Memphis-Kansas second half

16:07 – Kaun gets fouled. Three fouls on Joey Dorsey. Not good for Memphis. Dorsey has looked the most excited to be in this game. I’ll miss his over-zealous shouting and bumping at the slightest provocation. 39-38 Kansas.

15:15 – Everyone on the court simultaneously decides that the game should be played by rolling the ball around on the floor for awhile. It’s starting to look like soccer out there. If Hansbrough were on the court tonight, we’d have all the ingredients. Floppers are necessary of course.

13:59 – The score is still 39-38, but there’s a shooting foul so the scoring drought might actually be over. Of course, Memphis is at the line. I can say with confidence that the score will remain 39-38.

11:15 – Billy Packer reminds me of Derrick Rose’s existence. He has five points.

6:19 – Douglas-Roberts gets his third and has a seat. Memphis does have the lead at 51-47, but benching your best player at this point seems rather silly to me. A quick look at his stats this season tells me he hasn’t once fouled out. Why not trust that as a junior he has the presence of mind to keep himself in the game?

4:14 – Jim Nance calls an accidentally banked-in three pointer by Rose the “shot of the tournament.” My initial reaction was to roll my eyes, but now remembering how largely awful the games have been the last couple rounds, I’m wondering if he’s right. Memphis is up 57-49. It’d be nice to have a tight ending to a title game for once, but that dream is slowly slipping away.

3:49 – And the score is now 56-49 Memphis. Almost a half-minute after the shot, the refs rule Rose’s three pointer a two. That’s some sloppy officiating. How does that even happen? When does the statute of limitations run out for reviewing a shot?

2:13 – With over two minutes left in the game and only down seven points, Kansas starts fouling. This may be the last time we ever see such a strategy this early make logical sense in the title game.

1:54 – Packer is asked to announce to the audience what Kansas’s strategy for the rest of the game is. Didn’t Geraldo Rivera get in trouble for that?

1:30 – Nance asks, “Will the dream come true, or will Kansas come back?” I understand C-USA isn’t a premiere conference, but this isn’t exactly the United States hockey team circa 1980.

1:00 – 62-60, Memphis. Wow. This game is actually going to have an exciting ending.

0:16.8 – Memphis misses two free throws, but miraculously gets the ball back. Calipari’s brilliant strategy of not practicing shooting from the charity stripe is paying off. The score remains 62-60.

0:00 – Memphis manages to make a free throw and Kansas's Chalmers answers with an equally unlikely three pointer. This marks the first time that two coaches sold their souls to the Devil during the same game. 63-63, overtime. Wow.