National Championship Preview: Memphis Tigers vs. Kansas Jayhawks

ESPN's Digger Phelps had the Final Four picked in November. Clark Kellogg of CBS picked the four #1 seeds to advance to the Final Four. Heck, I even nailed the Final Four on my ESPN bracket. But after the Final Four was finalized, making the call for the Championship Game was quite the challenge. The Memphis Tigers have had the nation's best record all season long, but the cloud of "can they hit their free throws when the game is on the line" has hung over Memphis thoughout the year and into the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers have responded hitting over 83% of their free throws against #2 Texas and 87% against #1 UCLA. Meanwhile, the Kansas Jayhawks faced the #1 overall seeded North Carolina Tar Heels, took a 28-point first half lead and held on for a impressive 84-66 win. Not only was the Kansas offense impressive, but the defense held Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough in check while recording 10 steals, 9 blocked shots and holding UNC to just 35.8% shooting from the field.

In all, this has the recipe for a great Championship game on Monday night. Another fantastic NCAA Tournament will come down to the final game as two of the best programs in the college basketbll world go head-to-head.

Memphis Tigers

Memphis is led by junior Chris Douglas-Roberts who was averaging 17.2 ppg coming into the tournament. But "C-D-R" has upped his game scoring 23.6 ppg in 5 NCAA Tournament games shooting 50.7% from the field and 83.3% from the line. Freshman point guard Derrick Rose is another main piece of the Memphis puzzle as Rose averaged 13.9 ppg and 4.2 apg coming into the NCAA Tournament. In the 5 games thus far, Rose is scoring 21.4 ppg while shooting 77.5% from the line. Senior Joey Dorsey is the type of player who seems to "turn it on" only when he wants to, but can dominate the boards as shown against UCLA when he grabbed 15 rebounds in the win over the Bruins. Dorsey is just above his season average with 10.1 rpg in the Tournament with the UCLA game as his high mark. While senior guard Andre Allen was suspended by Calipari and did not make the trip to San Antonio, it does not seem that the Tigers need Allen based on their play against UCLA.

> Memphis Tigers 2008 NCAA Tournament capsule

Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas is led by a balanced attack that features 7 players averaging over 7.3 ppg. Brandon Rush leads the way at 13.1 ppg, 5.1 rbg and 2.1 apg and has been consistent in scoring 12 or more points in all 5 tournament games including 25 points in the win over North Carolina. Junior Mario Chalmers is scoring 12.7 ppg and has also scored in double-figures in every game of the NCAA Tournament. Senior Russell Robinson has averaged more than 2 steals per game for 3 straight seasons and adds over 7 ppg and 4 apg to his strong defensive play. Sophomore Darrell Arthur is a less consistent scorer depite a 12.7 ppg average, but averages over 6 rpg and came up big with 9 rebounds and 4 blocks against the Tar Heels. While the Jayhawks do not seem to have a "go-to guy" on their team, the balanced attack will give any team fits as Kansas has many strong weapons.

> Kansas Jayhawks 2008 NCAA Tournament capsule

 

2008 NCAA Tournament Results

Memphis Tigers - Buy Memphis Tigers basketball jerseys & gear

• 1st Round - defeated #16 Texas-Arlington, 87-63
• 2nd round - defeated #8 Mississippi State, 77-74
• Sweet 16 - defeated #5 Michigan State, 92-74
• Elite 8 - defeated #2 Texas, 85-67
• Final Four - defeated, #1 UCLA, 78-63

Kansas Jayhawks - Buy Kansas Jayhawks basketball jerseys & gear

• 1st Round - defeated #16 Portland State, 85-61
• 2nd round - defeated #8 UNLV, 75-56
• Sweet 16 - defeated #12 Villanova, 72-57
• Elite 8 - defeated #10 Davidson, 59-57
• Final Four - defeated #1 North Carolina, 84-66

Coaching

John Calipari is my hero; that's why he got my vote as one of the top college basketball coaches in the nation earlier this season. If you look at the top coaches in basketball today, and in the past 20-30+ years, all of those coaches have won a significant number of their games at a school that was in one of the BCS conferences (as labeled by Billy Packer of CBS). While you and I know that the BCS is only used in college football (thank the Good Lord!), Packer of course is referring to the ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-10 & SEC. Calipari is the hero of the mid-major world and the underdog's best friend. No coach in my memory has had so much consistent success at a a school outside of the power six conferences and anyone else who has come anywhere close has of course moved on for bigger dollars elsewhere. Calipari led UMass to 5 straight seasons with at least 24 wins and at least one NCAA Tournament victory before taking UMass to the Final Four in 1996. After a short stint in the NBA at New Jersey, Calipari came to Memphis where he has led the Tigers to 20+ wins in all 8 of his seasons with the Tigers including 3 straight 30+ win seasons with at least an Elite 8 appearance in each of those seasons.

Bill Self began his head coaching career at Oral Roberts, turning a terrible program into a winner. He then took over at Tulsa where he led the Golden Hurricane to a 32-5 season and an Elite 8 appearance in 2000 before succeeding Lon Kruger at Illinois. Self led the Fighting Illini to 3 seasons with 25+ wins and an Elite 8 appearance in the 2001 NCAA Tournament. After Roy Williams left Kansas for North Carolina, Self took over the Jayhawk basketball program leading them to 5 seasons of 23+ wins, two straight 30+ win seasons and two Elite 8 appearances.

NCAA Tournament Championship Game Prediction

Both coaches are in uncharted territory, neither having advanced to a National Championship game as a head coach. While Kansas showed an unbelievable energy to build a 28-point lead over UNC on Saturday night, it will be difficult for Self to get his team to duplicate that effort. Memphis, on the other hand, is more comfortable with the run-and-gun style. While Kansas is the better defensive team, I have to give Memphis the edge. Throughout the 2008 NCAA Tournament the Tigers have looked like a team on a mission. Kansas will not back down, but John Calipari's team will complete their season with a win over Kansas in the National Championship Game.

Prediction: Memphis 82 - Kansas 74

By Alexander Firestone
CUSA Fans Guest Writer
Article provided in partnership with College Sports Fans