Rock Chalk Jayhawks

In probably the most exciting, nail-biting NCAA basketball final that I have ever witnessed, Kansas outlasted Memphis to claim the 2008 National Title. Kansas gets the victory, but this also means there was a winner in the 2008 Bracket Challenge.

The Game

First my thoughts on the game. I know that Memphis is going to get killed over the next few days for missing those free throws toward the end of regulation. Sadly, there is some merit to this criticism I myself claimed to ignore. Apparently John Calipari, the head coach of Memphis, convinced me and the media that free throws did not matter as much as we all thought. Well, he was clearly mistaken. In the end it was Memphis’s only weakness that led to their loss of the title.

Of course, several things could have gone differently. If Rose had been one step back on that three pointer that was later made a two, who knows. If Dorsey had not (very foolishly) fouled near the three point line late, who knows. There are plenty of scenarios, even though most people will focus on the fact that if Memphis did not go 1/5 to close the game, they would be holding the trophy.

That said, you have to give Kansas credit. Their defense turned Memphis over a ton last night, and I think that constant pressure is what kept them in the game. Credit to coach Bill Self at the end of the game as well. I think his strategy was genius, and due to his gamble on fouling very early his team claimed victory. You can argue about the rest of the game, but in the final two minutes I think Calipari was clearly out-coached. Let us not even discuss his decision (or lack of one) not to foul before Kansas hit the three to send it into overtime.

All in all it was an exciting game. The score was close the entire time, and there was a lot of great defense. Seeing as I had no emotional involvement (my bracket crumbled weeks ago) it was very entertaining to sit back and enjoy this high level of basketball. The last-second shot to send it to overtime blew my mind, though I knew it was coming. The reason? One of my roommates jinxed Memphis by saying the game was over when they were up by nine late. Superstitions aside, the game was a blast and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

The Contest

Of course, Kansas winning means that there was a winner in the challenge hosted by myself and Ben Mahtani. David Iriana (aka Dexter’s Dump) receives the $20 gift card to iTunes as his reward for out-picking the rest. Congratulations, I hope you come back to defend your title next season.

With that said I bid a fond farewell to March Madness 2008. It was another great tournament, and the final game will stick in my mind as the best (until proven otherwise) I have seen. I hope you enjoyed March Madness as much as I did. Let me know your thoughts about it in the comments. As Dick Vitale would say, “It’s over baby!”