Forget “Danny and the Miracles,” Kansas’ stunning comeback in the closing moments of the National Title Game against Memphis was the stuff of legends

SCOTT JACOBS

It had been 20 years since Kansas was the last team to cut down the nets. But boy, if they knew the Jayhawks would win their third championship in overtime thrilling fashion I’m pretty sure the rabid fans in Lawrence would have been a little happier to wait. In an awesome, closely contested championship game (the way it oughta be), neither Kansas nor Memphis ever led by double digits. The biggest lead, Memphis’ 9 in the last five minutes appeared to be the nail in Kansas’ coffin. But gritty play, Mario Chalmers mastery, and Memphis’ brick shooting at the foul line when it mattered most, turned a game that looked over into a surefire ESPN Classic.

Kansas 75 Memphis 68 OT.

It was the kinda game you dream for, but only usually get once ever 10 years if your lucky. Unlike title games in year’s past, the game didn’t even appear remotely out of reach until under five minutes to go. But that was when Kansas started making magic. Down 9 they began to chip away at what appeared to be a safe lead. It wasn’t.

Even Derrick Rose’s improbable bank shot at the shot clock buzzer late in the game (to which I screamed that could do it) wasn’t enough to finish off the Cardiac Jayhawks, who had one final comeback up their sleeve.

On Saturday it was Kansas holding onto a 28 point lead over UNC and avoiding the greatest collapse in tourney history. On Monday, it was Kansas’ clutch comeback, sure to rank up there with the best of them.

It’s not like the Rock Chalk Jayhawks lucked into the title. They went 14-15 from the line, unbelievable numbers in a title game. They were plus 18 in the paint, and rendered Joey Dorsey ineffective, as Memphis’ hulk of a presence fouled out with under two minutes to go in regulation. Memphis may have the record for most wins ever in a season (38), but it’s Kansas’ 37 that tie them for the second most wins ever, and more importantly net them a title.

It was a fabulous end to a very up and down tournament and the first ever national title in hoops since the Big XII started in 1996.

“We’re national champs and all of a sudden this kid makes that shot and we’re not…” said Memphis coach John Calipari, who watched his self proclaimed dream team, fall in a nightmare finish. Chris Douglas Roberts had 22 points, but missed crucial free throws down the stretch. He looked stunned as Kansas ran around the Alamodome, celebrating an improbable championship. Everyone on Memphis did.

“I wish I could have done one thing to get us over the hump,” said Calipari, who put the loss on his shoulders.

Maybe Kansas shooting nearly 53% from the field was another reason.

Anyway one looks at it, the 7th overtime game in title history went to Kansas. No controversial foul or no call, but maybe a few things Memphis would have done differently.

With KU driving down the court and one last chance to tie down 3, Memphis elected not to foul with under 10 seconds left. After the game, Calipari said he wanted the foul. The analysts said that the Tigers should have sent Kansas to the line and the game would have been over. It sounds good in theory, but there has to be a reason NO ONE seems to ever do it. You see these scenarios play out constantly and rarely if ever, do you see a team foul the opposing player when they’re up 3. Maybe they’re afraid of the guy jumping up and hoisting up a three while they hack him. Whatever it is, it just isn’t a strategy played out very often.

“We was ready to cut the nets down,” said Joey Dorsey.

So close. So close. And you know those Boston chants? The Bucky BLEEPIN Dent horror stories Red Sox fans used to deplore? Well, prepare Memphis fans for Mario BLEEPIN Chalmers. As cool as could be, Chalmers was perfect from the line, and more importantly made the one shot he absolutely had to: the desperation three pointer that sunk the Tigers and energized those Cardiac kids from Kansas.

After that, right from the tip in OT, Memphis looked destroyed. They had all the air taken out of them. Basketball was no longer the most fun for Memphis.

Instead, a few minutes later it was the Jayhawks who partied into the night in one of the wildest title games we’ve seen in some time.

One shining moment? There were o so many. And what a year for Kansas. In January their improbable football team won the Orange Bowl. In April they’re cutting down the nets. Not too shabby KU. Not bad at all.

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