National Championship Running Blog

9:14 P.M. - Tipoff is 7 minutes away so final predictions are being cast. Personally, I'll take Memphis to win by 5, 75-70 final score. Memphis is just too strong on defense and explosive on offense. All of these players know their individual roles to the team and have no problem being solely a rebounder or scorer. Memphis should handle this Kansas team. The Tigers have gotten no respect from any experts in this tourney and the chip they have will take them to a championship. Lets get this party started.

9:21 PM - After watching the introductions, the Tigers had more style and swagger. Kansas is all business, Memphis has come to put on a show.

9:25 PM - There is no Greg Oden to keep Dorsey under wraps tonight. The ball just seems to be bouncing Memphis' way right now. So far there are 0 references to Rose's candy/honeybun diet. I say the over/under of those references by the end of the night would be about 3.5.

9:37 PM - Chris Douglas-Robert's tattoo on his arm of Psalm 37 lines 1-3 is gigantic. It's one of those things that you might regret later in life, but it seems to give him good luck. I've noticed that he taps it three times before each free throw. Hey, whatever works, he'll be a a late first round pick this summer anyways.

9:46 PM - Kansas just took its first lead of the game just before halfway through the first period of play. Rose seems to be timid on the floor right now, not taking his shots when he has them. He's giving up the ball too quickly and needs to take control of his squad.

9:49 PM - Memphis' explosiveness is being successfully countered by Kansas' consistency. Memphis needs to settle down and play their game. After hitting their first two treys of the game, it looks as if they are finding a groove...

9:54 PM - Prediction: Speed Racer will be a gigantic financial failure and a bad movie to boot. I mean, John Goodman? Come on.

10:00 PM - Dorsey is taking his time getting down the floor. He looks exhausted. I'm surprised Calipari hasn't taken him out yet. The Saul Williams - "List of Demands" Nike commercial makes me want to run forever. Nike continues to impress throughout the years with their innovative advertising.

10:11 PM The last minute and a half of play in the first half was very sloppy for the Tigers. Memphis didn't score in the last 4+ minutes of the half. Down 33-28 at half, they are down by the biggest halftime margin of the season. If they don't clean up their play at halftime, this game is as good as over. Rose only has 3 points at halftime while Douglas-Roberts has almost half of the Tigers' points with 13 at half. Kansas has spread the ball around very effectively, leading even though Rush is the 3rd leading scorer right now with only 6 points. No doubt that Caliapari is simply trying to calm his team down. They are winning the turnover battle, but are taking terrible shots. Second half on the way.

10:30 PM - Not sure how I feel about Roy Williams sporting the Kansas gear after his Tarheels were just waxed by the Jayhawks two nights ago. I can assure you that Tyler Hansbrough would never put on the colors of a team that he lost to in the Final Four. In my opinion, Williams should have stayed in a luxury box or something, out of view. The only motivation I can see for this would be the impending departure of Kansas coach Bill Self. Maybe Roy wants to leave UNC? This is a story to keep an eye on...

10:40 PM - Dorsey is getting away with some questionable behavior on the court. He gave Kaun a nice shoulder check in the first half and he just dunked, caught his own ball and walked up court with it, pointing to the Tigers fans. How long til he crosses the line and gets T'd up?

10:52 PM - We're almost halfway through the second half and Rush has yet to take a shot in this period ... Rose is coming on now ... Looking like the under for his stomach flu candy diet.

11:00 PM - Rose just drilled home a trey and gave Memphis the lead with 8:22 left. The killer so far tonight for the Tigers? 4-7 (57%) from the FT line. Twice they've had and1 opportunities to tie the game and have failed to convert. Kansas is 6-7 from the line.

11:07 PM - First "WOW" moment of the night. Rose drives the lane and resembles an acrobatic move to sink the basket and pick up the and1. More shocking? HE ACTUALLY CONVERTED IT! Memphis up by 7...

11:19 PM - Hack a Cat has begun and the Jayhawks are not going down easy. Down by 4 with 1:39 left and surprisingly Kansas seems to have the momentum. Dorsey just fouled out and the stress of the tourney is very visible on the face of Caliapari.

11:28 PM - Another questionable no call. Douglas-Roberts slams down the ball and sends it sky high and doesn't get T'd up. Memphis CANNOT make a free throw. They have been decent the whole tourney until tonight.

11:30 PM - CHALMERS SINKS THE 3 TO TIE THE GAME WITH 2 SECONDS LEFT! WE'RE GOIN' TO OVERTIME. Remember when Caliapari entered the tournament largely unconcerned about FT %? Thinking that his worst nightmare has come true. 10-11 58% FT%. Wow.

11:42 PM - Memphis is hanging in there. I think they already had their chance to win this game and the Jayhawks are going to wrap this up. The Jayhawks should go ahead and foul the Tigers keeping them from even attempting a 3.

11:46 PM - Game over. It is truly a shame that Memphis blew this game in the final 20 seconds, with Roberts missing crucial free throws in the clutch. Amazing game, could not ask for more from a championship game in overtime. Hats off to the Jayhawks!