You could see it on Stephen Curry’s face when he started the game 0-5. This was going to be a different game for him. Soon as I started to think that Kansas’ defense would put the clamps on him, he proved me and the Jayhawks wrong. He exploded for 10 quick points and was on his way to another big game.
At each TV timeout in the first half Davidson was in the lead or tied until the end of the hald when Kansas went up 2. I kept waiting for Rush or Chalmers or Collins to take over. They never did! Thas is the Jayhawks achilles heel. Too unselfish for their own good. I know I am picking on a team that is 35-3, but that’s what people do in Kansas. Much maligned big man Sasha Kaun came up big going 6-6 fro the field and leading them in scoring. Mark my words he will be a 8-10 year player in the NBA.
Back to today. In the second half Curry made shots and kept the Wildcats close. Just when Kansas started to pull away he got a little help from Bryant Barr who knocked down three three’s to keep them in it and give Curry a chance to regroup for the final push. Kansas had a couple of opportunities to put the game away, but Collins and Rush couldn’t deliver. Curry did hitting a 3 and cutting the Jayhawk lead to 2.
On the final possession Kansas played four guards and won it on the defensive end. They forced Curry to give it up and escaped a missed three point shot by Richards at the buzzer. They say defense wins championships. On this day it did for the Jayhawks.
Now that Bill Self has gotten the gorilla off his back (first final four), he has an opportunity to get the little monkey (Roy Williams) off his back. Here’s hoping that Self can quiet all the Kansas fans who wanted Roy back forever.
