Monday, April 7, 2008

Rock Chalk fundamentals

Congrats to the Kansas Jayhawks, who just won the NCAA basketball championship, beating the Memphis Tigers in OT. Kansas came back from a 8-point deficit by hitting shots and sending Memphis to the free throw line. All season, that was the Achilles' heel for the Tigers. When they were beating the crap out of C-USA and the likes of Michigan State and Texas in the tournament, it didn't matter much. But, Kansas kept sending them to the line, and Memphis kept missing. This obviously kept KU in position to win or force OT. Mario Chalmers hit a great 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to force that OT.

So here's the moral of the story: Dunks and 3s will get you on Sportscenter, but boring things like defense and free throws win championships. You gotta hit your throws. If Memphis makes 2 that they missed, they win in regulation, and I'm congratulating them (for what that's worth). Meanwhile, KU made 14 of 15 from the line.

Either way, congrats to the Jayhawks. Having spent some time in Kansas City, I know the fans are pretty rabid, so cheers to them. Hopefully the fans in KC don't tear up places like Tanner's, Coach's; or closer to campus in Lawrence, any place on K-10, especially the Rock Chalk Car Wash. I enjoy referencing (and by referencing, I mean making fun of) that place.

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