April 08, 2008

Final Four: Calipari, Memphis Bummed Out

SAN ANTONIO -- You have to feel bad for Memphis coach John Calipari, who had a great team and a great season, but must be pained by the missed opportunities in tonight's championship game.

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Even the hot UofM dancers had a hard time handling the stress...
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Billy says, "Damn. I screwed the pooch on my bracket!"...
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But Mr. Dunk-the-ball-then-grab-it-so-they-can't-inbound-it deserves a long walk tonight...
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Posted by Eric Sorenson at 12:41 AM | Comment

Final Four: KU Crowned National Champions

SAN ANTONIO -- Kansas has scoreboard...
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Kansas has cutting nets...
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Kansas also has its Self...
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Posted by Eric Sorenson at 12:29 AM | Comment

Final Four: Kansas Completes Comeback For Title

SAN ANTONIO -- Kansas completed its remarkable comeback and won the national championship, 75-68, in OT.

And now, we are buried in confetti.

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Neither rain, nor snow, nor hail of confetti can keep us from blogging.

As time wound down, Memphis fans sense that their team had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. You really have to feel for Memphis and the heartbreaking way they lost this game.

Kansas fans also had a sense of what was coming when Rock Chalk went up with 18.2 secs left.

Final stats have just been handed over. Arthur finished with 20 and Chalmers had 18, including the game-tying shot.

For Memphis, Rose, who played every minute, had 18, but CDR led the Tigers with 20. Memphis shot 63 percent from the line, better than their season average, but missed free throws down the stretch certainly aided the Kansas comeback.

The all-tournament team has been announced. Mario Chalmers is the MOP. Artuhur, Rush, Rose and CDR are also on the team.

And that is a wrap from San Antonio. I may attempt a Hang Time entry tomorrow, but I'm not sure if that will be possible. We are closing down CSTV.com after the NCAA Tournament.

So with that said, I want to take this opportunity to especially thank my editor at CSTV.com, Josh Herwitt, and Managing Editor Dan Kaufman, for giving me an opportunity to bring coverage like this to you over the last several years. And also a big thank you to all you readers. Hopefully, you'll see me around here again sometime.

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Posted by Jerry Palm at 12:07 AM | Comment

April 07, 2008

Final Four: Jayhawks Earn It

SAN ANTONIO -- Kansas wins a remarkable game with a remarkable comeback and Memphis can only wonder what-if?

Final score: Kansas 75 , Memphis 68.

Free throw shooting did, in the end, have an effect on the Tigers season.

That'll do it for us. We thank you for being there.

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Posted by David Scott at 11:53 PM | Comment

Final Four: KU Jumps Ahead In OT

SAN ANTONIO -- Overtime started great for the Jayhawks. Collins got a steal, leading to a Rush layup. After a stop, Arther got an alley-oop from Chalmers that they didn't even signal to each other.

Chalmers just threw it up and Arthur went up and got it. The next possession saw some great passing from Chalmers to Arthur, who fed Jackson for another layup, and KU is now up six half-way through the OT. Kansas is now on a 13-1 run.

The mood in this gym has changed considerably. I'm hearing a lot more very bad words from the Memphis fans behind us.

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Posted by Jerry Palm at 11:40 PM | Comment

Final Four: Jayhawks Have The Mo

SAN ANTONIO -- Kansas out 6-0 to start OT. Memphis has the ball with 2:29 left in OT and Kansas up, 69-63.

. . . Memphis 10-of-17 at the free throw line in regulation.

. . . How huge is that negated three-pointer from Rose? It was the right call of course.

. . . And Memphis is really missing Dorsey in the post.

. . . A bad three-point attempt by Anderson, too.

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Posted by David Scott at 11:39 PM | Comment

Final Four: Memphis Nightmare At Free Throw Line

SAN ANTONIO -- OK, Coach Cal ... guess what? We're not going to believe you from now on when you say free throws won't be a problem.

Here's a shot of Derrick Rose's choke job (following CDR's choke job) that helped KU send the game into OT:
UMfreeThrow.jpg

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Posted by Eric Sorenson at 11:34 PM | Comment

Final Four: Hold The Confetti!!!

SAN ANTONIO -- Chalmers drained a long three to tie the game with about two seconds left after Rose hit one of two from the line and we'll have some free basketball.

Memphis appeared to be trying to foul on the possession, but none was called before Chalmers slipped away and drained a rainbow from beyond the arc.

Wonder how momentum will go here. KU seems to have it now, but sometimes the team that comes back relaxes too much after completing that job.

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Posted by Jerry Palm at 11:33 PM | Comment

Final Four: Overtime

SAN ANTONIO -- Derrick Rose is limping and we are headed to overtime. A tremendous comeback by the Jayhawks and a huge three by Chalmers sends us to an extra session. Rose appears to be OK, and Memphis' free throws did hurt down the stretch.

Memphis tried to foul with the three point lead but no call was made allowing for Chalmers to bury it with 2.1 seconds left.

. . . Big factor now that Memphis is without Joey Dorsey for the OT. No one still in foul trouble for Kansas.

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Posted by David Scott at 11:33 PM | Comment

Final Four: Where's The Foul!

SAN ANTONIO -- After a miss by Memphis, Collins flew down the floor, shot in traffic and missed. Self wanted the foul, but didn't get it. CDR was fouled at the other end and went 0-for-2.

Dozier grabbed the rebound though and after another foul, CDR spiked the ball with a 30-foot bounce, and for the only time in basketball history, that move did not earn a T.

Don't know if Self complained about that.

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Posted by Jerry Palm at 11:30 PM | Comment