Jason Whitlock  

COMMENTARY

There’s no team like Kansas

SAN ANTONIO | That’s how you win it all, exorcise the demons and baptize a new era of greatness.

You do it with an unforgettable rally, a stunning three-pointer and with your most famous and infamous coaching alum sitting in the stadium, cheering you on and sporting a Jayhawk sticker.

Dorothy said it best: “There’s no place like (Kansas),” and now maybe Roy Williams and everybody else in the college basketball world realizes it, too.

Five years from heartbreak, feelings of betrayal and ruin, the Kansas Jayhawks are the kings of college basketball, winning their third NCAA title Monday night with a pulsating 75-68 overtime victory against the Memphis Tigers.

On the 20th anniversary of Danny Manning and the Miracles, Mario Chalmers’ miracle three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation rescued the Jayhawks, culminated a furious 130-seconds rally from a nine-point hole and sent the championship spiraling into an extra session.

The Jayhawks were dead, down 60-51 with 2 minutes, 12 seconds to play and in desperate need of several miracles. They got a few along the way.

It really started when the refs correctly changed Memphis freshman Derrick Rose’s apparent three-point basket to a two during a TV timeout with a little less than 4 minutes left in regulation.

That point would obviously prove to be critical. So would Memphis’ three missed free throws in regulation’s final 16 seconds. All season, basketball experts predicted the Tigers’ free-throw-shooting woes would bite them.

When Chris Douglas-Roberts and Rose failed to extend Memphis’ lead to two possessions by missing a combined three of four freebies, it cracked the door for Chalmers’ heroics. When the Tigers failed to foul a Jayhawk and send Kansas to the line for two free throws, Memphis opened the door wide for a game-tying, miracle three-pointer.

Chalmers walked through that door, unspooling a floating rainbow from the top of the key.

It was good when it left his hand. It was great when it tickled the bottom of the net. And it became a permanent part of Kansas history when the Jayhawks rode its momentum to a six-point advantage halfway through overtime.

“We got the ball into our most clutch player’s hands, and he delivered,” Kansas coach Bill Self said.

All of the Jayhawks delivered on Monday night.

Darrell Arthur scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Brandon Rush dropped in 12 points and chased Douglas-Roberts all evening. Sherron Collins nailed a huge three late in regulation, passed out six assists and stole three balls. Darnell Jackson produced eight points and eight rebounds. Russell Robinson pestered Rose into a miserable first-half performance.

Chalmers did a little bit of everything, scoring 18, dishing out three assists and grabbing four steals. He was chosen the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. He deserved it — on the big shot alone.

Self deserves some praise, too. He kept his team calm, confident and aggressive when it trailed by nine points and the game looked decided. The Jayhawks used their timeouts wisely and fouled at the right time in mounting their comeback.

There will be a lot of talk about Memphis’ collapse and John Calipari’s coaching blunders.

“I take full responsibility,” Calipari said in the aftermath. “When you’re up seven (really nine) … you’re supposed to win that game. We were fouling late, and the kid got away from Derrick so he couldn’t get to him to foul him, and when he did get to him, knocked him to the floor and they just didn’t call it. I understand why. And then they make a tough shot.

To reach Jason Whitlock, call 816-234-4869 or send e-mail to jwhitlock@kcstar.com. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com.