4B
KANSAS 75,UNLV 56
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2008
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Junior guard Mario Chalmers makes a layup during the first half. Chalmers was the high scorer for Kansas with 17 total points.
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Junior guard Brandon Rush picks up his fifth foul blocking the shot of UNLV guard Wink Adams during the second half. Rush scored 12 points, grabbed six boards and dished three assists before fouling out of the game. Adams led the Rebels with 25 points, which included 15 points from the free-throw line.
WRAP-UP the HIGH
low
A special high/low from a weekend in Omaha, Neb.
Highs
Silver Sweet 16
The Jayhawks victory against UNLV clinched the 25th Sweet 16 in Kansas history.
On to Motown
There are two ways to look at it as Kansas heads to Detroit for the Midwest Regional. Detroit was the site of Kansas' victory against K-State in the 1988 regional final. But Detroit was also the site of Kansas' first-round loss to Bradley two years ago. We'll say it's time for the Detroit karma to work in the Hawks favor.
Super Mario
The junior guard is averaging 21 points in Kansas' last three games. Anybody else looking forward to Chalmers' matchup with Villanova's electric guard Scottie Reynolds? Look for Chalmers and Reynolds to light up Ford Field in Detroit.
If you're thinking that Kansas' trip to the Final Four will include a matchup with second-seeded Georgetown in the Elite Eight, don't forget about Wisconsin. The Badgers ended Michael Beasley's
Badger nation
season — and probably career.
Lows
— with an impressive display of ball-control offense and fundamental defense. Remember this name: Joe Krabbenhoft, Kansas gushed when a reporter mentioned Krabbenhoft — Wisconsin's 6-foot-7 glue guy — after Kansas' victory against UNLV. If Kansas beats Villanova, expect a gritty battle with Wisconsin in the regional final.
Overbearing zebras
All you can really ask for in March is a group of officials who'll let the players play.
Not a crew of zebras who blow their whistles at every instance of contact. Players are the show, not officials. The officials in Omaha called it close all weekend, and Kansas and UNLV combined for 46 fouls and 53 free throws. Let's let the athletes play in a game that doesn't stop every few seconds.
Where da students at?
—Rustin Dodd
It's too bad the NCAA doesn't do more to give students a chance to experience March Madness in person. Sure, the NCAA rations some tickets for student use. But we're talking college students here. How about slashing the prices even more, so students can afford to get to the game without breaking their bank.
Kansas 75, UNLV 56
Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA Rebounds Points
Corey Bailey 0-1 0-0 1 1
Joe Darger 3-7 2-6 2 8
Wink Adams 5-13 0-3 3 25
Rene Rougeau 1-4 0-0 8 4
Curtis Terry 3-10 3-8 3 12
Mareceo Rutledge 0-2 0-0 2 0
Kendall Wallace 0-2 0-1 2 0
Scott Hoffman 0-0 0-0 0 0
Troy Cage 0-0 0-0 0 0
Matt Shaw 0-6 0-4 3 6
UNLV
Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA Rebounds Points
Darrell Arthur 4-8 0-0 5 9
Darnell Jackson 2-4 0-0 9 8
Russell Robinson 4-5 1-2 3 13
Mario Chalmers 6-11 2-7 4 17
Brandon Rush 5-10 2-3 6 12
Conner Teahan 0-0 0-0 0 0
Sherron Collins 5-8 0-1 2 10
Jeremy Case 0-0 0-0 0 0
Tyrel Reed 0-0 0-0 0 0
Sasha Kaun 2-3 0-0 2 4
Cole Aldrich 1-1 0-0 2 2
Matt Kleinmann 0-0 0-0 0 0
game notes
KANSAS
No granny here
A reporter asked Sasha Kaun on Friday if he'd ever considered shooting his free throws underhanded, adding that Wilt Chamberlain did it to correct his poor stroke. Kaun wasn't exactly interested.
"No," he said. "Definitely not."
Sicko
Rodrick Stewart couldn't even leave the hotel room on Saturday. He came down with tonsillitis, and Self said he wanted to keep him quarantined away from the rest of the team. Stewart also had to return to Lawrence on a separate bus.
Feeling for Frank
Self didn't rejoice at seeing one of his team's rivals, Kansas State, exit the tournament on Saturday. He talked to coach Frank Martin and players Michael Beasley, Client Stewart and Blake Young before the game.
"Frank did a great job with that team. They won a big game in the tournament. They should be glad of what they accomplished this year. Our fans hate K-State, and K-State fans hate KU. Coaches don't hate each other. At least we don't yet. I'm sure Frank wished us the best."
Mark Dent
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