Tuesday, April 8, 2008
San Antonio, Texas — Call this one Mario – and the miracle.
Ask someone twenty years from now where they were when Mario Chalmers hit “the shot,” and they’ll probably tell you the Alamodome.
Junior guard Mario Chalmers passes an alley-oop dunk to sophomore forward Darrell Arthur during overtime.
It seemed as if all of Kansas was in the massive arena on the outskirts of downtown San Antonio.
Nope, it was only 43,257 fans. But junior guard Mario Chalmers, the tournament’s most outstanding player, made them roar like never before.
“It was probably the biggest shot ever made in the history of Kansas basketball,” coach Bill Self said.
The game, the season, the dream. It all looked lost, snatched away by the beautiful play of Memphis’ duo of junior Chris Douglas-Roberts and freshman Derrick Rose.
But then Memphis started missing free throws and Kansas furiously rallied. And down three, with 10 seconds remaining, Sherron Collins skirted across half-court and found a looping Mario Chalmers.
“Sherron kind of fumbled the ball,” Chalmers said.
The three-pointer went down. Kansas 63, Memphis 63. Life continued.
“We got the ball to our most clutch player and he delivered,” Self said.
Funny thing is, Bill Self saw this coming. Kansas was known as a team of balance, defined by players who only cared about winning. A group of high school stars, brought together and molded into champions by Kansas coach Bill Self.
But Self knew. He kept it close to his breast, but he knew. Mario Chalmers was Kansas’ go-to-guy. Self even said so last year.
“He has no memory,” Self said. “The next thing that happens is the only thing he’s worried about.”
The shot will be replayed for years. Mario Chalmers, who came to Kansas from Anchorage, Alaska, finding the net and sending the game into overtime.
Of course, there was still an overtime to be played. Energized by a second chance, Kansas quickly took control.
And once again Chalmers came through, making two free throws with 45 seconds remaining.
When it was all over, Chalmers high-stepped around the Alamodome with Brady Morningstar fast in pursuit. Morningstar finally caught Chalmers, wrapped his hands armed around Kansas’ junior guard and tried to jump on his back. Chalmes slipped away. He probably was tired of carrying people.
It was a team effort in the first half, as Kansas built a 33-28 lead.
But in the second half and overtime, Chalmers made his presence known, delivering 11 points and two assists after the break.
Kansas’ junior guard finished with 18 points, three assists, three steals, and the most clutch shot in Kansas history.
Chalmers seemed unfazed by history.
“I just know that it was a big shot,” He said. “My teammates had confidence in me,”
The confetti poured and the championship T-shirts came out. A historic comeback was complete.
As the buzzer sounded, Chalmers made his way to the crowd.
Finally he found his way to his mother and hung on for dear life. Moments later, Chalmers hugged his father, Ronnie. Father and son were wrapped into each others’ arms, and the Jayhawks were champions once again.
“There was something different tonight,” Self said.
—Edited by Sasha Roe
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