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KU fans arrive in San Antonio

San Antonio — Kansas University's basketball team enters Saturday's Final Four semifinal against North Carolina as a 31â2 point underdog.

The Vegas line shouldn't discourage the Jayhawks, says former KU forward Mark Randall.

He scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in lifting KU to a shocking 79-73 victory over the heavily favored Tar Heels in a national semifinal game on March 30, 1991, in Indianapolis.

"Heck yes KU can win - no question. Back in '91, we weren't even supposed to be doing any damage, and here we were in the Final Four," Randall said of a Roy Williams-led KU team that finished with a 27-8 record after falling to Duke in the title game, 72-65.

"Carolina had Rick Fox, King Rice, (Pete) Chilcutt, (Eric) Montross, all the name players. We were not a bunch of stars, but we believed in what we were doing."

KU's starting lineup consisted of 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward Randall, now a 40-year-old member of the Denver Nuggets community relations department, plus Adonis Jordan (16 points), Mike Maddox (10), Alonzo Jamison (9) and Terry Brown (3).

"Everybody was predicting all kind of scores. Dick Vitale wasn't giving us a chance," Randall said. "We were feeding off all that stuff. Anybody (players) that tells you they are not, are lying. We took it all personally. It gave us motivation. This team can use it as motivation, too."

This Final Four semifinal has something in common with the one back in '91.

It promises to be an emotional game for the UNC coach.

Carolina coaching legend Dean Smith was ejected after receiving a second technical foul in the closing minutes of the loss against his pupil, then KU-coach, current UNC coach Williams, who last year joined Smith in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

"I remember standing next to Dean Smith when he got kicked out. I was in shock," Randall said. "I never heard him say one thing that would warrant a technical. I know he went up to coach Williams and said he was sorry. He didn't want it (his ejection) taking away from the game. We knew how hard it was for coach Williams playing against his mentor. It could be emotional for him again (playing against former school, KU)."

In '91, the game matched two teams with identical playing styles. Williams often said he "stole" about everything he used from Smith's playbook.

"Since we both played the same styles it came down to who out-executed the other team," Randall said.

"We talked about that a lot in Lawrence before going to the Final Four. We had the same setups, schemes, whoever would be able to be more precise in execution would win. It worked to our advantage."

Of this year's KU-UNC matchup, KU fan Randall said: "I see it as pretty even. Obviously if the NCAA committee deemed Carolina the No. 1 overall seed and us 4, they'd be favored.

"It should be a great game. I know some KU fans are getting caught up in, 'We owe Roy (because he left KU for UNC).' All that stuff is (bleep).

"I read some kid in Lawrence said people feel Roy abandoned us. I said, 'Whatever, get a different story line, drop it.' We've got Bill Self now. He's the right guy for the job. Look at all the things he's accomplished.

"I hear people complain about this and that. This (KU) team had three losses all season. I won't pull any punches. Kansas fans have become spoiled over the years. They have teams that go to the tournament every year, win the league more often than not. Coach Self gets top players year after year. He's doing a darn good job. If the stars align right, they'll win it all. They are a well-coached team."

Of the stars aligning, Randall explained: "I was involved with two teams that got to the Final Four where we probably shouldn't have. We got there in '91. In '88 we had 12 losses. Why don't people look at that? The stars were aligned right, and we made it."

Randall wants to make it clear he will be rooting loudly for KU while watching on TV on Saturday in Colorado.

"Everybody asks me what is my allegiance. It is Kansas," he said. "I want the boys to advance and Bill Self to get the title. If Kansas for some reason cannot get it done, I'd want Carolina. I'd say the same thing to coach Williams, and he knows it.

"Coach Williams sent me a letter after he got the (UNC) job. It said, 'I understand where your allegiance is, but if you find it in your heart to root for Carolina, do that, too.'

"It's a no brainer. I love that guy. All the things he did to help me, the type of person he is. Everybody has a right to their own opinion, but I'd have to say, 'Get over it (to those who still dislike Williams).'''