Kentucky Has Slight Edge, but Don’t Rule Out Kansas

If this has been a watchful season with Kentucky’s Anthony Davis and Kansas’ Thomas Robinson — what are the odds we witness one of the most amazing instant classics in NCAA history? This tournament has infatuated our senses — amazed by Davis’ beast-like behavior and the Wildcats dream season … the fab freshman sealed the deal when he slammed home an alley-oop from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to defeat in-state rival Louisville 69-61 in Saturday night’s first semifinals. What fun to see an NCAA national championship game involving Kentucky, arguably the best team in the nation loaded with plenty of talented one-and-done, NBA ready superstars, and Kansas, a storied basketball program that includes big-name stars in All-Americans Robinson and Jeff Withey.

Bluegrass State vs. Sunflower State!

The road ends here, a chance for one of these schools to celebrate in bliss, climb the ladder and cut down the nets and raise the trophy. The winner is awarded — rightfully so — with a gold-plated trophy made of wood as it embodies everything college athletics signifies, as much as it pays homage to the best basketball team in college hoops. That honor might go to Kentucky, considered as one the greatest modern-era teams we’ve seen ever. Or Kansas just might travel to Lawrence as winners, once it’s all said and done.

Kentucky, meet Kansas.

Kansas, meet Kentucky.

In the ultimate debate of Kentucky likely being one of the best college basketball teams ever seen, it’s not an overstatement to turn one’s attention to the Wildcats and flatter UK for such a dominant run throughout an unpredictable, suspenseful three-week competition. This time around, surely, the Final Four featured not one underdog, an unusual scene for a tournament where a sleeper normally wears the glass slipper to attract attention as a Cinderella. For those of you who filled out elusive brackets, which were busted no later than the first round, they were smart to fill in their brackets by choosing chalk. There is no one more unstoppable, uncontainable, unbeatable and scarier than Kentucky and, if Kansas is still unsatisfied over heartbreaking losses and is hankering for a national championship, they’ll have to beat considerably the most talented team in college basketball.

It was too often during a month of chancy basketball that, time and time again, Kansas relied on comebacks, rallying from behind in another late-game run to survive and beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 64-62, and advance to the national championship for a test in a tough meeting against Kentucky Monday night. They won’t beat the Wildcats playing stagnant and sluggish early on. They won’t because the ‘Cats cause trouble for opponents, with plenty of athleticism, ferocity and a winning mentality, coming from an inexperienced and raw group of impending NBA stars. It’s becoming a usual standard, the Calipari Way to recruit the best players, a method he utilizes beautifully to his liking with almost full confidence in one-and-done, NBA-caliber players.

This is nothing new for Kentucky head coach John Calipari, whose philosophy is a simple pattern to figure out. The Wildcats, again next season, will reload and rebuild a talented Kentucky roster because Calipari has mastered the art of recruiting. This is not to say Kansas loses to the Wildcats, but the Jayhawks must score early and maintain leads or either keep a close deficit and cannot rely on an unbelievable comeback. By realizing Calipari has mustered the most talented team ever, the Wildcats are indeed the slight favorites, while Kansas make people have panic attacks with its customary come-from-behind wins. The real concern is whether KU can match UK’s intensity and its level of focus, against a dangerous group of superstars who have played consistently and productively, a well-balanced and staunch Kentucky team.

If not for Kansas’ late-game swagger, luck charms and resilience, the Jayhawks wouldn’t have scored six unanswered points in the final minutes of the game versus Purdue in the second round to take a 63-60 win, and wouldn’t have surged on a 12-0 run that resulted in an 80-67 win. If the Jayhawks somehow sustains satisfaction — if they beat the Wildcats – then it would truly be special for Kansas and Bill Self, who will take a 2-0 lead over Calipari in the overexposed duel to remain perfect against Kentucky’s coach.

There’s another obstacle standing in Kansas’ way, and focus now shifts to Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist, who is the second-best freshman even after having an awful game by spending much of the first-half on the bench in early foul trouble. And overall, it wasn’t Kentucky’s finest game. For much of the contest, the ‘Cats were outplayed, outhustled and outrebounded but shot the ball perfectly, shooting 57.1 percent from the field. With the game tied 49-49 late in the second half, Kentucky was a bit uncomfortable and was hindered from driving the lane as Louisville tightened on defense and disrupted the Wildcats’ dribble penetration, forcing them to launch thoughtless, midrange jumpers.

It took Calipari’s guys out of their comfort zone briefly, only to regain poise and confidence with their flair for penetrating to the basket, creating plays and finding the open man. Sitting on the bench for a while, Kidd-Gilchrist played only 23 minutes total and had not one offensive rebound and went scoreless for much of the first half, finishing with nine points. It’s been an unbelievable season for Kidd-Gilchrist, a breakthrough year for the true freshman, and while he had a bad game, he still had a couple of flashy, fast break dunks in the final minutes.

Even beyond that, Davis is a key component for Kentucky and, all season, he has been the defensive force with a serious approach. It isn’t as though his time is almost over with the Wildcats, but more than likely he won’t return to Kentucky next season as Davis is definitely a surefire No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. For now, anyway, he’s the most important player on the floor for the Wildcats, and on Saturday alone, he scored 18 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and had five blocks — becoming just the second player since 1986 to post 15-10-5 in a Final Four game.

So now, the two winningest programs in college basketball are set to meet on center stage. No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 1 Kentucky. It’s clear Self will have another shot at Calipari, who will be trying to get even with Kansas’ coach in a rematch from the 2008 national championship game when Calipari, after Memphis had a nine-point lead, was defeated by Self’s Jayhawks. That was the game where Mario Chalmers buried an indelible three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to send the game to overtime and an eventual national championship. The Jayhawks are entering Monday night’s game as heavy underdogs after Kentucky overwhelmed Kansas in the second half back in November.

“This is my stage!”

Yes, this is Davis’ stage.

But for now, and until Kansas is beaten, we can’t rule the Jayhawks out. Who cares if theory has it that Kentucky can’t be stopped or beaten? There’s still one game to be played, and with lethargy, arrogance and a few costly mistakes, the Wildcats could be just as vulnerable as are the Jayhawks. At the start, Kansas was trailing by 13 early in the first half, but as they’ve done so well throughout the tournament, they stormed back in the second half by being awarded trips to the charity strike where they made free throws down the stretch. The matchup everyone talked about heavily was no match for Ohio State star Jared Sullinger in which Robinson outdueled him on a collision course.

And then, Withey, the seven-foot All-American center who only had four points was one of the game’s dominant forces and the difference maker. He shut down and stifled shooters, swatting three Sullinger shots less than three minutes into the game. And when it was over, Sullinger finished 5-for-19 and seemed exhausted as Withey stopped and rejected Sullinger with his low post defense on almost every shot he attempted. It was brought to our attention that Withey had blocked seven shots — denying everything with his size and strength, one of the tallest centers out there.

It will be a battle for Kansas, just as it will be tough for Kentucky. It’s fairly known these two teams are evenly matched in a sense, which gives us a better understanding why these two teams have advanced to the biggest stage in college basketball and will play for a title. Nothing is certain. That’s for sure. The Wildcats, as they were anticipated, beat their rivals Louisville. Following the loss, Rick Pitino spoke nicely of the Wildcats and handled it with grace and class.

But now, it’s vital the ‘Cats realize they aren’t playing a team on a lesser scale but against one of the top programs. It’s hard to argue that Kentucky can’t beat the Jayhawks, when Kansas barely hung on against low-seeded teams and almost experienced a major upset against N.C. State in the Sweet 16.

It’s fitting to see these two teams, two storied school, two great coaches with talented players.

Only the strong survives.

Bill Self Built Kansas into Winner

He isn’t such a bad coach, after all. He shook the hand of North Carolina’s Roy Williams and, with a smile, celebrated on the floor with his players. For once, Kansas head coach Bill Self had something to be proud of — overjoyed with his team’s accomplishments amid all the adversity and scares.

So ecstatic, and deservingly so, he climbed the ladder to cut the final three strands of the net, following an impressive 80-67 win over North Carolina on Sunday. He was thrilled, grinning, exactly what he needed, and when it ended, the victory sent Self to a second Final Four in nine years with Kansas. The emotions were tangible, the victory cured souls and Self’s players jumped around like fidgety kids at the end, erasing the horrifying memories of tough losses, battling through hard times and overcoming so many bad breaks to make amends. It was a moment of redemption, and more importantly, a real test for Self and the Jayhawks.

Given the program’s history, while the winner is on its way to college basketball’s biggest stage, Self can easily be considered the most decorated coach with eight consecutive Big 12 titles, the 2008 national title and the craft to beat Williams twice in the NCAA tournament at Kansas. So now, it’s all right to make an assumption he’ll win it again someday, if not this year. But he’s only two wins away from the reward, joining the big dance in the Big Easy with eyes on the trophy.

It’s been nine years ago since Williams fled Kansas, and by the time Self accepted one of the hardest jobs in America, he was right away in the shadows of one of the finest coaches ever in Kansas’ basketball program. By any measure, beyond all the doubts that he is extremely overrated after only winning one championship in his nine-year period at Kansas, Self is almost in the company of basketball’s elite coaches, especially if and when the Jayhawks dreams of another championship becomes a reality.

The Jayhawks, favored to raise another championship banner and party wildly in New Orleans once it’s all said and done, will meet East Region champion Ohio State in the semifinals. For much of the game, Kansas engaged in a tight contest to stay alive in likely its most hard fought and dominant game in this year’s NCAA tournament, for once not frightening the hearts and souls of crazed Jayhawks’ fans or believers with busted brackets, no doubt. It was a very fulfilling win, but at the same time, it was also a sign of relief for a team that had already been through it all, from the ups and downs to the good times and the bad times.

And, in a sense, Self has fueled and shaped the Jayhawks into fierce competitors overnight, and Self-motivated his players to have Self-assurance, Self-belief and Self-discipline. That’s sure to draw much attention, with all the heavy talk surrounding Kansas and Self. For now on, he probably won’t have to answer questions about Williams during press conferences, and could strictly focus on his team’s improvement.

This is the most battled-test team to ride to the Final Four, and again, will be relentlessly challenged by Ohio State next Saturday, even if Kansas is not within realm of possibility as exposed to danger as the Jayhawks have been in the past, relying on comebacks and luck to avoid potential letdowns. It is, however, no matter if the Jayhawks struggled and teetered constantly in the tourney, Self’s most remarkable season at KU. In light of the well-accomplished run with Kansas, close to capturing his second championship, Self’s Jayhawks beat a No. 1 seed for the school’s 14th Final Four appearance.

In short, he’s made Kansas even more relevant and has reestablished a storied program with his stubborn, soft attitude. Self’s mighty Jayhawks, now considered the most dangerous program behind Kentucky of course, is finding a basketball identity. Prior to this year’s extraordinary run, each year ended ever so miserably — early exits to low-seeded teams before abruptly leaving for home empty handed and with teardrops slowly draining down the faces of saddened Kansas’ players.

But now, there is reason for hope — and even Self knows that — nurturing and breeding the boys for a chance at a title. It was one of those games that Kansas’ defense stifled and trapped North Carolina, holding the Tar Heels to 22.6 percent shooting in the second half, the lowest percentage in a half for a school in an NCAA tournament game. That’s impressive, given that Self’s players play the most deadly and relentless brand of defense. And simply, it’s what defines a team with some of the best talent in the nation.

They are winners — rightfully so — by playing solidly on offense, for once, and dominating as aggressors defensively. It’s all enough to manipulate every opponent it face, enough to hinder the opposing team from turning into tenacious scorers. The star in the middle of it all is Kansas’ All-American Thomas Robinson, yes, the 6-foot-9 junior forward whose dream turned into a reality on D.C. playgrounds before arising into a physical athlete to be one of the top five picks in this year’s NBA draft.

Two years ago, Robinson wasn’t nearly as proficient as he is now and possibly is the national player of the year, dealing with disheartening tragedies and family issues that have truly been inspirational. So it’s amazing what Kansas has accomplished, and with all the joy and confidence, Self told his players that he’s enjoyed coaching this team more than anyone he’s ever directed. And with that said, this Kansas team has exceeded all expectations. The story of this contest was the reemergence of Tyshawn Taylor, who had 22 points in an eye-opening spectacle, helping Kansas to a 12-0 run in the closing minutes.

He developed into the kind of scoring guard that had been missing in this tournament, ending a scoring drought, such as thoughts of any struggles. Midway in the second half, it was a one-point game and the pressure was on for Kansas — with a chance at the Final Four. Along the way, they gained momentum and it brought fans to their feet as the crowd roared louder and louder in a neutral site that felt as if it was a homecoming for the Jayhawks, with the vast majority of their supporters in the stands.

It took exactly a second half for Kansas to realize it could outperform, outsmart and outplay North Carolina. And on the court, Taylor was the man who couldn’t be stopped, the player the Tar Heels couldn’t close in on -- stealing the ball from John Henson, one of North Carolina’s superstars, and racing down the floor for a dunk.

It was all Jayhawks from there, and so Jeff Withey, who was the blocking machine at the basket, tipped in a shot, off Taylor’s ill-advised three-point attempt. Within that span, the Tar Heels just had six points during eight minutes. The rest of the night Taylor forced turnovers and the highlight play came on Elijah Johnson’s three-point shot.

But the bigger story here is Self, of course, in search of a second championship. And yet that’s exactly why he chose to coach Kansas, hoping to be crowned. With Self’s incredible feats as opposed to his recent achievements in March, he can move into the company of top college basketball coaches.

By now, Self is more proud of a team than he’s ever been.

Kansas Jayhawks Shed Tears in Biggest Upset Ever

It was hard to envision a nightmare, a heartbreaking upset for a No. 1 seed, especially when it happened to be the second-round of March Madness.

There was a sense that this was Kansas’ year to win it all, reaching a usual pinnacle in college hoops. Needless to say, though, the Jayhawks were all so close to pulling off a considerable win over ninth-seeded Northern Iowa.

But apparently, Kansas wasn’t close enough, losing in what could go down as the biggest upset in NCAA tournament history. At a time when America counted on the Jayhawks, like the rest of us, President Obama’s bracket is now busted after predicting that Kansas was his favorites to win the national title.

Finally, Obama is imperfect at becoming the next sports genius. Ever since he was inaugurated into office, we’ve embraced his sporting enthusiasm, believing in his bold predictions.

But this time, he wasn’t nearly close. He’s not a minority, either, picking the most talented and deepest team in the nation as everyone else marked the Jayhawks to last at least until the Final Four.

But clearly, it appears all brackets are stained by mind-blowing upsets, in what has described a thrilling and mesmerizing month in sports.

This is the year No. 1 seeds seem to be in jeopardy, unsure of which team is capable reaching the Final Four.

Assuming this is the year that Cinderella teams emerge, it’s difficult ignoring the sleepers at a juncture when most at-large bids vanished from the Sweet 16 picture.

It’s fair to admit that Kansas has ruined brackets across the country, with the most stunning loss in school history.

For those keeping track, you’ve witnessed a multitude of upsets that have either happened in the first round or second round.

Within that span, we’ve had to shut or eyes witnessing the unthinkable, which has evidently, became the epicenter of the insane madness.

Of course, there’s no upset bigger than Northern Iowa, an unexpected team, surviving in a win over the powerhouses of the NCAA tourney.

This wasn’t supposed to happen to a team, favored to preserve a national title, a team with believable star power, brainwashing the nation to ignore any team the Jayhawks encountered during an assuring drive.

It’s almost surreal hearing that Kansas collapsed, taking an early departure and leaving behind unfinished business. So what happened?

Well, in an awkward position with 2 minutes, 58 seconds left, the Jayhawks trailed 59-54. Rarely did they have to come from behind this season, battling to survive a critical nail-biter.


In the final three minutes, Northern Iowa wasn’t under duress or fearful, but managed to stay composed and confident. The Panthers were aggressive and energized to take down the Jayhawks, careless in what the program embodied and weren’t startled to attack them early.

Although Kansas has a notable reputation of thrashing substandard teams, normally lasting until the Final Four, the Panthers weren’t nudged or affected by the media and populace worshiping the Jayhawks as an unbeatable team.

Ask Dickie V.

Yes baby, he forecasted that Kansas would ride to the Final Four.

Turns out, we were wrong.

Not even were the Jayhawks good enough to advance to the Sweet 16.

If Kansas was fortunate to have Ali Farokhmanesh on their roster, maybe it could’ve made a difference. With the ultimate performance of the great Ali knocking down a trio of three-pointers in the first-half, it symbolized surrealism in what felt like a movie rather than an actual contest.

Even center Jordan Eglseder made a pair of threes in the first half, a trait rarely seen considering he had made only one three-pointer all season.

But what matters greatly is that he was involved within a streaky offense that has been surprising lately, and tapered the Jayhawks’ usual game plan.

It was more than a disappointing loss, but a sad downfall. Once time expired and the buzzer sounded, Northern Iowa celebrated as if they were little kids, getting a slice of pizza at a birthday party.

That’s when reality kicked in realizing a win over the Jayhawks wasn’t surreal. On the other side, it showed how badly Kansas was longing to taste a victory, smelling a win entering what was anticipated to be a cakewalk.


Instead, the bench had reduced into tears, distraught and saddened by the results. Near the bench, no one felt more helpless than senior guard Sherron Collins, who walked to the bench slowly and shed into tears in front of coach Bill Self.

He wasn’t by himself.

The entire team was somber, unsure how to take in a loss. Marcus Morris, a sophomore forward, revealed his emotions differently, dropping to his knees, as well as his twin brother, Markieff Morris.

There’s nothing wrong with expressing emotions, especially following a shattering defeat. Later inside the locker room, the entire team cried loudly, battered, and hurt deeply.

Too emotional to show signs of tears, the Morris twins cried endlessly into towels. It’s also sad to mention that Tyshawn Taylor and Xavier Henry cried, too. All of them were loss of words, speechless and distraught bearing an awful loss.

I almost feel sorry for them, but even more so, I feel deeply sorry for Brady Morningstar, roughly taking it harder than the rest of his teammates.

The ninth-seeded Northern Iowa, a team from the Missouri Valley Conference wanted it more. Or maybe the Jayhawks took much for granted amid desperation, when underdogs are born and sends top-notch teams away crying.

Entering the game, Kansas was stronger and built for physical toughness, but Northern Iowa was quicker and much dominant.

As it unfolded, the Jayhawks underestimated the least expected team, a blunder top-seeded teams commits often while playing in a mystic tourney in which the personality transforms often as well.

It certainly has changed in the second-round, with Kansas failing to play consistently for 37 minutes and allowed the Panthers to find a shooting rhythm, hustle for loose balls at halfcourt and rebound. No way.

Doesn’t Kansas have players with muscular bodies and speed? Yes. But the Panthers were hungrier, smarter and survived a heavyweight round.

It was much too late for a wakeup call, perhaps the Jayhawks awakened too late.