How It Should Have Ended

Kansas had proved me wrong all tournament, why would I have thought things would be any different late in the 4th quarter on Monday night?

Memphis up 9 with under 2 minutes to go felt like a lock, but Kansas stormed back. The furious comeback was capped by Mario Chalmers 3 point shot, which tied the game with only 2 seconds left.

Now on to the real story, no not the OT win by the Jayhawks, but the strategy employed by Memphis at the end of regulation. There were two controversial subjects: No. 1, should Memphis have called a timeout after hitting the FT to go up by 3? And, No. 2, should Memphis have fouled to prevent Chalmers' game tying 3?

The answer to both questions is . . . YES!

This was the National Championship. You don't take chances on this stage.

The timeout is probably the more controversial of the two topics. Kansas was out of TO's and calling one would give them a chance to draw up a play. However, people that are using this argument are forgetting one key point. Memphis was not going to allow Kansas to get off a shot! The Tigers should've used their timeout and made it clear to all players that they were to foul when the ball was near the half line.

Calipari claims they were trying to foul, but I'm not sure I'm buying it. I believe that he wanted his players to foul, but It didn't appear that a single player on the floor for Memphis got that message.

It hurts me to say it, because I like Calipari as a coach, but he simply blew it. Combine the coaching error with horrendous foul shooting down the stretch, and it equals a monumental meltdown that will be remembered forever by fans of both the Tigers and Jayhawks.

Then There Were Two

The Final 4 was cut in half on Saturday night, and I'll be the first to admit, I could not have been more wrong about Kansas. I gave the Jayhawks very little respect heading into the tournament, and gave them even less going into Saturday's game against the Tar Heels. Much to my surprise, Kansas proved to be quicker, bigger, stronger, and much better defensively.

With approximately 7 minutes left in the first half, Billy Packer declared the game "over". This rubbed me the wrong way, much like a lot of what comes out of Packer's mouth. However, his assessment held true, even with a Carolina rally narrowing the lead down to 4 midway through the 2nd half.

Hansbrough was held in check, Ty Lawson didn't show up, and UNC shot only 36% from the field.

In the early game, Memphis' guards (Rose and CDR combined for 53 points) outplayed UCLA's duo of Collison and Westbrook. Darren Collison was especially shaky, fouling out with only 2 points, and 5 turnovers (compared to only 4 assists).

What can be taken away from Saturday night's showdowns?

• Memphis is even more athletic than I previously thought. This was evident in the way they blew by the defensive minded Bruins for a number of easy layups.
• Memphis looked sharp at the foul line, hitting 20 for 23 against UCLA.
• Kansas' mauling of the Heels makes Davidson's performance even more impressive.
• While I'm not a huge fan of either Memphis or Kansas, Monday's championship should be fast paced and intense.
• Note to North Carolina: When you reach the Final 4, you need to come ready to play from the opening tip. It's a shame that they wasted this opportunity by coming out so lethargic.
  

Memphis Suspends Allen

5'10 PG, Andre Allen has been suspended for the Final Four due to a failed drug test. Allen plays about 14 minutes per game for the Tigers and is averaging 3 points and 2 assists per game.


First off, what a disappointing way for a senior to end his career. Memphis is on the brink of a national championship, with Allen playing an important role in their run to the Final 4. I wonder if the "high" was worth it?

Second, will this affect Memphis' chances in San Antonio? With Allen out, the Tigers rotation will be altered. If Derrick Rose gets into foul trouble, difficulties could arise. But . . .

Memphis has incredible athleticism, and plays a style of offense that doesn't require a traditional point guard. It's these two issues that lead me to believe Allen's absence will not be a determining factor in San Antonio.

Where Are You Now . . . Darius Washington?

Watching the Memphis Tigers destroy Michigan State on Saturday night got me thinking, what in the world happened to Darius Washington? You remember him; the guy who missed two key free throws in the 2005 Conference USA championship game. Well if you pondered this mystery, here is your answer:

Went undrafted in 2006

Signed by PAOK Thessaloniki of Greece on Nov. 2006

Played 18 games in 2007 for the Spurs where he averaged 8.2 minutes per game, 2.9 PPG on 44% shooting, and 1.1 RPG.

Signed by CEZ Basketball Nymburk of Czech Republic in March 2007. Washington was named the MVP of the 2007 Czech All Star game, and his team went on to win the Czech National Championship and the National Cup.

Signed by Aris Thessaloniki of Greece in Jan. 08 and is currently playing in the Euroleague.

Now, the question is: Can Memphis (one of the worst FT shooting teams in the nation) win a national championship, or will a new Darius Washington step up to the line and miss them when they count the most?