Volume 124 Issue 120
kansan.com
Monday, March 26, 2012
FINAL FOUR-TITUDE
A 'REBUILDING'YEAR
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
ST. LOUIS — Travis Releford dribbling the final seconds away before chucking the ball upward and into sweet expiration. Tyshawn Taylor, glossy eyed, twisting grilled pieces of net around the edges of his brand new hat. Bill Self standing atop the ladder, snipping a slice of the net, only to toss it to the hardwood and grab the chunk of what was left. Child-like glee emitting from all seven feet of Jeff Withey. Heavy, wholesome embraces for all wearing crimson and blue. The
final Four in New Orleans—book Kansas a ticket.
"It's always more fun to do something when nobody really thinks you can do it," Self said.
Did you think these Jayhawks could do it?
This is the same team that was supposed to be rebuilding. No Morris twins, no Tyrel Reed, no Brady Morningstar. Didn't matter. This version of the Jayhawks, one of shallow depth but impenetrable toughness, slugged their way through Detroit and Purdue in Omaha, Neb., then North Carolina State and North Carolina in St. Louis.
Now they're one of four teams still dancing, still hunting for a national title.
"This is every kid's dream right here." Releford said.
Three other teams remain: late-surging Louisville, freakishly-skilled Kentucky and the next opponent, heavyweight Ohio State. But Kansas would have never joined these teams if not for its clampdown on the North Carolina Tar Heels. The 80-67 final score at the Edward Jones Dome hardly hints at what took place Sunday.
In the first half, it was simply two of the nation's finest teams scoring
nonstop. Speed and flair ruled just as the Tar Heels like it. They made 63.6 percent of their shots, while the Jayhawks made 56.3 percent. The score was tied at 47 going into half-time and Self knew something had to change.
"I really figured that if it was a horse contest wed have no shot" Self said. "At some point in time during the game, it had to become a grind-it-out, defensive game."
After the break, Self switched his team into a triangle-and-a two zone defense; a funny little scheme that rattled Kansas State in the regular season and Purdue in the round of
32. This time around, the formation messed with North Carolina's traditional style of two posts by the basket and shooters surrounding them. Self figured that freshman guard Stilman White wasn't going to beat anyone with his jump shot. So the junk defense kept two Jayhawks in the paint, then dared Walsh, sophore forward Harrison Barnes and sophomore guard Reggie Bullock to shoot freely.
In the second half, White missed all of his shots. Barnes missed seven of eight. Bullock missed all
Off to the Final Four
SEE FINAL FOUR PAGE 6A
Take a look at the Kansan's photo gallery from Sunday's game.
Self, Williams showdown leaves palpable sense of pride in Kansas
TARA BRYANT/KANSAN
Thousands of fans gather on Massachusetts Street Sunday evening after the Jayhawk's victory against North Carolina. Kansas defeated North Carolina to reach a championship in 2008.
MARSHALL SCHMIDT
mschmidt@kansan.com
"Rock Chalk Jayhawk" could be heard throughout Lawrence Sunday evening at venues such as the Hawk 1340 Ohio Street, and the Wagon Wheel, 507 West 14th Street, after the Kansas victory over North Carolina to advance to the Final Four.
"This might be the best game I've ever watched away from the Fieldhouse," said Scott Howell, a graduate student from Independence, Mo.
Howell compared the game to an NBA-caliber matchup with great referees, coaches and players. And even though this was supposed to be a building a year for the team, Howell said, the Jayhawks went beyond expectations. While many fans were glad to see revenge on Roy Williams, Howell did not see that element as being important.
Ryan Libel, a sophomore from Springfield, Mo., gives credit to coach Bill Self for pulling off a Final Four bid, even though most off did not predict it at the beginning of
"I was ecstatic when we first beat him," Howell said about the Final Four game in 2008. "Now he's just another coach."
the season.
"This win shows that recruiting isn't everything," Libel said. "Great coaches and disciplined players can win games."
Cory McCoy, a freshman from Springfield, Mo., was excited for the win as the first he witnesses in Lawrence.
"Self did a great job of coaching the boys," McCoy said. "KU's got a great tradition, and hopefully, KU can bring home the national championship."
Scott Mitchell, a senior from Salina, was excited for the victory during his final year as a student at the University.
"Since it's my senior year, it makes it so much sweeter," Mitchell said. "The cherry on top of it all is beating Roy Williams."
As a kid, Mitchell remembered rooting for Roy Williams as a Kansas coach, so seeing the flip side was extra special for Mitchell.
"They had a very good performance," Mitchell said. "You couldn't ask for anything more. Finally, we're living up to our potential."
— Edited by Laura Nightengale
MARSHALL SCHMIDT/KANSAN
Brian Knowles, left, and Ryan Libel, right, relax during halftime of Sunday's game. They watched the game at The Wagon Road, 507 West 14th Street.
SENATE
Forms still available for students running for senate
VIKKAS SHANKER
vshanker@kansan.com
The student elections commission requires candidates to meet several deadlines/ to run for elected office. Student elections are online April 11 and 12. Candidates for student body president and vice president already submitted petitions for candidacy by the March 16 deadline. Hannah Bolton, a junior from St. Libory, Neb.,
and Brandon Woodard, a junior from Topeka, are running under the KUnited ticket for president and vice president, respectively. Both are current Student Senace executive staff members.
Students Gus Bova and Claire Kerwin are running for the positions under the Direct Democracy coalition.
The official ballot with candidates for president and vice president will be set by April 2.
Students interested in running for senator positions can still file forms for candidacy under one of the coalitions until 5 p.m. this Wednesday, March 28. Independent senate candidates can file forms until April 4. Declaration of candidacy and petition forms are available on the election commission's website at http://groups.ku.edu/~election/pages/forms.shtml.
Index
Edited by Ian Cummings
TUESDAY, MARCH 27
CRYPTOQUIPS 4A
OPINION 5A
WHAT: Special accommodations request deadline
CLASSIFIEDS 2B
CROSSWORD 4A
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28
SPORTS 18
SUDOKU 4A
WHEN: 5 p.m.
WHAT: Senators filing deadline
WHEN: 5 p.m.
WHAT: Charter filing deadline
WHEN: 5 p.m.
WHAT: Pres. candidate meeting
WHEN: 7-8 p.m. (TBA)
All contents, unless stated otherwise; © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
THURSDAY, MARCH 29
WHAT: Official ballot available for public view
Jayhawks are on their way to the Final Four and it's the first day after break, but be sure to go to class!
Today's Weather
Sumpy. Southerly wind will be breezy and rewind 20 mph with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Go outside and celebrate