In a national championship game for the ages, Kansas outlasted Memphis 75-68 in overtime. A few quick thoughts:
- I feel awful for Chris Douglas-Roberts, Derrick Rose and the rest of the Tigers, who were up 60-51 with 2:12 left. They are never going to forgive themselves for missing four of five free throws down the stretch, but I sincerely hope that's not how they are remembered.
- Everyone is going to be talking about why Memphis did not foul in the final seconds, but as John Calipari said afterwards, his players were trying. It's not an easy thing to do in that situation and if Mario Chalmers had not hit the shot of a lifetime, the Tigers would be the ones cutting down the nets.
- Kansas and Memphis proved tonight that they were truly the two best teams in college basketball.
- It was a joy to watch the Jayhawks play defense. They're quick, they move their feet, they don't reach, they help and recover, they close out, they pick up well in transition, they communicate and they never stop. Kansas made Rose and CDR work for every shot (you could tell that they were flat-out exhausted by the end of the game).
- Memphis was equally impressive defensively, but struggled in overtime because they were too dependent on Rose and CDR, while Kansas had a number of options it could go to.
- Derrick Rose is going to make a lot of money, as is Bill Self. The only question for both of them is where.
- Again, my condolences to the Tiger players and fans, and hearty congratulations to Jayhawk Nation for a national title well-deserved.
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