Kentucky and Kansas meet for the 2012 NCAA men's basketball championship in a classic matchup of traditional powers.
No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats
(37-2, 16-0 SEC)
vs.
No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks
(32-6, 16-2 Big 12)
Tip-Off Time: 9:23 PM ET
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, LA
Basketball isn't just in Kansas anymore. The commonwealth of Kentucky boasts so much hoops talent that it had a national semifinal all to itself. Of course, basketball dominance did make its way to the Bluegrass State by way of the Kansas Jayhawks' vaunted program, founded by James Naismith.
Long before John Calipari, or even Rick Pitino, was calling the shots for the Wildcats, Adolph Rupp patroled the home sideline in Lexington. As a player, Rupp learned the game in Lawrence, Kansas, under the tutelage of legendary Jayhawks coach Phog Allen and his assistant, Naismith.
The No. 1 overall seed in the entire tournament, Kentucky enters the national championship game as the betting favorite over a Kansas squad that has lived dangerously throughout March. Led by outstanding (presumably) one-and-done freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the Wildcats are the most physically dynamic team in the nation. They rolled through the SEC regular season without a loss and broke the century mark in a Sweet 16 rematch with one of the two teams to defeat them before the NCAA tournament.
At the other end of the floor, the Jayhawks may be the most mentally tough team from the field of 68. Poise and passion have kept the Jayhawks advancing through the tournament even when their shooting deserted them. Kansas' rally past Ohio State in the "other game" in the Final Four was just the latest amazing result that has this team believing it's a team of destiny.
Can Bill Self best John Calipari on the college game's biggest stage? Will Jeff Withey be able to throw off Davis? Does Kentucky have anyone ready to withstand Thomas Robinson? Or will an unexpected x-factor player decide the 2012 national championship?
STAY TUNED FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE GAME:
Kansas gets another bucket to beat a first-half buzzer. This time it's Taylor.
After MKG and Robinson trade buckets, Kentucky slows it down as the clock is under a minute. MKG misses shot..
Robinson drives hard but throws it too high off the glass. Is he compensating for Davis' reach? Withey grabs the board but can't drop it in. Robinson fouled on the ensuing rebound but misses the front end.
Kentucky leads 39-23, after Robinson hits a pair of free throws. Can they make any sort of run before the break?
Doron Lamb sinks another jumper and Kentucky's lead continues to swell. Davis is out, seemingly fixing a contact lens.
Out of another timeout, Kansas appears to get what they want but nothing is working right now. Johnson gets his defender in the air, seems to draw contact as he shoots. But no whistle and the ball rattles out. Withey then grabs the offensive rebound but can't put it back in. Davis grabs the rebound and Young fouls him. And, that sums it up..
That Taylor hoop followed by the charge on Davis seemed perhaps the nascent stage of a momentum swing to Kansas. But before you can say "rock chalk.." Kentucky is back on the front foot.
Johnson misses from close range... MKG skies for the defensive rebound and Kentucky is coming back.. THREE for Miller.
Taylor hits a bucket for Kansas. Then, at other end, Davis is called for a charge on Young.
Robinson is outscoring the frosh, 4-0. But Davis is far more impactful. Davis bothers another shot that misses and grabs his 8th rebound.
At the other end, Lamb nails a three. It's all Kentucky and the scoreboard reflects that, 34-19.
Out of the timeout, Kansas gets exactly the shot they want -- a Teahan three -- but it's short.
| @ TCPMattMay : MEDIA TO (6:52) - UK 31, Kansas 19; Davis with 0 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists. Been completely dominant w/o scoring. |
| @ art_stapleton : Kansas' one-and-dones having as much impact on tonight's game as Kentucky's one-and-dones #emptytrips #NCAAFinals |
| @ GaryParrishCBS : Attention Twitter: You have 27 minutes and 14 seconds left to clown John Calipari for never being able to win the big one. So enjoy it. |
Under 7 minutes in the first half and Kentucky has four players with 6 or more points. Kansas has zero.
Teague drains a triple and the lead has bulged to 12 points. And Davis has still yet to score..
Robinson has another shot blocked and Davis continues to be a factor even without scoring.
Lamb hits 1 of 2 from the line and the 'Cats lead is 9. Foul on Releford.
Withey bulls inside after a UK turnover and gets another bucket. He leads Kansas with five points.
Kidd-Gilchrist sinks a jumper to push the lead to double digits for Kentucky. The teenager from New Jersey is having a stellar game so far, 9 points and as many bruises.
This is Nantz's phrase to describe the acrobatic bucket that Teague just dropped in after a back-door cut.
| @ ESPNAndyKatz : I don't remember seeing a freshman play with such a drive like MKG to the basket. He just bulldozed his way inside, took a beating, got up. |
| @ rickbozich : No points from Anthony Davis. Kansas 2 for 2 on three-pointers. And Kentucky still leads by six. |
| @ SethDavisHoops : Six words that should scare Kansas fans: Anthony Davis has yet to score. |
Kansas moving the ball around the perimeter after the timeout. Working clock.. and Releford sinks a three!
Kidd-Gilchrist knifes in for another pair for Kentucky, Again, he absorbs plenty of contact and drops. Kansas timeout as they trail, 23-14, as we get to 10 minutes in the half.
Jones back down for the dunk at one end. And Robinson is swarmed by white shirts after they flip the court.
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