Bringing all four top seed together was supposed to mean that you would have close games, instead you had a couple of double digit victories.
The jig is up for John Calipari and his Memphis Tigers. He can’t keep saying his team is the underdog when they clearly have the most talent of any team in the tournament. Derrick Rose showed why he is the best point guard in the country. He controlled the game by scoring 25 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. No doubt that he would have been in the NBA if not for the new rule.
Joey Dorsey had 15 rebounds and made up for his poor performance in the Final Four last year. He was a monster inside on both ends of the floor. Once again they shot well from the line and I don’t see any weakness in this team.
Kansas played the best 15 minutes out of the gate by any team I have ever seen in a Final Four. (I have been to 25 Final Fours in row.) Brandon Rush scored 25 and grabbed 6 rebounds and showed why he is a lottery pick. It was an outstanding performance after a disappointing one against Davidson.
Kansas jumped out to a 40-12 lead. At that point the game was all but over. Credit Roy Williams with too much ego and poor coaching. He watched as his team fall behind by almost 30 points without calling a timeout. He froze like a deer in headlights. Hard to believe a Hall of Fame coach could screw up his team’s chances to win a national title.
Bill Self was outstanding in his first Final Four. Even when North Carolina made a run, he maintained his composure and that carried over to his team. Also, give him credit to have the confidence to keep Cole Aldrich in the game instead of going to a smaller lineup when Jackson and Kaun picked up 2 quick fouls. Aldrich rewarded his confidence with 8 points and 7 rebounds. That is what great coaches do!! They make their role players better and get out of the way of their stars. Self did it and Williams didn’t.
If you are a Kansas fan I don’t ever want to hear about wanting Roy Williams back. Now you just need to keep Bill Self a Jayhawk forever.
