12B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY APRIL 7, 2008
NCAACHAMPIONSHIPONTHELINE
KANSAS PROVES ITS TALENT TONIGHT AGAINST MEMPHIS
KU
TIPOFF
KANSAS VS. MEMPHIS 8:21 p.m., Alamodome, San Antonio, CBS
AT A GLANCE
Kansas (36-3)
So here we are. Kansas is playing in its second National Championship game since 2003. In 2003, Syracuse's once-in-a-lifetime freshman talent, Carmelo Anthony, ended Kansas' dream, Kansas' opponent, Memphis, has another freshman, Derrick Rose, who might fit that once-in-a-lifetime label. But when a team makes it this far, it's all about what they do. Kansas has made a living the past two seasons winning big games, and games don't get any bigger than this. This game is about a lot of things. It's about exorcizing 20 years of NCAA tournament demons. It's about sending Kansas' senior class off right. It's about Bill Self taking his place among the coaching elite. Mostly though, it's about Kansas cutting down the nets for the first time since 1988.
WHO TO WATCH
Sherron Collins, 5-foot-11 sophomore guard
Say what you want about Brandon Rush or Mario Chalmer or Darrell Arthur. You'd have a point with any of those guys. But Kansas' Chicago sparkplug is always the ultimate X-factor. If Collins is healthy and
making plays, then Kansas is tough to beat. Collins had 11 points against North Carolina and looked to be his old explosive self. You have
to wonder if Memphis knows how good Collins can be. Lastly, all the talk on Memphis has included non-stop hype about freshman Derrick Rose, another Chicago native.
Will Kansas be fatigued?
QUESTION MARK
The Jayhawks exerted maximum energy in an emotional game on Saturday night against North Carolina. Memphis wants to play fast, and so does Kansas. But will the Jayhawks have enough energy to run with the Tigers for 40 minutes. Senior forwards Sasha Kaun and Darnell Jackson should be rested after playing a combined 27 minutes on Saturday.
"We have prepared for this all season long and this has been one of our goals. Now here we are just one game away from that accomplishment. We are just living in the moment and want to go out and play the way we know how."
HEARYE, HEARYE
THE PROJECTED STARTING 5
-Russell Robinson
Russell Robinson, 6-foot-1 senior guard
Roy Williams called him the best seven point per game scorer in the country. He KU's leader, and he wants this game as much as anyone.
Memphis (38-1)
Mario Chalmers, 6-foot-1 junior guard Chalmers' play tailed off a little bit after the game's opening minutes on Saturday. He'll need to keep his intensity up the whole game if he is going to guard the sensational Derrick Rose.
★★★★
Brandon Rush, 6-foot-6 junior guard
Rush did everything right against the Tar Heels. He was not feeling it from the outside, so he attacked the basket. The CDR, Rush matchup should be a classic. These guys are both spectacular athletes and will both likely be first round NBA picks in two months.
★★★★★
Darnell Jackson, 6-foot-8 senior forward
Jackson has a big enough frame to bang with Memphis' Joey Dorsey. These big men should go at it most of the night under the glass. Look for Jackson to have a big game. He'll be emotional because he knows it's his last time in his KU Jersey.
★★★★
THE PROJECTED STARTING 5
Darrell Arthur, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward
of Saturday night's game, if he can do it consistently to tonight, Kansas will have a tough time losing. When Arthur is on, the Jayhawks are almost unbeatable. This could be Arthur's last game, too.
Arthur finally showed that he was alive in the opening minutes
Derrick Rose, 6-foot-3 freshman guard,
A sure-fire top-five pick in the NBA draft, Rose will probably be one-and-done. But he just might grab a title before sprinting off to the NBA.
THE SIXTH MAN
Sherron Collins, 5-foot-11 sophomore guard
Antonio Anderson, 6-foot-6 junior guard.
guard,
Another big, athletic guard, Anderson might pose match-up problems for Kansas' smallish guards.
Brett Collins, S.J. Scott Fischborne guard Collins looked like he was close to his best on Saturday. He'd been struggling for most of the tournament but looked sharp going against Ty Lawson. Tonight, he'll go against Rose, another Chicago native. Collins wants this one for the team and for himself.
Kansas jumps out to another quick start. Kansas has always played its best when it plays good early. If Kansas can grab an early lead against Memphis, it just might mean title No. 3 for Kansas. If that happens, you're going to want to do one of two things. Find a way to get to Massachusetts Street or find a way to get to the San Antonio River Walk. That's where the party will be.
THE ALAMODOME WILL ROCK IF...
★★★★☆
— Rustin Dodd
Chris Douglas-
Roberts, 6-foot-7
junior forward
Some compare
him to NBA
legend, Earl
"The Pearl"
Monroe, H.
Monroe. He had 28 points against UCLA on Saturday.
Robert Dozier, 6-foot-9 junior forward
The Lithonia, Ga., native is an athletic glass-eater. Dozier's main jobs are to rebound and play defense.
Joey Dorsey, 6-foot-9 senior forward
senior forward
Memphis enigmatic forward may be the perfect spokesperson for Memphis. Dorsey - like the Tigers - is talented, but understand.
the Tigers – is talented, but hard to understand.
Shawn Taggart, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward,
A transfer from Iowa State, Taggart went to high school with Brandon Rush at Mt. Zion Academy. He played 22 minutes against UCLA.
-Rustin Dodd
PHOG ALLEN WILL ROLL OVER IN HIS GRAVE IF...
Kansas loses another national title game. Kansas has lost twice in the title game - 1991 and 2003 - since its 1988 Championship, and five times overall - 1940, 1953 and 1957. A victory tonight would send Lawrence in to euphoria. The town, the program, the coach, the players - everybody is craving a title. Another runner-up trophy would mean another bitter ending to a great season.
MEM
TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Memphis is 38-1, playing for the national title, yet the Tigers still feel disrespected. They don't play in a major conference, their coach has a reputation for being a great recruiter and not a great game coach, and the Tigers themselves haven't exactly been portrayed as a group of Beaver Cleavers. But they're still here. They're athletic, fast and strong...and they are the last remaining team between Kansas and a national championship.
WHO TO WATCH
Derrick Rose, 6-foot-3 freshman guard
He's been compared to NBA star Jason Kidd. His stats – 25 points, nine rebounds and four assists against UCLA – speak for themselves. So how does Kansas stop Memphis powerful young colt. It'll be a group effort, with Russell Robinson, Mario Chalmers and Sherron
Rose
Collins all getting an opportunity to defend Rose. Kansas had been burned before by freshmen in national championship games. If Kansas can contain Rose, they'll be that much closer to victory.
Can Rush stop CDR?
QUESTION MARK
It's no secret. Brandon Rush will be matched up with Memphis' Chris Douglas Roberts. At 6-foot-7, CDR poses problems for most college wings. He scorched UCLA for 28 points. But Rush has the size and length to stop him. The Jayhawks need Rush to score, but tonight, it might be more important for him to guard.
HEARYE. HEARYE
"I think it has brought our city together.There's just something about Memphis basketball. They love us; they love the way we play. We have brought a lot of attention to the city. Memphis is not really known for anything positive.They want something positive to finally come to the city."
Memphis junior forward Robert Dozier on the city of Memphis.
JAYHAWK STATS
| Player | Mins | FG-FGA | 3FG-3FGA | Rebs | Points |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 25 Rush, Brandon | 29.3 | 175-405 | 80-189 | 5.1 | 13.4 |
| 15 Chalmers, Mario | 29.7 | 159-305 | 71-150 | 3.1 | 12.6 |
| 00 Arthur, Darrell | 24.5 | 205-381 | 2-12 | 6.2 | 12.6 |
| 32 Jackson, Darnell | 24.2 | 168-269 | 2-6 | 6.6 | 11.3 |
| 04 Collins, Sherron | 23.5 | 112-241 | 37-101 | 2.1 | 9.2 |
| 03 Robinson, Russeli | 27.7 | 83-197 | 35-110 | 2.8 | 7.4 |
| 24 Kaun, Sasha | 17.6 | 107-171 | 0-0 | 3.9 | 7.2 |
| 45 Aldrich, Cole | 8.4 | 43-83 | 0-0 | 3.1 | 2.9 |
| 05 Stewart, Rodrick | 11.6 | 35-71 | 5-16 | 2.2 | 2.8 |
| 02 Teahan, Conner | 3.0 | 16-27 | 12-20 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| 14 Reed, Tyrel | 6.3 | 18-35 | 11-24 | 0.4 | 2.0 |
| 10 Rease, Jeremy | 4.9 | 17-45 | 11-29 | 0.3 | 1.6 |
| 11 Bechard, Brennan | 1.8 | 5-9 | 2-5 | 0.3 | 1.2 |
| 54 Kleinmann, Matt | 2.2 | 3-7 | 0-0 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| 40 Witherspoon, Brad | 2.0 | 0-4 | 0-3 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| 22 Buford, Chase | 1.6 | 1-9 | 0-6 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
PREDICTION
83-79 Kansas
Kansas proved Saturday night that it is the best running team in the country. The Jayhawks will run better than the Tigers because they can stop them on defense. A national championship is coming to Lawrence Does that score look familiar to anyone?
Teahan Three Point-o-Meter
Will freshman walk-on Conner Teahan get the opportunity to play tonight? This meter tells all.
TIGER STATS
Player Mins FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA Rebs Points
14 Douglas-Roberts, Chris 28.3 252-463 43-104 4.2 18.0
23 Rose, Derrick 28.8 201-419 34-98 4.5 14.8
02 Dozier, Robert 25.6 121-273 9-31 6.7 9.1
05 Anderson, Antonio 29.2 110-268 49-146 3.7 8.5
20 Mack, Doneal 12.7 89-228 66-181 1.7 7.1
33 Dorsey, Joey 25.2 105-164 0-1 9.7 6.9
00 Taggart, Shawn 16.9 88-173 10-27 4.2 6.0
01 Kemp, Willie 14.1 67-175 51-139 1.0 5.2
15 Allen, Andre 14.1 41-132 24-82 1.2 3.3
32 Robinson, Jeff 9.1 33-74 10-34 2.3 3.0
04 Niles, Pierre 3.9 6-15 0-0 0.8 0.7
31 McGrady, Chance 3.1 4-7 0-0 0.7 0.6
35 Bailey, Hashim 2.2 1-1 0-0 0.2 0.4
4.
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