outmatched for most of the game and once again, a slow start plagued the Jayhawks. They fell behind 14 at the half and the lead grew to as big as 16 in the second half for the Wildcats. The Jayhawks made it close down the stretch, and it looked like they would pull off yet another amazing comeback when they closed the gap down to five with 1-11 left in the game. But a turnover and missed shots doomed the Jayhawks. They played better than a lot of people thought they would, but it just wasn't enough. Though this season didn't end how the Jayhawks would have liked, they can still hold their heads up and realize what they accomplished during this season once the initial emotions wear off.
GRADE: B-
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Releford had the dawning task of trying to cover Michael Kidd-Gilchrist for much of the night and did a good job. He held him to 11 points on the night. Releford exhorted a lot of effort on the defensive side of the ball, fighting through and over screens and it possibly effected his shot on the offensive side. He went just 1-of-6 for four points. Having to guard one of the best players in the country, Releford found himself in foul trouble and fouled out in the final minute of the game.
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
In the last game Tyshawn Taylor will ever don the crimson and blue uniform, he played his heart out. He had his shining moments and his down moments, but in the end, he played a decent game. He had to play defense constantly trying to slow down one of many Kentucky Wildcat guards and then had to try and get some offense going. He managed to get it going, especially late in the second half. He went to finish with 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting and finally hit his first three of the tournament. He pulled down four rebounds and had three assists on the game. But he also had five turnovers as well.
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
You look at the numbers for Robinson, 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting and he grabbed 17 rebounds, and you would think he had a stellar game. But that wasn't necessarily the case. He was harassed by Terrence Jones and Anthony Davis all night long and had to fight for everything he had. In what was possibly his last night of being a Jayhawk as well, Robinson went out with the kind of effort that has become expected of him. He missed some layups and dunks that he would normally make against other opponents, but the size of the Wildcat's front court caused him to rush and miss those opportunities.
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