Live from the Qwest Center: Day 3
Back for a third helping from Omaha. Check back for new developments.
March 22, 2008
By Rustin Dodd
7:33 p.m.
They say every championship team has a close call in the NCAA tournament. I'm just not sure if this is Kansas'... or if the Jayhawks aren't truly elite.
Right now, the Jays are lucky UNLV is shooting about 30 percent from the field. Kansas is doing a nice job containing UNLV inside (the should... afterall they've got about 4 inches on the Rebels at each frontcourt position) but Kansas just hasn't been crisp...
6:56 p.m.
Whoa... there Mario... didn't realize you were here.
Actually, Chalmers first three pointer in four attempts... just gave Kansas a 30-26 lead with 1:23 left in the first half.
But the tempo is clearly favoring UNLV at this point. Kansas is shooting a poor percentage from three.
It'll be interesting to see if Self can get Kansas' problems corrected at halftime... or if the Jayhawks will just come out and play tighter with the score close at the half.
6:48 p.m.
A nice bucket (and the foul) by Russell Robinson to give Kansas the lead at 22-21.
Not sure who brought it up this weekend in Omaha (might have been Chris Piper), but somebody mentioned how seniors always show up in March. Whether its the experience factor, the sense of urgency... or whatever. Guys like RusRob are fun to watch in March. It's hard to believe his career is almost over.
6:38 p.m.
...and we have a ballgame.
Two Wink Adams free throws just made it 17-17.
UNLV halfcourt defense is doing a commendable job slowing down Kansas. The Jayhawks have settled for jumpers, or tough hookshots like the one Darrell Arthur just clanked.
Kansas, which has tried to play inside-out all season long, looks like its trying a little to hard to play through its big men.
The early momentum is gone.
6:25 p.m.
Well, Michael Beasley's career is over. K-State went down hard to Wisconsin... More on that later.
But at the moment, Kansas is having its own problems.
First off, Curtis Terry is a chucker, but he's keeping the Rebels in this game. He's made two threes and free throw.
With 11:42 left in the first half, it's Kansas 13, Curtis Terry 7.
The Jayhawks do look focused though. Chalmers and Arthur have both had crucial steals. UNLV just doesn't have the athletes to run with Kansas. It's all about tempo from here on out. If Kansas can play at the speed it wants to, (fast) than Kansas should run away with this.
If UNLV can claw back into it with defense, the outcome might be in question for awhile.
2:33 p.m.
Sitting inside the cold concrete jungle that has been transformed into the media workroom this weekend, I'm keeping one eye on Duke - West Virginia game and one eye on a UNLV media guide. I've always been fascinated by the importance of tradition in college basketball. Here in Omaha, we've got four teams with different amounts of tradition.
But it's also easy to forget how good UNLV once was in basketball.
Grandmama -- Larry Johnson -- was in attendance on Thursday and UNLV also boasts Greg Anthony, Stacey Augmon, Shawn Marion and a host of other NBA players among its alums.
With time to kill... and four media guides at my disposal... Let's breakdown the all-time starting fives for - Kansas, Wisconsin, UNLV, and K-State.
Keep in mind two caveats...
One, I was born in 1986. So as much as I appreciate basketball history, I can't remember anything pre-1992. So don't berate me if I forget some guy who played before the shot clock.
Two, I'm doing this quick.
Three, we're basing these teams off of pure talent. So, NBA careers are taken into account, but things like Final Four MVP-recongnition is weighted heavier...
Anyways, here we go...
Kansas
Guards
JoJo White
Paul Pierce
Forwards
Danny Manning
Clyde Lovellete
Wilt Chamberlain
Alright, this team is obviously front court dominated and some might argue that Pierce doesn't belong. But I say Manning, Lovellete and Chamberlain have to be on there, and the truth - Pierce - is arguable the best NBA player Kansas has produced since Wilt or White.
Wisconsin
Guards
Devin Harris
Michael Finley
Forwards
Alando Tucker
Brian Butch
Brad Sellers
K-State
Guards
Lon Kruger
Mitch Ritchmond
Forwards
Rolando Blackmon
Michael Beasley
Bob Boozer
You know what, this is a great team. I'd probably rank it ahead of Wisky's. Beasley gets the honors after not even playing a full season, and I think you could argue he's the best that's ever played in Manhattan.
Last but not least,
UNLV
Guards
Anderson Hunt
Greg Anthony
Forwards
Shawn Marion
Larry Johnson
Stacey Augmon
The scary thing? Four of these guys played on the same team.
Alright, enough time wasting.
K-State vs. Wisky is up next...
12:13 p.m.
Well, we're back in the convention center that's connected to the Qwest Center. I'll tell you this much...It's going to be a long day. We got about six hours until tip-off of Kansas - UNLV and three hours until K-State takes on 3-seed Wisconsin.
We'll be back with updates on all that good stuff...
But first, a quick recap from yesterday...
How about that Tampa Bay sub-regional?
Thank you Tampa for saving March Madness. After last year's snooze fest, the "upset" is back, and boy, did it have some bite yesterday. Four double-digit seeds won in one city - Tampa, of course.
And with those victories, (San Diego over UCONN, Western Kentucky over Drake, Siena over Vandy, and Villanova over Clemson) we are assured of two double-digit seeds making the Sweet 16... (chills)
Try to make sense of the Jayhawks' midwest region -- I dare you.
If Kansas wins...and that's a big if... (quick story. Ryan Robertson and T.J. Pugh were out in Omaha last night enjoying themselves in Pugh's hometown (and watching the basketball)... Anyway, Robertson was glued to the television screen for Villanova's upset over Clemson... As soon as Villanova won, Robertson turned to a fellow Jayhawk fan and said ,"That's helps us, out...IF WE GET THERE... IF WE GET THERE," Robertson said, alluding to the fact that Kansas will now play the winner of 13th seed, Siena, and 12th seed, Villanova, if they manage to beat UNLV.)
Robertson's right though. Nothing is assured in March. Doesn't he know that better than anyone? In Robertson's four years, Kansas lost to Syracuse in the Elite Eight his freshman year, and then had two of the most crushing tournament losses in Kansas history the following two seasons: Arizona in the Sweet 16 in 1997 and Rhode Island in second round in '98. Robertson followed that up with a second round loss to Kentucky during his senior season.
We'll be back to talk more about Kansas - UNLV and K-State-Wisky...
Maybe we'll even talk about who Kansas could face next week, if they manage to beat UNLV...
IF...
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