4B
KANSAS 59,DAVIDSON 57
THE UNIVERSITY OF DAILY KANSAS
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008
MEN'S BASKETBALL WRAP-UP
MEN'S BASKET Lack of sleep no problem for Kaun during Elite Eight
BY RUSTIN DODD
dodd@kansan.com
DETROIT - The sweat wasn't quite dried on Sasha Kaun's face, and his game worn袜s from Kansas' 59-57 victory against Davidson were still strapped to his feet.
Kansas' senior center had just lead Kansas to the Final Four with 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting in front of 57,563 fans at Ford Field, and Kaun was exhausted. Figures, because on the night before the biggest game of Kaun's life, Kansas' 6-foot-11 senior center couldn't fall asleep.
Junior forward Matt Kleinman slept soundly in the bed next to him, but Kaun kept tossing and turning. His last opportunity to play in a Final Four sat in front of him and Kaun couldn't stop thinking about it.
"I couldn't calm myself down to go to bed," Kaun said.
Kaun wanted this game so much, in fact, that he surprised his teammates in the locker room before the game. Kaun worked himself into a frenzy, just trying to get his teammates hyped. Russell Robinson couldn't understand what Kaun was saying, but he got the message.
Yet, it was Kansas' fans that might have had trouble recognizing Kaun in the second half. The kid who had grown up in Russia and moved to Florida in the ninth grade played with fire and intensity, scoring nine points in the second half.
"You normally don't see that side of him." Robinson said.
Kaun called it urgency that only a college senior could know.
"I thought it might be over," Kaun said.
With Kansas trailing 49-45 with 9:33 left in the second half, the butterflies started growing. Junior guard Mario Chalmers drove to the basket, and hoisted up a shot that rimmed out. But Kaun was there for the tip-in, cutting the Davidson lead to two.
A few possessions later, after sophomore guard Sherron Collins made a three-pointer to give Kansas
a one-point lead, Kaun extended the lead to three with another layup.
"He was due for it. He works so hard, and he does everything
to do," Collins said.
Kaun said last year's Elite Eight loss to UCLA was his lowest moment on basketball floor, and that game entered his mind on Sunda
Kaun wanted to make sure his career didn't end in the same round that brought on so much heartache last year. With 2:19 left, Kaun made
"I couldn't calm myself down to go to bed."
SASHA KAUN Kansas center
As Kansas players sat on stools during a timeout, Kaun, with sweat flying and muscles flexed, let out a roar: "Come on, let's go."
one-of-two free throws, giving Kansas a 57-53 lead.
"Sasha, in my opinion," Self said. "may have been as good a performer we had this weekend."
Edited by Daniel Reyes
The Kansas Jayhawks celebrate their Midwest regional championship after defeating Davidson 59-57 Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit. Kansas was the final Four. North Carolina, Memphis and UCLA will join in San Antonio to play for the championship.
Senior center Sasha Kaun hugs senior forward Darnell Jackson after Kansas defeated Davidson 59-57. Kaun was named the most valuable player of the regional championship game. He scored 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting and grabbed 6 rebounds in the game.
Sophomore forward Darrell Arthur embraces teammate Darnell Jackson, senior forward, during the post-game celebration. Arthur and Jackson combined for 16 points and 12 rebounds in the game. Jen Goering/KANSAN
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Freshman center Cole Aldrich, sophomore guard Sherron Collins, senior guard Russell Robinson and sophomore forward Darrell Arthur celebrate at half court following the Kansas' victory over Davidson. Kansas advances to the Final Four where they will face North Carolina
Kansas 59, Davidson 57
DAVIDSON
Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA FT-FTA Rebounds Assists Points
Thomas Sander 3-6 1-1 1-4 4 2 8
Andrew Lovedale 3-8 0-0 0-1 5 1 6
Jason Richards 3-9 0-4 1-2 1 9 7
Max Paulhus Gosselin 0-1 0-1 0-0 5 2 0
Stephen Curry 9-25 4-16 3-3 4 3 25
Boris Meno 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Will Archambault 0-2 0-1 0-0 0 0 0
Stephen Rossiter 0-0 0-0 0-2 3 0 0
Bryant Barr 4-6 3-4 0-0 1 0 11
KANSAS
Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA FT-FTA Rebounds Assists Points
Darrell Arthur 3-5 0-0 1-2 5 1 7
Darnell Jackson 4-6 0-0 1-4 7 3 9
Russell Robinson 0-3 0-2 0-0 1 1 0
Mario Chalmers 5-10 3-4 0-0 3 2 13
Brandon Rush 4-14 1-5 3-3 7 2 12
Sherron Collins 1-8 1-3 2-2 3 3 5
Jeremy Case 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Sasha Kaun 6-6 0-0 1-3 6 0 13
Cole Aldrich 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 0