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What it takes for Svi Mykhailiuk to feel ready to play p. 7
Looking back on the 2008 national championship 10
KU has not yet decided to cancel Tuesday classes if basketball wins a championship
years later The University Daily Kansan
vol. 136 // iss. 21 Fri., March 30, 2018
p. 13
SEE 2008 • PAGE 10
FINAL FOUR PREVIEW
THE TASK AHEAD Villanova’s top-ranked offense could be the determing factor in Kansas’ championship run
Missy Minear/KANSAN Senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk answers questions from the media in the locker room on Thursday.
MICHAEL SWAIN @mswain97 After facing off against Duke’s defense, Kansas will now face the nation’s best offense on Saturday when it plays Villanova in the Final Four game. For the first time this tournament, Kansas will match up evenly with a team personnel wise, as the Wildcats use the same four guards around one big lineup that the Jayhawks have used the past two seasons. “[Villanova’s] advantages they have over us are the same advantages we have over others, or our advantages, whatever they are, we have over them, are basically their strengths also,” Kansas coach Bill Self said of Villanova at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Despite the two teams using the same type of lineup, both offenses are based on different things — some in part because of personnel, but mostly because of the different philosophies. “They can stretch it from five spots,” Self said.
“[Villanova’s] advantages they have over us are the same advantages we have over others, or our advantages, whatever they are, we have over them, are basically their strengths also.” Bill Self Kansas coach
“We can only stretch it from four. You know, we play through a big with his back to the basket. They don’t.” With the same lineup as Kansas, one may assume that Villanova would want to push the pace, just like Kansas. But that isn’t the case, as the Wildcats rank 225th in possession length, with an average possession of 17.8 seconds. For reference, Kansas’ average possession is 16.5 seconds, ranking the Jayhawks 76th in the nation. Most Villanova possessions begin with guard Jalen Brunson slowly bringing the ball across half-court while getting a play call from coach Jay Wright. Usually with
about 23 seconds on the shot clock, the Wildcats offense begins. Wright preaches ball movement — and lots of it. Just by looking through the Villanova player-by-player statistics, one can see the assist numbers are spread throughout the team. That’s because the Wildcats pass the ball around like a hot potato. Brunson, who was named AP Player of the Year, averages 4.6 assists per game with the next highest being guard Donte DiVincenzo, who averages 3.5 per game. For reference, Kansas’ senior point guard Devonte’ Graham averages 7.3 assists per game. The next highest Kansas player is senior guard Svi Mykhail-
iuk, who averages 2.7 assists. The Wildcats’ offense uses a lot of pick and rolls to start the action on the offensive end. They use every type of pick and roll action imaginable. They use a simple high pick and roll if a team is pressing high. They use a side or wing pick and roll to get defensive players moving. The most advanced action they use is roll and replace, with the player setting the screen rolling to the basket and with a wing coming from down low to the arc. This creates communication issues that lead to open layups or threes. Although the Wildcats pass the ball a lot and move a lot, they do not turn the ball over much, ranking 14th in the nation in turnover percentage with 15 percent. In addition to ball movement and man movement, Wright wants his players to shoot sooner than later. “We want our guys to understand the most open they will ever be is when they first catch the ball” Wright told BBallBreakdown in a 2015 interview.
This aspect of Villanova’s offense is what makes the Wildcats special. Wright doesn’t want his players to dribble or hold the ball, as that allows the defense to reset and mark tighter. Watching Villanova, there are countless times where guard and forward Mikal Bridges will shoot the ball as soon as he catches it, even with a hand in his face. Bridges is the Wildcats second leading scorer behind Brunson. Think of Bridges like the Malik Newman of the Wildcats. Bridges has more peaks and valleys offensively, but when he is on, it is hard to stop the 6-foot-7 junior. Villanova’s offense is the best in the nation for a reason. For Kansas to advance to the national championship game, the Jayhawks will have to out-rebound the Wildcats and limit their production from deep. No. 1 Kansas will face No. 1 Villanova Saturday at 7:49 p.m. — Edited by Erin Brock
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BREAKING DOWN THE FINAL FOUR TEAMS SHAUN GOODWIN & SEAN COLLINS @ShaunGoodwinUDK & @SeanCollinsUDK
The Kansan breaks down the last surviving teams of this year’s competitive and shocking March Madness, making their predictions on who will ultimately make it to the top.
NO. 11 LOYOLA-CHICAGO (32-5) By the numbers Final Fours: 2 Championships: 1 How they got here First round: Defeated No. 6 Miami 64-62 Second round: Defeated No. 3 Tennessee 63-62 Sweet 16: Defeated No. 7 Nevada 69-68 Elite Eight: Defeated No. 9 Kansas State 78-62 Breakdown The Ramblers have put both themselves and the Missouri Valley Conference back on the map. With Wichita State making the switch to the American Athletic Conference, the MVC opened up for a new champion, and Loyola-Chicago took that chance with both hands. Behind solid veteran leadership, the Ramblers stunned the nation behind their incredibly stingy defense and lethal offense. Shooting a third-best in the nation 50.9 field goal percentage, including shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc, you know
NO. 3 MICHIGAN (32-7)
more often than not that the Ramblers are about to put the ball in the bucket if given the chance. It’s no accident that the Ramblers are heading to San Antonio, and their annihilation of the Kansas State Wildcats in the Elite Eight should give Jayhawk fans even more reason to cheer on the Ramblers — at least until a potential championship matchup. Two reasons why they’ll win The Ramblers are clutch. And it’s not just one guy they turn to on the final possession. Aside from its blowout of K-State, Loyola-Chicago won its first three games of the tournament by a total margin of four points, with three different guys making the game-winning shot each game. In game one, it was Donte Ingram with 1 second remaining, in game two it was Clayton Custer with 3.6 seconds remaining, and the last was Marques Townes with 6 seconds remaining. The Ramblers have plenty of weapons.
By the numbers Final Fours: 7 Championships: 1
Associated Press Confetti falls as Loyola-Chicago guard Ben Richardson celebrates the team’s 78-62 win over Kansas State on Saturday, March 24, in Atlanta. “Cinderella” is too nice of a term for this Ramblers team — they know how to fight. But at the same time, they know all too well that they’re still the underdog here, and that’s what’s keeping them grounded.
It’s becoming dangerous to bet against the Ramblers, as their belief in themselves and their will to win is powerful enough to beat nearly any team in the country under the bright lights of the NCAA tournament.
How they got here: First round: Defeated No. 14 Montana 61-47 Second round: Defeated
No. 6 Houston 64-63 Sweet 16: Defeated No. 7 Texas A&M 99-72 Elite Eight: Defeated No. 9 Florida State 58-54 Breakdown The Michigan Wolverines are what the Virginia Cavaliers wanted to be: a slow-paced team that prides itself on getting stops on the defensive end. Michigan is eighth in the nation in points allowed with just over 63 per game. Working as a unit, there is no single gamemaker on the Wolverines’ roster, and that plays in their favor when it comes to rebounding the ball. Junior forward Moritz Wagner could be considered the standout player, as he has as much playing experience in tournament as any player on the team. Two reasons why they’ll win Defense wins championships. You can find your own ways to score by creating opportunities on the other side of the ball, and that is what Michigan does better than any of the other remaining contenders. The Wolverines don’t rebound the ball particularly well, but make up for it in steals and blocks with their size. They force the offense to take bad shots, and, when it comes to winning, that is plenty enough when it comes to winning on any given day. The Wolverines have great size in Wagner and senior center Jon Teske. Teske comes in at 7-foot1, which is taller than anything an inspired Ramblers team will field. There is also motivation. Teske and Wagner dealt with earlier exits than they would’ve liked the past two years and facing even a talented 11 seed in the first Final Four game is an excellent opportunity for them to get to a championship game.
Two reasons why they’ll go home At the end of the day, Loyola-Chicago shouldn’t be here by any sort of logical argument. This is a bunch of guys who couldn’t or wouldn’t make it on the top teams in the country who usually find themselves in the Final Four. One would think that at the end of the day, pure NBA-level talent will, at one point, overcome the Ramblers, and that’s what they’ll come up against. Michigan is also in the Final Four due to getting hot at the right time, but Kansas or Villanova waits in the championship game, and either team may just be too much for Loyola-Chicago. Loyola-Chicago only averages 72 points a game, ranking a lowly 223rd in the nation. While it does have a great defense too, averaging 62.4 points against, that was against mostly MVC teams. Even on their road to the Final Four, apart from K-State, the Ramblers haven’t scored more than 69 points. They’re heating up on offense, but against the elite defenses of the
remaining three other teams, plus their powerful offenses, the Ramblers may finally bite off more than they can chew.
Key player Clayton Custer redshirt junior guard Kansas coach Bill Self said on Tuesday that Custer could actually play for Kansas and did scout him during Custer’s high school days — that’s high praise coming from Self. After transferring from Iowa State to Loyola-Chicago following his freshman year, Custer has grown into the MVC Player of the Year. The high-flying point guard has it all — shooting, passing, leadership. His partnership with high school teammate and lifelong friend senior Ben Richardson also seems telepathic, with the pair offering a threat during any moment of the game. Key stats: Custer is averaging a team-high 13.2 points per game, as well as possessing a team-high 135 assists, despite having played five fewer games than six players on the team, due to injury.
Associated Press Florida State center Ike Obiagu (12) blocks a shot by Michigan guard Zavier Simpson (3) during the regional final on Saturday, March 24, in Los Angeles.
Two reasons why they’ll go home Michigan really isn’t that good at scoring the ball, and Loyola has shown they really don’t care who you are or what teams you’ve played. The Ramblers are here to get buckets and move on. Loyola put a hot Kansas State team out with ease in a 16-point blowout and had a week to prepare for a team that focuses on defense. If Loyola can put together a game plan that gives them a lead, the Wolverines may have a hard time climbing back. Like Loyola, Michigan was one shot away from being eliminated in the first weekend of the tournament. If it wasn’t for a miraculous buzzer beater, the Wolverines wouldn’t be here. The wins since then have been somewhat convincing, but Michigan was only really tested against Houston. Michigan may not find as much luck in a close
game against a team that everyone who's not a Kansas, Villanova, or Michigan fan is cheering for. Key player Zavier Simpson sophomore guard
It doesn’t matter that your best players are forwards, in March, it's the guards who win championships. As the leading assist man on the Wolverines, that pressure falls on Simpson, which is a lot to ask of a sophomore. Simpson will have his hands full guarding Custer on the defensive end, and that matchup will be the most important in the game. Key stats: Simpson averages 7.5 points a game. He’s going to need to break double digits because Custer will score at least that much, and that’s a matchup the Wolverines can’t afford to lose.
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WHO WILL MAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
coach Bill Self also finds a way to take out the other team’s best player. The game plan against Duke’s freshman forward Marvin Bagley III worked perfectly, so expect the Jayhawks to go at Brunson locked and loaded.
NO. 1 VILLANOVA (34-4) By the numbers Final Fours: 5 Championships: 2 How they got here First round: Defeated No. 16 Radford 87-61 Second round: Defeated No. 9 Alabama 81-58 Sweet 16: Defeated No. 5 West Virginia 90-78 Elite Eight: Defeated No. 3 Texas Tech 71-59 Breakdown The Wildcats are no stranger to this stage. Villanova is a bonafide offensive juggernaut, and anyone standing in their way will behold their scoring prowess. Led by junior guard Jalen Brunson, who averages 19.2 points a game, the Wildcats average 86 points a game — the best in all of college basketball. The Wildcats plays a lineup similar to the Jayhawks, putting four guards on the floor at all times. Everyone on the lineup can shoot the ball effectively, which will make an excellent matchup with the electric Jayhawks.
Two reasons why they’ll win They’ve been here recently. Villanova won the title in 2016 on a miraculous buzzer beater to take down North Carolina. As a No. 1 seed, the Wildcats have no fear of anyone and use that to boost their confidence. Their top four guys in scoring played every game this season, so their chemistry together is as good as it gets. Offense, offense, offense. If the Jayhawks can’t make the Wildcats uncomfortable on the offensive end, it will be a long night. Villanova plays a slower pace than Kansas, so if there is limited transition, the Wildcats will be in favor. After Brunson, there are still five Wildcats who average double-digit scoring including junior guard Mikal Bridges, who scores 17 points a game. Kansas can’t afford to play Villanova’s game, or it will lose. Two reasons why they’ll go home
Key player Jalen Brunson junior guard
Associated Press On March 25, 2018, Villanova’s Jalen Brunson celebrates their win over Texas Tech in an NCAA men’s college basketball tournament regional final, in Boston. At this point nobody can stop Kansas redshirt sophomore guard Malik Newman. He is the ender of all basketball worlds right now, claiming the nickname "Mr. March." Since the Big 12 tournament, nobody in the country scores like New-
man, and in the most efficient of ways. The corner three-pointer is Newman’s greatest asset right now, because it allows senior guard Devonte’ Graham to penetrate into the lane and dish out. Newman’s man cannot leave him open, but with Kansas’ scoring
guards, Villanova may have several lapses. Villanova's greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. The Wildcats play slow, and if Graham pushes the pace to get in transition and find open players, Kansas will score a lot of points. Kansas
This is the obvious choice, because he is not only Villanova’s best player, he's the best player in the nation. However, Self will do everything he can to take the national player of the year out of the game, even if it means putting senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk on him. If Brunson can weather the Jayhawk storm, the Wildcats will have a great opportunity to win, especially if they play at their pace. Key stats: Brunson is averaging a team-high 19.2 points per game, and dishes for 4.6 assists a game. Brunson also won a national championship his freshman year in 2016.
NO. 1 KANSAS (31-7) By the numbers Final Fours: 15 Championships: 3 How they got here First round: Defeated No. 16 Penn 76-60 Second round: Defeated No. 8 Seton Hall 83-79 Sweet 16: Defeated No. 5 Clemson 80-76 Elite Eight: Defeated No. 2 Duke 85-81 Breakdown The mantra has been the same for Kansas all season — live and die by the three. Making an average 10 three-pointers per game on an equally impressive 40 three-point field goal percentage, Kansas is unstoppable when hot. In the tournament, Kansas is right on cue, shooting 39-for-96 from three — 40.6 percent. Kansas’ whole starting five is averaging at least 12 points or more on the season, causing a headache for opposition defenses. On offense, the one thing that may hurt
Missy Minear/KANSAN Sophomore center Udoka Azubuike fills in the bracket after Kansas’ 85-81 Elite Eight victory over Duke on Sunday, March 25. the Jayhawks is their poor free-throw shooting percentage of just 70.5 percent. Senior guards Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk, as well as redshirt sophomore Malik Newman, all shoot above 80 percent from the line, but if anybody else is forced to shoot free throws, Kansas may be in trouble.
Two reasons why they’ll win Graham has been picking up All-American firstteam accolades from media outlets across the nation in the past few weeks — and he still hasn’t been the best player on Kansas during the postseason. Newman has been the man on form this tournament, showing that
the Jayhawks aren’t just a one man show in Graham. The three other starters on the team — Mykhailiuk, junior guard Lagerald Vick and sophomore center Udoka Azubuike — have all shown flashes of brilliance too throughout the tournament. The veterans on this Jayhawk team have a point to prove. Graham and Mykhailiuk, along with Vick who has also been a regular for Kansas the past three seasons, have suffered the pain of defeat in the Elite Eight twice already. Now that they’re past that “hump” as Graham calls it, the will and drive to go keep the momentum going will be strong. In Graham’s metaphorical hump, the Jayhawks have struggled over the top, and now it’s a fast-paced slope back down. Two reasons why they’ll go home The Jayhawks have seen it before too many times this season: if the shots aren’t falling, Bill Self’s men are in trouble. In five of Kansas’ seven losses this season, or 71 percent of them, the Jayhawks have made just single-digit three-pointers. In Kansas’ 31 wins, the Jayhawks have shot single-digit threes 14 times (45
Missy Minear/KANSAN Redshirt sophomore guard Malik Newman celebrates after Kansas’ 85-81 victory over Duke on Sunday, March 25. percent), but four of those games came during Kansas’ nonconference schedule against weaker opposition. While the Jayhawks have been getting better about getting points inside the paint, a rough night shooting against high-quality opposition can often spell doom for Kansas. Somehow, Kansas outrebounded Duke 47-32 in the Elite Eight, but generally the Jayhawks have struggled greatly on the boards this year. They have earned a rebound margin of 0.4, essentially breaking even, but that stat has been padded by earlier season results. Kansas is a small team, and with guards often unwilling to crash the glass, Azubuike has little help inside when trying to bring in the ball. Villanova will be Kansas’ toughest competition to pull down rebounds, but Duke was one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, so who knows what the
Jayhawks will do. Key player Malik Newman redshirt sophomore guard
Malik Newman has hit a new level during the postseason — so much so that if Kansas does go on to win a national championship, he may have worked his way to a second-round draft pick in the NBA Draft. Since the beginning of the Big 12 tournament, Newman has averaged 22.7 points per game. The transfer from Mississippi State has already shown he can be relied on, scoring all 13 of Kansas’ overtime points against Duke in the Elite Eight. Key stats: Newman scored a career-high 28 points against Seton Hall in the round of 32. Not stopping there, he then broke that record by scoring 32 points against Duke in the Elite Eight.
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Associated Press UMBC players celebrate a teammate’s basket against Virginia during the second half of a first-round game of the NCAA basketball tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday, March 16.
Mahan: The most unpredictable madness yet
CARLEE MAHAN @carleemahan Yes, I know what you’re thinking. It’s the end of March and you’re reading yet another article about college basketball — surprise. The only thing predictable about the month of March, though, is the fact that reading tons of articles about college basketball is inevitable. And speaking of surprises, this year’s tournament has been full of just that. Beginning with a UMBC win over Virginia, the 2018 madness that is March has been making history since day one. Looking all the way back at the first weekend, not only did the UMBC Retrievers become the first 16 seed in men’s NCAA tournament history to upset a 1 seed, but they also won the hearts of the entire nation while they were at it. According to ESPN, only 3.4 percent of brackets anticipated UMBC’s historic feat.
America’s sweethearts then went on to play the Big 12’s very own Kansas State Wildcats, where the Retrievers’ dreams of a 16 seed in the Sweet 16 came to an end. K-State’s 50-43 win over UMBC sent them to the Sweet 16, adding more mayhem to the South region. Representing the Big 12 Conference well, K-State defeated the Kentucky for the first time in program history. The epic battle of two Wildcat teams led to an Elite Eight loss against Cinderella squad Loyola-Chicago and the end to K-State’s longest tournament run since 2010. No. 11 Loyola-Chicago’s game against K-State was the first time in tournament history a No. 11 seed has played a No. 9 seed in the Elite Eight. Not only did the shoe fit for Loyola-Chicago, it carried the Ramblers all the way to a spot in the Final Four. The Rambler’s Cinderella streak marks only the second time in program
... College basketball is chockfull of excitement, and there’s no denying the fact that, sometimes, you just can’t predict these things. history they have made it to the semifinal game — the first in 1963, when they took home the national championship. Led by the Overland Park-raised, best-friend duo, Clayton Custer and Ben Richardson, Loyola-Chicago continues its remarkable run this Saturday as it takes on Michigan in the Final Four. Along with the Ramblers, No. 1 Kansas, No. 1 Villanova and No. 3 Michigan round out the other teams still fighting for the title. According to the NCAA, only 54 people out of the millions who entered the bracket tournament correctly predicted the four teams left standing, thus making this year’s tournament one packed full
of, dare I say ... madness. Whether it be Kansas’ overtime win against Duke in the Elite Eight or No. 7 Nevada’s win over No. 2 Cincinnati after a 22-point deficit late in the second half, college basketball is chock-full of excitement, and there’s no denying the fact that, sometimes, you just can’t predict these things. Continuing the commotion, No. 11 LoyolaChicago plays No. 3 Michigan this Saturday at 5:09 p.m. in San Antonio followed by No. 1 Kansas and No. 1 Villanova. The winners of those games will finally wrap up the madness when they face off in the national championship game at 8:20 p.m. Monday.
WHERE TO WATCH THE FINAL FOUR IN LAWRENCE
• Liberty Hall: Liberty Hall will show the game in their main theater. It is free to get in, but the event is open to only those 21 or older. Beer, popcorn and other refreshments will be sold at Liberty Hall. • Allen Fieldhouse: Allen Fieldhouse will open its doors to students who look to get the live game feel of the Final Four. The game will be streamed on the Jumbotron. Concessions will be open and the band and spirit squad will both be in attendance. • Jefferson’s : At both Lawrence locations, Jefferson’s will begin seating for the game at 3:30 p.m. Regular food will be served — oysters, wings and burgers. There will also be $4 23-ounce Bud or Bud Light, and $1 off 23-ounce craft beers. • The Barmuda Triangle: What could be the biggest collaboration of the year, the Wagon Wheel, the Jayhawk Cafe and Bullwinkles are coming together to project the game under a large tent. • Brother’s Bar: Brother’s Bar will host its own watch party. There will be drink specials that are yet to be announced. • 23rd Street Brewery: 23rd Street Brewery will be open for the game, but will not be accepting their usual reservations. Seats will be first come, first served. There will be $7 dollar specialty drinks and $5 off bottles of wine.
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An oddly superstitious Svi Mykhailiuk
MICHAEL SWAIN @mswain97
It happens at every game at Allen Fieldhouse. You just have to be there to see it. With 16 minutes showing on the clock above the basket, Kansas partakes in the tradition of sliding face first on the James Naismith court. As the team rises after the final dive, senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk walks over to a short figure, reaches out a hand and touches the figure’s plush beak. The figure? One of Kansas’ mascots — Baby Jay. “My buddy Svi hit my beak for the first time three years ago,” Baby Jay told the Kansan. “At first it scared me, but then I realized it was kind of like a high five.” This is only one of the many pregame superstitions Mykhailiuk takes part in. Flashback to earlier in the day, when Mykhailiuk walks around with five strawberries in hand, snacking on them. “I just love fruit,” Mykhailiuk said. “My freshman year before the games, there were just fruits on the table. I just always used to go there and come down with strawberries.” Mykhailiuk says he used to pick up a handful of them on game days, but like any routine, it needed refining. “Last year, I started just picking five and now its like ‘All right, I’m going to stick with five every time.’” Mykhailiuk said of the one change he has made to his early routine on game days.
Missy Minear/KANSAN Senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk smiles during a press conference on Saturday, March 24. Mykhailiuk has several pregame superstitions. Flash forward to less than 60 minutes until tipoff. Kansas enters the Allen Fieldhouse floor to the roar of Jayhawk fans, going directly into layup lines to warm up. Enter the Ukraine native’s second routine. “I always do the same routine on the layup lines,” Mykhailiuk said of his second superstition. As Mykhailiuk catches a pass from a teammate, he jogs toward the basket, laying the ball up off his right
foot with his left hand. The next time, he does a step back at the elbow. The third and final time, he sprints toward the hoop, elevating and flushing the ball home with his left hand. After that, he improvises. Senior guard Clay Young has been a teammate of Mykhailiuk for three years, yet he didn’t even know of the 20 year-old’s superstitions. “I don’t think he is that
superstitious,” Young replied, to a question asking if Mykhailiuk was a superstitious person. After being made aware of Mykhailiuk’s routine, Young chuckled. “Never mind, he is pretty superstitious,” Young said with a grin. Young even said he has his own routine and superstitions that he follows and pinpointed the person who has influenced many of his teammates into having a su-
perstition or set routine. “I think it stems from Coach Self,” Young said. “He is a pretty superstitious guy.” Self has made it no secret that he is superstitious. From not wearing red jerseys, until senior guard Devonte’ Graham requested them ahead of this year’s senior night, to cupping his hands and blowing in them before entering the James Naismith court, Self is all about keeping things con-
sistent — especially if the team is performing well. Mykhailiuk says touching Baby Jay’s beak stemmed from the mascot always being around. After three years, Baby Jay and Mykhailiuk have a playful relationship. “Svi is a little bit shy, he doesn’t usually say anything except if I run away before he gets to me he will yell ‘Hey Baby come back!’” Baby Jay said.
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Reliving the surreal 2008 national championship SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK
Sitting on a golf cart in the bowels of the Alamodome, Kansas’ Russell Robinson sat with his head resting on his hand. The senior guard wore a white shirt with the word “Jayhawks” printed in big, bold red letters, with a little Jayhawk symbol on a basketball underneath it, accompanied by the words “national champions.” A net was strung around his neck and trailed over the letters on his chest. Robinson could only sit there, close to tears and still in disbelief at what he’d just achieved. That was when a pair of individuals, not much younger than himself, passed by him and the golf cart he was sitting on. No words were exchanged, but the three individuals all shared one thing in common — they were Jayhawks. “I could never forget his face as he just held his face in his hands with the net around his neck after they won,” said Rustin Dodd, who wrote for the University Daily Kansan at the time. Dodd and co-beat writer Mark Dent who also wrote for the Kansan, were at the pinnacle of their journalistic careers at the time. In just their early 20’s and juniors at the University, the pair was covering one of the greatest moments in Kansas basketball history. Ten years after Kansas basketball’s momentous national championship win,
these former student journalists detail how a championship season helped launch their journalistic identities.
EARLY SEASON
Brandon Rush was all ready to head to the NBA. His sophomore year had ended in defeat to UCLA in the Bruins’ own backyard of San Jose in the Elite Eight of the 2007 season. The Kansas City native had suffered a pair of disappointing seasons with his boyhood college basketball team in Kansas, but an impressive individual season had the small forward poised for the 2007 NBA Draft. But an anterior cruciate ligament tear, suffered shortly before the draft — and later found out to be have been caused by an illegal workout with the New York Knicks — kept Rush from entering the draft. Instead, Rush’s NBA dreams were put on hold as he announced he would finish his recovery and return to Kansas for his junior year. “Once everybody knew that he was going to be coming back, we knew that it was going to be a really special year,” Dodd said. Rush would be returning with many of his teammates who disappointed in the 2007 NCAA tournament — Robinson, sophomore Sherron Collins and junior Mario Chalmers would all be returning guards in what promised to be an exciting year for Kansas.
That was the season Kansas coach Bill Self had first turned to a three guard system, something uncommon at the time and a system in which Self has really made his own. And Kansas did start that season strong, winning its first 20 games of the season. For the first 12 games though, Dent was riding the wave without Dodd, as the latter was covering Kansas volleyball in fall 2007. Dent was there for when Rush returned to the lineup, in a 92-60 crushing of Washburn on Nov. 15, 2007. Rush played just 12 minutes that night in front of a familiar Jayhawk crowd, scoring 7 points and pulling in a further 3 rebounds on his freshly repaired ACL. Rush soon slotted right into the team, proving a lethal weapon as he functioned as an inside big man, but posed the ability to shoot from beyond the arc. His versatility was a huge reason why Self stuck with his revolutionary three guards for the rest of the season. “Everybody was really excited about that, and it was also kind of like a forward-thinking strategy of Bill Self because it wasn’t all that common to have three guards,” Dent said. “So I remember that was kind of like a big storyline at the end of the year.” The Jayhawks were living up to all expectations throughout non-conference, living up to the hype
Kansan file photo Former forward Darnell Jackson pulls down a rebound in 2008. Jackson currently plays for Rosa Radom, a professional Polish basketball team.
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of a potential first national championship since 1988. So much so that Dent went as far as to write about a potential perfect season by Self’s men, with the Jayhawks sitting at 17-0 at the time. But that hype was about to all come crashing down less than two weeks later, when the Jayhawks took on Michael Beasley and the Kansas State Wildcats.
CONFERENCE PLAY
“To this day I’ve never been in a situation like that — when you left the building that night, it was like you’d been in a 12 round fight. You just felt a little bit worse about humanity.” Dodd had never been in an angrier venue in his life. Neither had Dent. “It was almost a relief when KU lost so everybody would be happy there,” Dent said. The Jayhawks traveled to Kansas State’s Bramlage Coliseum on Jan. 30, 2008, still sitting on an undefeated record of 20-0. Dodd and Dent made the short trip down Interstate-70 to the Wildcats’ “Octagon of Doom,” as the Manhattans liked to call it. And the K-State fans lived up to that name too, creating one of the most vicious crowds either journalist has ever been in. Backed by the efforts of star freshman Michael Beasley, who would be picked 2nd overall by the Miami Heat in the NBA Draft later that year, the Wildcats sunk the Jayhawks 84-75. The win meant K-State remained the only undefeated team in the Big 12, and Kansas’ first ever loss in Bramlage Coliseum. “No KU team was ever going to beat K-State in that building that night,” Dodd admitted. Beasley scored a gamehigh 25 points that night, as the Wildcats sunk 12 three-pointers to stave off a Kansas team that just wouldn’t go away until the latter stages of the game. The loss spurred a funk for Kansas, in which it lost a further two games at Texas and Oklahoma State in the month of February. The losses coincided with a stretch of time in which a pair of Jayhawks suffered personal losses. Roderick Stewart lost his brother, Allen, while Darnell Jackson lost his cousin, both to gunshot wounds. “Both of them have really struggled with it,” Self told the Lawrence Journal-World at the time. “The last couple
Contributed photo Then-junior Rustin Dodd covered the Kansas men’s basketball team during its 2008 national championship season. of days have been tough for our team. I am proud of our guys, proud of Darnell and Rod how they are handling it.” Self also praised the rest of the team at the time, and there was a team-bonding moment near the end of the month that perhaps pulled the team back together and helped spur it to a national title. It was perhaps also the kind of moment that only a superstitious student fan base — and therefore a pair of student journalists — would hear about. “After they lost to Oklahoma State and they were in some sort of funk, the entire team went to eat at Henry T’s, and they had some wings,” Dodd said. “And from then on, they did not lose again, because they won the Big 12 tournament and obviously they won the NCAA tournament.” That moment, while perhaps not even a drop in the ocean of memories for that Kansas team, wasn’t the only time Dodd and Dent saw their student lives intertwine with the basketball team. Earlier in the month of February, Kansas Athletics was celebrating the 20th year anniversary of Kansas’ 1988 national championship. It was the kind of celebration that had a “championship aura” about it, according to Dent. And while the main celebrations could be seen front and center for the world to see, former Kansas coach Larry Brown and the 1988 team could be found elsewhere. “Larry Brown was here — I was pretty sure he went to the Hawk,” Dent laughed. “And a lot of the other guys from that team were there on like a Saturday night.”
“I was like, ‘Wow, I’m like 22 and this is probably going to be the highlight of my journalism career, or like ever.’” Rustin Dodd former Kansas basketball beat writer
67-year-old Larry Brown, spending his Saturday evening in one of Lawrence’s most famous bars. It was these kinds of moments that reminded the pair of young journalists that they were just as much part of the student body as they were the media.
POSTSEASON
Knocking on the front door of a fraternity house, Dent found himself in unfamiliar territory — Dodd’s fraternity house. Kansas had swept past Portland State and UNLV in the first and second round of the NCAA tournament in Omaha, Nebraska, with the Sweet 16 against Villanova in Detroit. Dent was outside Dodd’s house, ready to make the short trip to Kansas City International Airport, and then onto Detroit. Except there was one slight problem — Dodd didn’t come out. A junior at the time, Dodd had slept through his alarm and had to be woken up by his friend and coworker, Dent. The pair missed their flight, with Dent saying they made it to Ford Field just in time for the matchup against Villanova. “That’s the story he likes to tell, I think we ended up missing our flight, but we got to Detroit in plenty of time,” Dodd laughed, as he remembered the story. Once in Detroit, the pair realized things were getting serious. A then-young LeB-
ron James was in attendance at Ford Field, watching on as Davidson’s Steph Curry lit up the college game. Kansas defeated Villanova handily 72-57, before scraping past Curry’s Davidson 59-57. “That was an unbelievable memory being able to watch him during the Sweet 16 when he wasn’t playing KU,” Dodd said. “The thing was, I felt almost a little bad that KU had beat Davidson, like, it was cool to see my University go to the Final Four.”
FINAL FOUR
Dent sat in his spot
courtside at the Alamodome, pulling up archives of how to write an article for a losing championship game team. The Memphis Tigers had embarked on a late 10-0 run and Kansas trailed 60-51 with 2:12 left on the clock. After a weekend filled with splendor for the pair of student journalists in San Antonio, having spent their weekend along the River Walk with college basketball legends present and past, it looked like the weekend had come to a bitter end on that Monday night. Sitting on line with the free throw line at Kansas’ defensive end in the second half, all of Kansas’ possessions played out at a caddy’s distance away from Dodd and Dent. But that was the perfect spot for them, as Kansas embarked on a legendary comeback, culminating with the basketball leaving Mario Chalmers’ hands with 3 seconds left on the clock. “That’s in,” Dodd leaned over and said to Dent. “Mario’s Miracle” hit nothing but net with 2.1 seconds left on the clock to tie the game 63-63. “I don’t want to say it was in slow motion, but you could really see it forming and see how everything really got set up for Mario to have that shot,” Dodd said. The rest is history, as Kansas went on to win the national championship 7568 in overtime and cut down the nets in San Antonio. It was shortly after this point that Dodd and Dent walked past Robinson on the golf cart, in disbelief at what had just happened.
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The pair were on their way to media availability after the game, reveling in the peak of their journalism careers so far. “It just seemed very kind of surreal that we were there to witness this, and that we had just got that lucky being there as student journalists,” Dodd said. “You’re like, ‘If I become a sports writer, that would be great, but probably not,’ so I was like, ‘Wow, I’m like 22 and this is probably going to be the highlight of my journalism career, or like ever.’” Dodd now works at The Athletic, having recently moved there from the Kansas City Star. Ten years on, Kansas’ championship run isn’t the only championship he’s been able to cover. He also had a chance to help cover the Kansas City Royals’ World Series in 2015. And even now, he thinks that the 2008 Final Four just beats out the Royals’ World Series championship. Dent also remained in sports journalism, most recently founding a media company called Spirited Media in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also worked at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette covering Penn State during the Jerry Sandusky scandal in 2011. But even now, he still looks back in admiration at his time covering the Final Four. “Rustin and I got to sit on the front row of press row, pretty much in the middle of the court,” Dent said. “Somehow the two kids from the student newspaper got arguably the best seats in the house.”
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FINAL FOUR
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Will KU cancel for championship win?
It’s been done in the past, but KU administration has not committed to canceling Tuesday’s classes if the Jayhawks win LINDLEY LUND @lindley_mae98 On April 7, 2008, in the midst of the excitement of the Kansas Jayhawks winning the NCAA Basketball Tournament, University administrators decided to cancel classes for that day. However, if the team’s Final Four run this year leads to a championship title, that may not be the case about Tuesday’s classes. “The decision has not been made,” Provost Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement to the Kansan. Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, the University director for news and media, supported the provost’s statement. “There are no such plans in place at this time,” Barcomb-Peterson said. With classes already canceled twice this semester, which alone is a rare occurrence in the University’s history, this could possibly be why a no-class celebration wouldn’t happen. However, two snow days were also called in February 2008.
“This is a proud moment for Jayhawks everywhere. Not only has the team dazzled the nation on the court, but our fans have demonstrated through their safe but boisterous celebrations and support that KU is truly a great place to be,” then-Chancellor Robert Hemenway told the Lawrence Journal World in 2008. When classes were canceled in 2008, many celebrations took place. These included a warm welcome to the team at Memorial Stadium, with a U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter flying over it. Classes were also canceled the day after the men’s basketball team won the NCAA championship game in 1988. On this day, there was also a celebration at Memorial Stadium that gathered a crowd of over 30,000 people. Students created an online petition for classes to be canceled if the men’s basketball team won the national championship in 2012, when then-Chancel-
Kansan file photo The University’s administrators have not officially decided what to do about Tuesday classes if Kansas wins the national championship Monday night. lor Bernadette Gray-Little decided to have classes regardless of a KU victory. “I appreciate the enthusiasm of some of our students, but KU’s first duty as a university is to encourage
excellence in the classroom. We’re all thrilled that the Jayhawks are playing for the national championship, and should we win, I’m confident students will celebrate safely,” Gray-Little said to
the Kansan at the time. Will the University’s administration decide to cancel classes, despite the two snow days, much like they did in 2008? Or will they they follow Gray-Little’s
opinion to not cancel classes? These are the questions many University students are hankering to know the answers to, but will have to wait until next week to find out.
Illustration by Gracie Williams/KANSAN
The best ways to storm Mass. Street on Saturday ADAM LANG @superduperadaml The Jayhawks are set to play Villanova this Saturday, and should they win, Massachusetts Street will once again be stormed by fans. The Lawrence Police Department has already released a press release on Thursday regarding the closing of streets for the potential crowd on Saturday that is expected to dwarf the one from the Duke game. The LPD published a press release on Thursday with a map of parking locations around Mass. Street being posted on their
Facebook page. According to the press release, the street will be closed to parking from sixth to 11th street starting at 5 a.m. on Saturday and will last until Sunday. Officer Derrick Smith said he expects a much larger crowd than what he saw in 2008. “In 2008 during the last national championship we estimated that crowd to be about 40,000,” Smith said. “So, no telling how big, could be up to that much or more.” Haley Pederson, a sophomore from from Clay Center, Kan., rushed Mass. Street with her friends after the Duke game and
had to park in an entirely different area. “I drove myself and one of my roommates to my sister’s house, which was three to four blocks from Mass.,” Pederson said. “We ran the rest of the way, and people were and cars were honking as they passed.” No matter where fans watch the game, there are several areas to park and ways to avoid getting stuck in traffic when going to to storm Mass. Street. If fans find themselves parking at the Ambler Student Recreation Center and watching the game from Allen Fieldhouse, there are three quick
options for getting there. Fans could simply leave their car and walk through campus, which would take 15 to 25 minutes. If they don’t want to walk that far, they have two options for driving. They could drive east on 19th street until they hit Learnard Avenue and drive north down Learnard until they find their way to the parking areas to the west on New Hampshire or Rhode Island Streets. They could take this long way, or they could try their luck going through campus and find their way to the parking areas to the west on Vermont and Kentucky
Streets, but traffic might be more hectic going through campus. From Daisy Hill, the walk to Mass Street is between 25 and 35 minutes. One could go through campus and find their way to the east side of Lawrence or they could follow a similar path to the first driving option from the rec center. The other potentially quicker option is to get on Iowa Street going north and turn right to go east on 6th street to the parking on the west side of the street. From Rockland West apartments, where many students live, the fastest option is to get on Iowa
Street and follow the same path as the one previously outlined. Traffic will be hectic, but this will be the fastest route clocking in at about 20 minutes if traffic is heavy. Along with these options, fans are also able to park their cars at Memorial Stadium and catch a shuttle bus that will be running from 11 a.m. to one hour after the game. The game against Villanova for a chance to play in the national championship starts at 7:49 p.m. on Saturday.
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K ANSAN.COM
Chris Teahan looks to copy brother’s success
Missy Minear/KANSAN Freshman guard Chris Teahan, left, and senior guard Clay Young answer questions from the media in the locker room on Thursday, March 29. SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK In 2008, Chris Teahan sat alongside his family in the Alamodome, just a couple of rows back from the brightly lit court. Tears were beginning to trickle down his cheeks, as the Kansas Jayhawks trailed the Memphis Tigers by six points with just 90 seconds left in the game. Just 8-years-old, Teahan was there to watch his older brother, Conner Teahan, play in the 2008 national championship game. The elder Teahan brother didn’t get any minutes on the court during that game, but that didn’t make the occasion any less special for Chris. At such a young age, Chris thought the game was done and dusted, and that the Jayhawks would be heading home empty-handed. Sitting directly across from Memphis’ bench, Chris remembers vividly how silent the Tigers’ bench went, along with much of the arena, when Mario Chalmers tied the game up at 62 with 2.1 seconds remaining.
“I understood how big of a deal it was, but I didn’t really understand. I was going crazy, it was super fun, all that kind of stuff,” Chris said, “But I think if I was a little bit older I would have been able to appreciate it a little bit more.” Ten years on, it’ll be Chris’s turn to sit on the Kansas bench, while Conner will be watching from the stands with his family. Kansas’ trip to the Final Four marks the third time that Kansas will be heading to a Final Four under coach Bill Self. It’s also the third time that a Teahan brother will be on the team — Conner in 2008 and 2012, and now Chris in 2018. While perhaps an insignificant factor, Self is known to be a superstitious man and may call on the Teahan family for good luck heading into Saturday night’s game against Villanova. “Yeah, I better [call], since the mother of the two children have told me that she would kill me if I treated their son poorly,” Self said on Tuesday. “Yeah, I’d say that they are definitely good luck.”
“I understood how big of a deal it was, but I didn’t really understand...” Chris Teahan Kansas guard
Chris may not be quite as superstitious and doesn’t think about the fact that his family seems to be a good luck charm for Self, but he has certainly turned to his brother for advice on what the occasion will bring. “[Conner] was like, ‘It’ll change your life,’” Chris said. “That’s what he said it was like just coming to Kansas, he was like, ‘It’ll change your life, so many people here will love you,’ all that kind of stuff, ‘no matter what you accomplish.’” The decision to follow his brother to Kansas was an easy one too. Opting against getting regular time at a Division II school or a smaller Division I school, Chris wanted to become a Jayhawk the moment Conner pulled on the crimson and blue jersey. “My son [Niko Roberts] was on the team when Conner was here in 2012, and that stuff,” said Kansas assistant coach Norm Roberts. “So they’ve always been close, and my wife has always been close with their family, and me myself. So I think it just made it a simple deal for him to come over.” In just the year that Chris has been at Kansas, Roberts already sees similarities between the two brothers, both on the court and personality-wise. “I think Chris is a better athlete than what Conner
Former Kansas guard Conner Teahan drives to the basket.
Associated Press
was — Conner was a better shooter. They’d both argue the opposite way, but I think that’s probably it,” Roberts said. “Both good-natured guys, good teammates. Guys that when they come
to practice they’re ready to work.” While there are similarities between the pair, Chris is solely focused on being part of this year’s team, and not focusing on the past.
He’s witnessed victory in 2008 and defeat in 2012, and there’s no prize for guessing which side of the spectrum he’d rather be on come Monday night.
K ANSAN.COM
FINAL FOUR
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Q&A: What Villanova brings to the Final Four
He is an extremely smart player who plays well beyond his years. While Bridges is a bit of a streaky player who gets hot, but then disappears for stretches of the game, Brunson is as consistent as they come, having scored in double figures in every game this season. When it comes down to crunch time, Wildcat fans want the ball in Brunson’s hands.
MICHAEL SWAIN @mswain97 On Wednesday afternoon, ahead of Kansas’ Final Four matchup against Villanova on Saturday, the Kansan interviewed Kevin Gamgort, the sports co-editor of The Villanovan, the student newspaper at Villanova. This Q&A has been edited for brevity and clarity. KANSAN: What makes Villanova’s offense so efficient and hard to guard? KEVIN GAMGORT: It really comes down to just how many shooters this team has. Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Omari Spellman all shoot over 40 percent from three and Phil Booth and Donte DiVincenzo aren’t far behind (39 percent and 38.5 percent, respectively). Even Eric Paschall, who was 1-25 from deep to start the season, has come around to shoot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. It is extremely difficult for a defense to stop a team that has five players on the court that can hit the three, especially when they also have to worry about players like Brunson and Bridges driving to the basket. KANSAN: Does Villanova have any deficiencies or weaknesses? GAMGORT: If you had asked this question about a month ago, there would have been an easy answer: defense and rebounding. However, these areas have vastly improved over the course of postseason play. Villanova is now up to 13th in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency rating, and is coming off a game where they out-rebounded Texas Tech 5133. It would be a lie to say there are not still some concerns that these weaknesses could reemerge, but fans are certainly feeling a lot better now about the team’s ability to defend and rebound. KANSAN: Is there a bench player or role player who Kansas’ fans won’t know but should get familiar with?
KANSAN: Jalen Brunson, Devonte’ Graham, Marvin Bagley or DeAndre Ayton for National Player of the Year?
Associated Press Villanova’s Phil Booth, left, and Jalen Brunson celebrate their win over Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, Sunday, March 25, 2018, in Boston. Villanova won 71-59 to advance to the Final Four.
“Brunson simply does it all for this team. He can score pass, take a charge, whatever the moment calls for.” Kevin Gamgort Villanovan sports co-editor
GAMGORT: Donte DiVincenzo is technically a “bench player,” but the consensus all year has been that he is the team’s “sixth starter,” given that he plays the fourth most minutes. Looking a little further down the bench, there is freshman, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree. While he is slightly undersized down low and will definitely be looking to put on some weight this offseason, Cosby-Roundtree has proven a capable backup throughout the season. He is a decent defender and seems to always be in the right place on offense to capitalize off of a great pass from a teammate. In the Elite Eight game against Texas Tech, Cosby-Roundtree racked up four points and seven rebounds, including five on the offensive end. If you are looking for a player who could impact the game despite limited playing time, DCR could be your guy. KANSAN: Villanova lost four games in Big East play. What were some of
the things that went wrong in those losses? GAMGORT: Shhh, we don’t talk about those games. In all seriousness, what was common in all of our losses was poor threepoint shooting and an inability to execute down the stretch. When the defense was struggling throughout much of the regular season, Villanova would frequently beat teams by simply torching them from deep. While the Wildcats shot 40 percent on the year from three overall, the team shot just 26 percent from beyond the arc in their four losses. Additionally, in each of these games, one can point to several late-game mistakes, such as crucial turnovers or poor game management, that ultimately were too much to overcome. KANSAN: What makes Spellman different from Azubuike? GAMGORT: The match-
up down low should be an interesting one, as these players are very different. Azubuike is a seven-footer who has three inches and 35 pounds on Spellman. In the post, Azubuike’s superior size should give him a bit of an advantage, while Spellman should thrive out on the perimeter. Spellman has the ability to knock down the three-ball and drive to the rim, two things Azubuike does not possess.
KANSAN: Is Jalen Brunson the best player on Villanova? Watching some games, it feels like Mikal Bridges is the better player. GAMGORT: They are both really good, and while Mikal Bridges is certainly the better NBA prospect, Jalen Brunson is the superior college player. Brunson simply does it all for this team. He can score, pass, take a charge, whatever the moment calls for.
Brunson GAMGORT: Brunson Brunson!!! Okay, I may be a little bit biased but seriously this guy is unbelievable. He scores, passes, defends and leaves it all on the floor each and every game. He is the most important player on a team that has gone 34-4 and reached the Final Four.
KANSAN: Does Kansas deserve a No.1 seed?
GAMGORT: Of course! If there was any doubt about this coming into the tournament, the Jayhawks have erased it by reaching the Final Four. Consecutive wins against Seton Hall, Clemson and Duke is pretty impressive, and I have no doubt that Kansas is one of the best four teams in the country this year.
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K ANSAN.COM
Who is Kansas’ tournament MVP?
MADDY TANNAHILL & ARMAN ALHOSSEINI @KansanSports
After a tumultuous season, the Kansas Jayhawks earned their 15th Final Four appearance and third under head coach Bill Self following an 85-81 overtime victory against the Duke Blue Devils last Sunday. Headed to San Antonio to face off against the Villanova Wildcats for a shot at the national championship game, the Jayhawks fought against all odds to reign superior from their region. While many may look to consensus All-American senior guard Devonte’ Graham as the sole proprietor for the Jayhawks this season, the entire team showed through the games following the national semifinal the extensive arsenal they entail, showcased on both sides of the court. For a special Final Four edition of the Kansan’s weekly debate, columnists Maddy Tannahill and Arman Alhosseini discuss who they believe is the Jayhawks’ MVP en route to the 2018 Final Four.
SVI MYKHAILIUK
Trailing 69-72 with twenty-seven seconds left on the clock, senior guard Devonte’ Graham locates an open Svi Mykhailiuk on the edge of the arc. Despite misfiring on his last two attempts, Mykhailiuk takes a quick dribble and drains the three over the outstretched arm of Duke’s Gary Trent Jr., tying the game at 72 all. While Mykhailiuk may not boast the most impressive stat line for the Jayhawks, averaging only 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game through the NCAA tournament thus far, his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations such as the final moments of the Elite Eight matchup with Duke has played a critical role in the teams’ tournament success. Perhaps Mykhailiuk’s biggest contribution of the tournament came on Sunday in his defensive performance against AP All-American forward Marvin Bagley III. Though undersized by thirty pounds, three inches and roughly half a foot in wingspan, Mykhailiuk, described by some as a “defensive liability” in the early stages of his career, matched Bagley at 10 re-
Missy Minear/KANSAN Senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk, left, and redshirt sophomore guard Malik Newman talk during a free throw in the second half against K-State on Friday, Feb. 9. The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats 83-67. bounds apiece, only affording four offensive boards to the ACC Player of the Year. Mykhailiuk’s performance on the glass led the Jayhawks in handing the Blue Devils their worst rebounding differential in the past two seasons, out-rebounding Duke 46-32.
Newman has handled the ball to blue blood perfection, only giving up six turnovers in 148 minutes in the tournament. Most notably, Bagley, who averaged 21.2 points per game throughout the season, only put up 16 points on Sunday, tallying just four points total while guarded by Mykhailiuk. With the biggest question leading up to the battle of the Blue Bloods revolving around how Kansas would contain the match-up problem posed by Bagley, Mykhailiuk stepped up in a big way, completely shutting down Duke’s biggest threat. From the senior’s clutch shot at the end of regulation to his defensive lock-down
of Bagley, the Jayhawks likely would have fallen victim to yet another Elite Eight loss without the dominating performance of Mykhailiuk, establishing him as the key factor in this year’s Final Four run.
MALIK NEWMAN
While the season may not have begun ideally for the Mississippi State transfer, redshirt sophomore guard Malik Newman has been the Jayhawks’ horsepower leading them into the Final Four. Averaging just under 22 points and six rebounds in tournament play, Newman has been the Jayhawks’ key offensive force in getting to the Final Four, earning the midwest region’s most outstanding player award. Shooting a marvelous 44.8 percent from the threepoint line, Newman has scored over 20 points in five of the last seven games, topped off with a 32 point performance against Duke on Sunday. In addition to his exhilarating scoring ability, Newman has handled the ball to blue blood perfection, only giving up six turnovers in 148 minutes in the tournament, including two consecutive games against the defensive likes of Clemson
and Duke. Newman’s escalation into elite status certainlyhas had the greatest impact on Kansas’ ability to reach a Final Four. Many doubted the Jayhawks’ chances in getting to San Antonio, with some even putting the midwest’s number one seed on upset watch in their first game. But Newman has helped
silence the disbelievers across the nation. His guard play had played a part in overshadowing the off-days of his teammates, not only a necessity but a commodity for a college basketball team. And after a shaky start to his Kansas career, which included getting pulled from the starting lineup midway through the conference season, Newman
has proved to find his footing in the crimson and blue. On the outside-looking-in, this resurgence may feel unique, but to Kansas fans, the mentality Newman has brought into the late stages of the season seems oddly familiar. Some may even call it bulldog mentality, a term Self used briefly during the start of the season.
K ANSAN.COM
FINAL FOUR
Lagerald Vick
Mikal Bridges
★★★★
★★★★★
junior guard
junior guard
Vick has been back to his best self. After struggling for stretches since the start of 2018, Vick has been a positive player as of late. Since the start of the postseason, Vick has averaged 12 points on 54 percent from the field and 43 percent from deep. Vick is by far Kansas’ x-factor. If Vick is on his game and is engaged, he adds a new wrinkle to Kansas’ offense.
If anyone in college basketball made a huge leap in production this season, it’s Bridges. The junior guard plays only 2.3 minutes more this season than last, but went from averaging 10 points to 18 points a game. Bridges and Vick will likely guard each other, but expect Self to put Marcus Garrett on him whenever Kansas’ freshman guard comes in.
Udoka Azubuike
Jalen Brunson
★★★★
★★★★★
sophomore center
If Azubuike had not gotten injured before the Big 12 tournament, there is no telling where he would be in his development. Kansas coach Bill Self spoke highly of Azubuike’s development at a recent press conference and pointed to where Azubuike could have been had he not been injured.
Associated Press Villanova’s Jalen Brunson tries to drive past West Virginia’s Wesley Harris during the first half of an NCAA tournament regional semifinal on Friday, March 23, in Boston.
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junior guard
This is what everyone is here for, and what Villanova is known for. Brunson is a college star and his matchup with senior guard Devonte’ Graham will be a treat for the college basketball world, and on the biggest stage. Brunson averages 19 points a game, but doesn’t come close to Graham’s assist totals. This will undoubtedly be the best position to watch in the game — two finalists for player of the year.
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FINAL FOUR
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Final Four Gameday No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 1 Villanova in San Antonio, Saturday, March 31, 7:49 p.m.
Missy Minear/KANSAN Senior guard Devonte’ Graham, left, redshirt sophomore guard Malik Newman, center, and senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk smile walking into a timeout in overtime against Duke on Sunday, March 25. The Jayhawks defeated the Blue Devils 85-81.
SEAN COLLINS & MICHAEL SWAIN @SeanCollins_UDK & @mswain97
Beat Writer Predictions: Sean Collins: Kansas 75-73, Michael Swain: Kansas 82-79
After Kansas’ Elite Eight win over Duke and Villanova’s win over Texas Tech, two of the most winningest teams in the past three years will face off for a spot in the national championship game. The Jayhawks and Wildcats will tip off at 7:49 p.m. Saturday in San Antonio’s Alamodome. Fans can watch the game at Allen Fieldhouse or on TBS.
VILLANOVA
KANSAS Devonte’ Graham
Eric Paschall
★★★★★
★★★★
senior guard
junior forward
Graham has had a mediocre NCAA tournament thus far. With defenses keying in on him in order to stop the Kansas offense, Graham has been unable to find a consistent rhythm. The North Carolina native is averaging 16 points, five rebounds and six assists in four tournament games. For Kansas to advance, Graham will need to rack up assists while finding his efficient scoring touch once again.
Paschall is an overall solid player, averaging around 10 points and five rebounds a game. He plays around 30 minutes a game, as do all of the Villanova starters. Paschall comes in at 255 pounds and will more than likely guard sophomore center Udoka Azubuike. He will have his hands full, as Azubuike has several inches on Paschall. However, Paschall can spread the floor.
Malik Newman
Omari Spellman
★★★★★
★★★★
redshirt sophomore guard
freshman forward
Where Graham has struggled in the tournament, Newman has been on fire since the start of March. Since the start of postseason play, Newman is averaging 23 points and five rebounds in seven games, while shooting 53 percent from the field and 55 percent from three.
Spellman is the best rebounder for the Wildcats with just under eight boards a game. What will be the most interesting note about Spellman is his matchup with senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk. Mykhailiuk is coming off the best defensive performance of his career against perhaps the best player in the nation, Marvin Bagley III. The Jayhawks will certainly try to expose this matchup.
Svi Mykhailiuk
Phil Booth
★★★★
★★★★
senior guard
junior guard
We saw a different side of Mykhailiuk in Kansas’ win over Duke. The Ukraine native shackled Marvin Bagley III on the defensive end while also securing 10 rebounds for himself. Although the senior has struggled scoring the ball this tournament, he has done a good job distributing, averaging four assists in the four tournament games.
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It seems like every Villanova player not named Bridges or Brunson scores 10 points a game, and Booth is no different. Booth was a deadly shooter from outside this season at 39 percent, but only takes four a game from deep. Booth will either guard redshirt sophomore Malik Newman or junior guard Lagerald Vick, both of who were extremely active against Duke.