The Starting Five

(Photo: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

Yo Derrick! No more gummy bears! Eat a steak or somethin’!

I’ll be live blogging the game tonight so come check us out after the 9:21 tip for some TSF insight.

Two pieces that might interest you here and one by Bill Rhoden (Click the pic) that touch on the media seems to be disenchanted with Memphis.

I spoke with John Calipari before the semifinals of the 2K Coaches vs Cancer Classic earlier in the season. This might clear up why Rose didn’t make the All America 1st team and why Chris Douglas-Roberts didn’t garner more national attention…

Michael Tillery: Has cancer affected you personally? Obviously Derrick Rose is going to command ridiculous attention on and off the court, what type of challenge exists for you as a coach to keep the team dynamic sane?

Coach Calipari: First the question about cancer…both my grandmothers died of blood related cancer. I don’t think there has been any team that has played in the Coaches vs Cancer more than the teams that I’ve coached (4 times). We’ve also played in as many Jimmy V games as any other team in the country. My team at UMass played in the initial Jimmy V event. So, I think it’s important. I think it brings light to something we hope is cured someday. The head of our booster group just had colon cancer three days ago–and he’s young. He’s 50 years old. It’s a disease they are getting in check, but finding a cure is what it’s all about. That’s the vision of these organizations and what we do.

As far as Derrick Rose, we had a meeting at my house after this regional game that we played because he was voted the MVP. I left town and gave the kids the day off. I left town to recruit and I’m on the plane and the news paper article after we beat Richmond was all about Derrick Rose. Let me explain something to you Mike. One, Andre Allen was the reason we won the game. Two, Chris Douglas-Roberts should have been MVP and they gave it to Derrick. So I called a meeting. The following day we practiced for one hour. I ended practice and said we’re meeting at my home. My home is across the street from the campus. Some of the guys walked over or drove over and my whole point was (asking the players) “How do you feel about six of you winning sixty-six games the last two years and the story is about Derrick?” I asked the other four–including Willie Kemp who started last year on my 33-4 team–”How are you dealing with this? How about Jeff Robinson, a top twenty-five player, really not talked about much? How are we dealing with what’s going on? How do you feel about it?

I wanted to make a point about it. It’s not Derrick’s doing. It’s not my doing. It’s what we’re going to deal with as a program. If we do this right, they’ll be enough light and positive press for everybody but we’re going to have to do it right. Derrick doesn’t elicit jealousy unless you are just a jealous person. It’s not going to come from him. When he won the MVP he gave it to the manager on the court because he said he didn’t deserve it. He runs from the media. The media in New York will have to stalk him to find him. He wants it to be on the other guys. He just wants to play. So he’s a unique guy, but I wanted to bring it to light and the team thought I was crazy. They said, “Coach what are you worried about? We’re all fine.” I said, “You are human beings! You are human beings!” I wanted this to be out front. So that’s what I’ve been doing. I did it the two days after our game with Richmond.”

Memphis 80, Kansas 73

If Kansas turns the ball over, this will get ugly quickly. Watch for someone picking up 2 fouls in the first six minutes.

Rush will get his (Chalmers to a lesser extent) and Kansas might control the paint, but there will be just too much CDR and Derrick Rose as John Calipari gets his first NCAA Championship.

Derrick Rose MOP

His basketball legacy begins

Game Time!

Kansas was introduced from the heartland so we’ll see how they introduce Memphis.

Hmmm from the banks of the Mississippi (no problem there) but unorthodox?…wow.

First off… 6’7″ CDR and 6’4″ Rose against Chalmers and Robinson who are both 6’1″?

Problems…

Dorsey with the bank after Memphis won the tap.

Robinson makes an athletic move to block Rose’s pass….whoa Anderson undercut Chalmers….not cool.

Oooooh CDR with the transition basket bobbin’ and weavin’!

The pace is sick early.

Tim from Mind Rite Sports says: “I’m out of breath watching this first 2 minutes. Get me one of those Gatorade Tiger drinks!”

Tim, I need more than that!

Arthur with the two handed boof on Dorsey!

Dozier with foul line jumper 6-3.

Rose three point play over Robinson 9-3.

Rush shows Kansas will control boards for the put back. 9-5.

So far Nantz and Packer are calling it nice and chill. We’ll see if they start their usual one sided bs.

Backscreen Oop to Sasha Kaun, 9-7

Arthur ties it at 9.

If CDR helps out on the boards all night, Kansas might be in trouble. Both coaches are substituting early. CDR hits two foul shots 11-9.

Robin son strong baseline lay 11′s

CDR with the sweet runner push thing lol. 13-11 Memphis.

There’s the two fouls early…Taggart sits for awhile.

Damn! Dozier picks up his second as well at 12:05 in the 1st. Darnell Jackson ties it up at 13 with two free throws.

Both teams are gonna run all night so get that drink now people.

During the break Tim says: “Derrick Rose gets approximately 38 kilometers off the ground per jumpshot, layup, dunk and when rising from the bench. I cannot convert kilometers to feet, so we’ll just agree that’s very high. I get the feeling gravity does not apply to this kid.”

Remember this Tim?

The CDR/Rush battle is gonna be nice and could decide the outcome. Rush puts Kansas up for the first time 15-13.

Packer brings up great point about Rose not being involved early.

Chalmers hits three from the elbow to extend the lead to 5 at 18-13.

Dorsey picks up a frustration foul. Not smart dude with two of your teammates on the bench, but makes up with the steal and breakaway slam 18-15.

Chalmers left handed lay 20-15.

Robinson picks up his second. Who the hell is the big boy that just came in? Damn.

Arthur for the Oop and Memphis goes down 7, 22-15. Nantz says its Memphis’ largest deficit of the tournament.

We’ll see how they respond.

Anderson three 22-18.

Chalmers rebound and score.

Dozier three 24-21.

This is going to be a great game. Both teams seem to be capitalizing on mistakes.

Wow Roy Williams wearing the Kansas sticker. How you feel about that Tar Heel Fans?

Tim: “Um… Roy Williams………………………… in Kansas colors????

(Yes, that UNC coach, he who abandoned the Jayhawks)

Conspiracy theorists, start your mechanical pencils/pens/blogs/syndicated talk shows….

Conflict of interest much?”

CDR with the bucket to bring Memphis to 1, 24-23.

That’s what Rose does..after the Dorsey block he skies for a rebound and finds CDR for three. 26-24.

Kahn dunk. Rush definitely went over Dorsey’s back. Dorsey is very frustrated with the refs early. He need to shut up and play ball.

CDR is looking to kick my Rose MOP prediction in the trash. He has 13 early and is mad active.

28′s 3:50 to go in the first half.

At the half Tyler Hansbrough picks up the Naismith trophy as CDR looks to pick up the MOP.

Derrick Rose skies for another rebound. That kid is just sick look at him.

Anyone think that was a charge as Dorsey picks up his second with 2:31 left in the half. Calipari better calm down Dorsey in the locker room during halftime.

Great defense early by both teams. Kansas is shooting 60% and owns a 8 rebound advantage on the boards.

Arthur two 33-28.

Arthur picks up his second. Jackson in. Nice time out by Calipari to settle the troops. He needs to do something on offense to free up Rose. What happened to the big boy who was in for a spell?

Rose is 1-4 and hasn’t scored in 16 minutes. His shot looks a little off. Nantz says Collins has gotten into his head.

Memphis holds for 1.

33-28 at halftime.

Tim Hop with two comments:

1. (Can I see that D-Rose replay again… did he just travel?)
2. (Just tiVoed… he traveled. Two-hand pass… to himself. If it weren’t for that whole gravity-free-ness… hmm…)

Hard to see a rose fly huh Tim? We should come up with a nickname for dude.

Tim:

Pondering a nickname… hmm…

JMD — contributor to MindRiteSports — submits “The Memphis Thorn”

…..i like.

Will that stick in the pros though? Especially with Rose being from Chitown?

Tim: “I’d be good if he were to stay in Memphis more than 4 minutes…”

True, true. You know these next 20 minutes of game time are his last.

First half analysis: Memphis is digging itself a hole with the number of fouls and by not executing on offense. When your point guard play is disrupted, frustration sets in and in this case, Kansas can get out to a nice lead.

Kansas is dictating the tempo and also looks like more intense team. Collins is doing a helluva job defensing Rose.

Gut check time for Memphis. If Rose is as good as advertised, he better step the hell up now. Right now.

Kansas 33, Memphis 28 halftime.

Kansas is killing Memphis in the paint. Last half of March Madness folks.

Rose makes a sweet pass to Dozier for the flush.

Memphis steal.

Anderson three. Memphis ties it up just like that after going scoreless for the last 4:50 of the first half.

Dorsey makes nice pass in the paint to Antonio Anderson for the and one. Memphis 36, Kansas 35.

Arthur baby hook 37-36 Kansas.

Damn the pace is crazy.

Rose nice oop to Dorsey! 38-37 Memphis.

Packer nitpicking saying Dorsey held the ball after the basket.

Dorsey picks up his third on a switch. Taggart in.

39-38 Kansas 15:15 left in the season.

Tim makes a comment regarding Williams’ allegiance to Kansas:

“Something dirty about hearing Roy pep talk the same Jayhawks team that just ran through his ‘heels…

I guess he’s a gracious loser?

Let’s just ask ourselves: In a similar situation, how would Bobby “The General” Knight handle himself?”

I know this doesn’t sit well with UNC fans. There’s no way. Bobby Knight would tell somebody to kiss his ass I think Tim.

Nice shot of Anfernee cheering on his school.

Collins walked to no call.

Arthur can’t make a put back after a couple of offensive rebounds.

Anderson fails to put Memphis up and misses two at 13: 59.

Jackson puts Kansas up three with little wing jumper 41-38.

CDR baby runner 41-39.

Jackson again 43-39.

Rose has got to get in the game.

There’s Rose! Do it to ‘em babyboy!

Chalmers got away with a foul almost injuring Anderson but saved a 3 on 1 break. The pace is still frenetic.

Kansas still owns a 8 rebound edge. Derrick Rose has to make up the points Kansas will score in the front court. He looks mad tentative.

Chalmers pushes off and scores 45-42 Kansas.

Kansas looks like the sharper team.

Rose inside scoring 45-44 Kansas.

Dorsey better be careful.

Dorsey big rebound. Rose looks a little more active.

Memphis turnover. They are playing very lackadaisical.

Rush basket 47-44. Dorsey almost picked up a foul defensing basket.

Dozier makes a basket but misses the foul shot. 47-46 Kansas.

Could free throws become a problem.

Rose hits a bomb to put Memphis up by two as Kansas gets caught employing a box and one on CDR. 49-47.

Pace is crazy but I don’t think they are getting to 80.

Tim with two again: “Surprised it took Rush this long to score. But then again, he’s been everywhere on D, so… can’t hate on that.

Rush doing his job shadowing CDR is right.

Give me Jim Gray interviewing Bob Knight and I’ll give you a few minutes worthy of pay-per-view coverage.

Um… Rose has that hot hand… the flu symptoms are waning…”

Phantom foul call on CDR as Rush slips.

As we head to the stretch, is the game being evenly called?

Sure are a lot of fouls on Memphis.

Anderson steal. Rose is waking up! Oh oh. He’s up to a dozen points. Memphis has their biggest lead in a while at 51-47.

Willie Kemp picks up his third and sits down. Kemp in.

He blew the lob because he carried.

Wow!!!! Derrick Rose is a monster!! Dig the double pump in the lane plus the foul!

Memphis 54 , Kansas 47 Biggest lead of the game with 5 left.

Collins lay Memphis 54, Kansas 49 with 4:20. Side out. Memphis ball.

OH MY GOSH!!!! Derrick Rose beats shot clock to put Memphis up by eight!

Tim Hop: “Um…

shot clock buzzer beater. he didn’t call glass… be we still got love for ‘da thorn’ (career name pending…)”

Maybe he will be MOP. When he got the hot hand, Memphis got the lead.

Wow they changed Rose’s shot to a 2. Remember that one point. Will it loom large?

Rose looks a little tired.

Dorsey picks up his fourth with 3:36 to go.

Arthur makes two. Memphis 56, Kansas 51.

Wow Rose rims out a three to beat the shot clock. If he would have made that…

Taggart makes a lay in the paint Tigers 58, Kansas 51.

Kansas is now going to the “hack a shaq” because Memphis is suspect from the line.

Dozier steps up big and makes the front end and then the second to put Memphis up nine…60-51.

Arthur hits from the wing..Memphis 60, Kansas 53 1:54 left. Time out Kansas.

Right now Derrick Rose is the MOP.

Kansas steal and three. Memphis 60, Kansas 56.

Kansas fouls CDR and he smoothly makes front end and then the second. 62-56 Memphis.

Dorsey caught on the switch and fouls out of his last game. Wow Nantz states Dorsey has been a part of 126 and maybe 127 wins as a Memphis Tiger.

Chalmers makes two 62-58 Memphis.

Chalmers fouls CDR but he misses front end.

Arthur makes short wing jumper Memphis 62, Kansas 60. Time out Memphis. 44 seconds left.

What’s gonna be the outcome fellas?

Anthony Gilbert chimes in: “Kansas always the bridesmaid (except ‘88) never the bride.”

Anderson with a big ass block on Collins off the break.

CDR is fouled on the ensuing break and is fouled. He misses two but Dozier gets rebound and Kansas fouls Rose with 10 seconds left. Wow! The game is sloppy, but it’s a good game.

Tim: “HOLY. SH.T.

Great, great game.”

Derrick Rose can sew up the MOP right here. How fitting.

He misses first…

Makes second…

Rose appeared to foul Collins…who slide about 15 feet across the floor….but no call.

Wow!!!!!!!!!! Chalmers hits a miracle three with 2.1 left!!!!

Just like Packer says…the free throws are making a difference.

Kansas and Memphis tied at 63 going into overtime.

Memphis missed four of last five free throws.

Memphis ball to start overtime session.

First overtime since 1997 Arizona/Kentucky which Arizona won behind MOP Miles Simon.

Rush makes layup off break to put Kansas up two, 65-63.

CDR has got to make some big plays if Memphis is to win.

Remember when I said about that 1 point? It mattered..

Dozier misses. Kansas ball with 4 left.

Chalmers to Arthur Oop 67-63 Kansas.

Memphis is going cold and are getting no rebounds after Dorsey fouls out.

Jackson layup in lane. Memphis down six with 2:29 left. 69-63.

Kansas fouls out of the time out and puts CDR on the line.

He makes first…

and the second 69-65 Kansas.

1:48 left.

Kansas big rebound out to Rush who lays it in.

CDR makes a big ass three. Kansas 71, Memphis 68.

TH: “Hack-a-cat worked. Now they have Memphis overplaying, which is how the Chalmers-Arthur oop gets open, a la Saturday night UNC-beatdown. (Tyler Hansborough is still having nightmares, Naismith or no…)”

56.8 seconds left. Kansas ball out of the timeout.

Ball in to Robinson. Chalmers to the line.

Chalmers for 1+1.

Makes first…

Makes second. 73-68 Kansas.

Wow! In the scrum arrow to Kansas.

Memphis has to foul.

Wow!! Collins slips out of bounds. Ball to Memphis.

OMG DID ANYONE SEE AT LEAST SECONDS GO OFF THE CLOCK?

Oh OK, they put it back.

Collins makes the first off the soft rim..

and then the second.

Rose misses three.

Game over. Kansas 75-68.

The Kansas Jayhawks are National Champions.

I guarantee you the story will be about Memphis choking at the line. There was a huge foul discrepancy as well.

JDubb: “I have been hearing Memphis is the greatest team talk from a lot of sports guys on my side of the world. Great team don’t miss free throws to put a team away..
Go Kansas.”

Tim Hop: “

Ah, they were THIS close from overcoming that great, big achilles heel…

But I can hear Brandy right now… “Almost doesn’t count…”

Some thoughts: Calipari ran the wrong offense it seemed. I don’t understand why they weren’t running a 1-4 offense. Rose was passing right after stepping over half court.

Free throws came back to haunt them. CDR choked when it counted.

Anthony Gilbert: “This is a good win for KU. It still doesn’t take away the pain from ‘03, nevertheless, Rock Chalk Jayhawk. Holla at me Mizzo. I told you fam!”

Tim: “Damn I guess you were right AXG but but… lol

Keys to the game:

Kansas D.

Mario Chalmers = clutch.

Rose = $$$ (in his pocket)

Chalmers = clutch.

Pretty sure Roy Williams still catches a second “L” because Self says:

“THIS is how you win in Kansas…”

“……nice shirt, Roy. Reeeeal nice.”

Yeah I was pulling for the Tigers mainly because of all the hatred for Memphis, but I have to tip my hat to the Kansas Jaywalks uh…Jayhawks. I still think Memphis was the better team, but Calipari got out coached and Kansas was a lot sharper on both ends of the floor.

Congratulations Kansas fans, congratulations.

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