Three For The Ages

Bill Self put it well before the game when he addressed his players - this will be a special night. Oh boy it was! And not only Self, his players and Jayhawks fans will remember this night for the rest of their lifes, every basketball fan will think back to this National Championship game with joy and a full heart.

The game looked over with 2 minutes to go and the Memphis Tigers leading by 9 points in what was an evenly matched contest throughout. Yet the Jayhawks never gave up. With every second passing and every point Kansas chipped away from their deficit, the Tigers felt more uncomfortable. Then the moment came that they feared most all year long: They led the big game and had the chance to ice it at the foul line. And just how so many experts have promised, one clank after another put Kansas back in business. Superstar freshman Derrick Rose missed one of two after the Tigers couldn't convert on four free throws in the final 1:12 minutes. With the score 63:60 Memphis and roughly 10 seconds to go, all the Tigers' title dreams turned into a monumental nightmare. Sherron Collins raced the ball up court and handed it to Mario Chalmers. With the eyes of a nation on him, Chalmers pulled up for the three at the top of the key. A moment later the biggest shot of his life turned the Kansas fans and bench into a frenzy and let every Memphis fan hang their head in shock. At that moment, with the game going into overtime, there could only be one winner. The Jayhawks dominated the extra period to win the third National Championship in school history. With his late game heroics, Chalmers closed the book in deserving fashion on just another NCAA Tournament and another March Madness. And he reminded us all why we love college basketball so much.

I won't have to talk about this love to the Memphis Tigers right now. They couldn't put the icing on the cake of a dream season in which they won 38 games and only lost two. But the second one proved to be one to many. Derrick Rose put the team on his shoulders in the second half showing everyone why he is considered one of the premier NBA prospects in his class. Others like Joey Dorsey and Robert Dozier shipped in with admirable efforts only to come up short in the end. You gotta feel for these guys who missed out on an opportunity that they will regret the rest of their being. Congrats to Memphis for a great season, even though this night belonged to Kansas and only to Kansas!

Bill Self put the game in jeopardy for his Jayhawks, switching to a zone and a box and one midway through the second half. Out of their usual aggressive man to man defense the Jayhawks lost their rythmn and almost the game. But it was a furious late game comeback, highlighted by Chalmers' game tying trey, that let "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" sound as loud as ever. Darrell Arthur led Kansas with 20 points, proving that he is a tremendous pro in the making. Other key contributors were Brandon Rush, who locked down Chris Douglas-Roberts in the second half, and the speedy Sherron Collins who never took his foot of the pedal. Overall Kansas' depth gave them the second air and they could withstand foul difficulty, unlike the Tigers who lost their senior leader Dorsey late in the fourth quarter. What a great game it was! A true night to remember in a Tournament that has given us so many great moments over the years. Mario Chalmers' three pointer will rank right at the top with these eternal plays of the past and it will make him a hero for life. A life in which he will always have this moment for himself and for Jayhawk nation. Even though ever is a long time, this one will last for the ages. Deservingly so...