Kansas shoots down Memphis in overtime

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 4/09/2008

 Mario Chalmers of Kansas did it — he hit the shot that stopped the Tigers with 2.1 seconds left in regulation and Memphis clinging to a 63-60 lead and potentially the school’s first-ever national title.

 Chalmers hit the biggest shot in an NCAA championship since Keith Smart of Indiana beat Syracuse in 1987.

 His three-point shot tied the game at 63-63 and forced overtime. Memphis could not overcome the shock of blowing a 60-51 lead with 2.12 left in regulation and saw their dreams of a championship end as the Jayhawks carried that momentum into overtime, outscoring the Tigers 12-5 in overtime and winning the NCAA championship.

  Kansas (37-3) wins their third NCAA Men’s Basketball title, and Memphis (38-2) will be haunted by one of the biggest collapses in NCAA history. The Tigers won more games than any team in NCAA history, but the inability to finish off the Jayhawks will forever be a part of their lore.

 How did they find a way to allow a national title to slip away? “To finish first, you must first finish.” The Tigers shot just 63 percent from the free-throw line (12-19), a major reason why Kansas was able to come back, and shot just 40 percent from the field.

  Kansas , the last of four number one seeds standing, made 14 of 15 free-throws and shot 52 percent for the game. It was the seventh overtime in NCAA history and the first since 1997, when Arizona beat Kentucky 84-79.

  Kansas also out-rebounded Memphis 37 to 27, winning their first title in 20 years. It was the 20th anniversary of the year that Danny Manning and the Miracles beat Oklahoma for the NCAA crown.

The game was not without controversy. Derrick Rose’s three-point field goal gave Memphis a 57-49 lead in the half. However, game officials went back using instant replay and correctly credited Rose with only two points. Nevertheless, Memphis remained in complete control, leading 56-49 before they wilted in the spotlight.

 Chalmers scored 18 points and had four steals. He was selected the outstanding player of the NCAA tournament.     

 Are the Twins ready to play ball?

 After an opening week losing four of seven games at home, it’s a little early to write the Twins off for 2008. Baseball is a marathon, playing 162 games — it’s not a sprint.

 The Twins dropped three of four games to Los Angeles , the same Angels who signed seven-time Gold Glove, two-time All-Star centerfielder Torii Hunter to a five-year $90 million contract. How badly will the Twins miss Hunter and two-time Cy Young-winning ace pitcher Yohan Santana?

 Baseball is a unique game, and it’s difficult to see the Twins making the playoffs in 2008 considering what they lost. They have a good team, but you cannot replace what they allowed to get away.

 “They are going to have to get good pitching, use their speed, and get some timely hitting to win ball games,” says Hall-of -Famer Joe Morgan. Morgan, the lead TV baseball analyst on ESPN Baseball broadcasts, was in town to call the Twins’ home opener vs. Los Angeles .

 “Make no mistake about it, they are going to miss Johan Santana, and they are going to miss Torii Hunter before the year is over,” says Morgan. “I have a feeling personally that they are going to miss Torii Hunter more than Santana, because he played every day. Santana pitches once every fifth day, and Torii Hunter was kind of the leader that was the face of this Twins team.

 “He was the ultimate teammate,” Morgan continues. “He played the game with passion. He played great defense, and you’re going to miss that. You cannot get away from missing that on a daily basis, but that’s the way the game is. Things happen. People move on.”

 Torii Hunter is really missed in the Twins clubhouse. When a game ends, win or lose, Hunter always made himself available to the media. Many of the Twins are not yet comfortable in the spotlight. That’s what an ultimate teammate does — he protects guys who just don’t understand the importance of dealing with the media on a daily basis. 

 “I’m an Angel,” says Torii Hunter now. “It’s weird coming back here with an ‘A’ on my hat, not the ‘TC’. It’s something that you go through in your career. It’s still the same game, you’re still having fun playing the game of baseball, but I really do miss it here.”

 Hunter may be gone, but his legacy carries on. He has a program here in Minneapolis called “Team up with Torii Hunter” that will provide Little League Baseball for North Minneapolis this spring and summer. Boys and girls ages 7-12 who live in North Minneapolis are eligible, and all players get a full baseball uniform. But you have to sign up by April 11. To register, call 763-588-2317 or 763-537-1824. 

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and biweekly he commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.