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FEATURE
11
The spark off the bench
Sherron Collins served in a backup role to help Kansas win the 2008 National Championship
By Jayson Jenks jjenks@kansan.com
Back then - back when Sherron Collins was still a diminutive sophomore spark off Kansas' bench - he delivered the biggest performance in the biggest game of his career.
At least to this point.
During his 142 games so far at Kansas, Collins has accounted for plenty of noteworthy moments in important victories. But his performance in the 2008 National Championship against Memphis sits atop the list simply because of the game's magnitude.
With slightly less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Collins stole the inbounds pass and tossed it to Mario Chalmers. Seconds later, Collins buried a three-pointer from the wing to cut Memphis' lead to 60-56.
Then, as the final seconds disappeared off the clock in regulation, Collins rushed the ball up the court before leaving it for Chalmers, who buried what coach Bill Self described as "the biggest shot in Kansas history."
Collins scored 11 points against Memphis, but more than any statistical benefit. Collins contributed in two of the night's game-changing plays. In his four years at Kansas, Collins' ability to make such plays has developed into the expected.
"He stepped his game up and hit a big shot and was a huge part for us in that championship year," former Kansas guard Russell Robinson said. "He just did his part and look, he's one of the best players in the country now."
While Collins'in involvement in "Mario's Miracle" stirs the most emotional response, his steal and subsequent three-pointer are equally - if not more - important in the game's fabric.
Without the steal and save to Chalmers - and without Collins' high-arcing three from the corner - there is no last-second shot from Chalmers.
"I just wanted to come out and do what we needed to do," Collins said after the game. "I did what Coach told me to do."
Chalmers described Collins' role on the final play from a slightly different perspective.
"Sherron kind of fumbled the ball," Chalmers said after the game.
Still, there's little doubt that Kansas wouldn't have forced overtime without Collins' late-game contributions.
Now, as he prepares for the stretch run of his senior season, Collins' role in the NCAA Tournament could be vastly different from that of the 2008 National Championship game. Then again, the same principle of simply making a play still sticks with Collins today.
"His role is to be the guy to make plays." Self said. "The difference would be this year he'll be on the shooting end of it as opposed to passing if we're ever in that situation."
Sherron Collins drives into the lane against a Memphis defender in the 2008 National Championship game. Collins made the pass to Mario Chalmers to set up the game--twinge-three-pointer.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE MARCH 3,2010