Sorrentino: Deja vu avoided in Texas

By Eric Sorrentino (Contact)

Posted Wednesday, April 9, 2008

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With 2:12 left in regulation of Kansas’ 75-68 overtime triumph against Memphis on Monday, similarities to the 2003 national championship against Syracuse were eerily present.

In both games, Kansas found itself trying to mount a late comeback. In 2003, KU trailed by 12 with five minutes left; the Jayhawks trailed by nine with 2:12 remaining Monday.

In both games, Kansas ran into freshman sensations who played major roles in building leads on the Jayhawks. In 2003, Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out seven assists. On Monday, Derrick Rose scored 18 points, grabbed six boards and dished out eight assists for the Tigers.

Kansas wouldn’t go down easily in either title game. In fact, both games, KU cut the lead to three and had the ball on the final possession with the chance for overtime.

That’s where the similarities stop, though.

It’s the differences — aside from the obvious end result — from the two years that benefited the Jayhawks the most on Monday.

Those differences: free-throw shooting, depth and the final possession.

For instance, Kansas misfired on 18 of its 30 free throw attempts in 2003. That doesn’t win championships. The Jayhawks converted 14 of 15 free throws on Monday. That figure (93.3 percent) is instrumental in winning championships.

Furthermore, KU had only one key bench player who saw regular minutes off the bench in the 2003 title game: Michael Lee. On Monday, Kansas brought Sherron Collins (34 minutes) and Sasha Kaun (21 minutes) off the bench for mega minutes.

Without Collins, there’s no overtime Monday. With just under 2:00 remaining, the sophomore guard grabbed a critical steal and saved it inbounds to KU hero-of-the-new-millennium Mario Chalmers. Chalmers dished to Robinson, who kicked it back out to Collins. The Chicago native drained a mammoth three-pointer from the right corner to cut the Memphis lead to four with 1:45 to play.

Finally, the most critical difference: the final possession.

In 2003, Kirk Hinrich found Lee open in the left corner for a potentially game-tying three-pointer as time wound down. Hakim Warrick blocked the shot and essentially ended the game.

In 2008, KU was also down three on the final possession. Tragedy in 2003 warped into triumph in 2008 when Chalmers hit the biggest shot in KU history.

Rose and Robert Dozier were doing their best Warrick imitations, but Chalmers drained the contested three.

KU then dominated overtime, which led to roughly 40,000 Jayhawk fans parading on Massachusetts street. They deserved it. Before 2:12 remained in regulation, it was almost like a bad dream.

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Posted by fansincewilt (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 6:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That 03 game and then the departture of our coach was tough on us. But, these last five years have been, aside from some disappointments, quite fun. I noticed that the win on Sat. and then the win on Monday erased those strained feelings I've had about our former coach. I did appreciate him coming to the game on Monday and cheer on the Jayhawks. Now, Bill Self has already established himself as one of the great Kansas coaches after only five years. I believe he will make the right decision about staying or leaving. If he left, everyone would think he left only for money, not to coach at his alma matter. I believe he and Lew will come up with an agreeable contract and we have many, many more years of what we have been enjoying these past five.

Posted by JNgohawks (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with all fansincewilt, although I would at this point argue Self is the best coach, based on his five year record with us. Wow. But of course that is only based on a five year record. He has dominated the big 12 regular season, big 12 tourny, and now the NC. His win record is amazing, I bet better than Roy's at the 5 year mark. He has recruited great young men and proven his sincerity by booting Giles and Giddens (maybe mutual there) for repeated disciplinary problems. These were key players at the time, but they weren't representing KU well at all. If he stays he will become what Roy almost had, we will name something after him. I don't know what, but something cool.
I also thought it was cool for Roy to were the Jayhawk, I bet he took some heat for it back in NC

Posted by BrockIII (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I still think that Mike Lee 3 pointer was on its way in if Warrick had not blocked it. Fansincewilt, you're absolutely right about this win and our play since Self took over, that it has completely washed away the terrible feelings after those great teams just could not get over the hump - '97, '98, '02, '03, etc. - and the devastating departure of Roy to UNC.

I was sitting in the UNC section Monday night about 4 rows up and 5 people over from where Roy was sitting. When the buzzer sounded and KU was victorious I was so drunk with excitement I could not help but shake Roy's hand and tell him I loved him when he walked by. He said thank you but surely was thinking I was an insane person. I still kinda miss Roy but Self is just unbelievable. That night was just surreal.

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Posted by dagger108 (anonymous) on April 9, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

People were flogging Roy in the Charlotte paper, though no one seemed to hear him comment at half time about being there to support the large group of his former KU players that were in town for the game.

The UNC people have been as mistaken as the many KU people who have hated Roy these past years. It is not about KU & UNC - both are great schools. It's about relationships, whether that be his former players, coaches, family, ...

It is obvious how much leaving hurt Roy, because of the relationships he had here, especially with the seniors to be. It was still about the relationships, and there were just more in NC. It is obvious to me that having watch KU dump Coach Allen (FB) earlier in the year, and then the black hole/void at AD had a huge impact.

Hopefully, his new group of screamers can be quieted in less than 5 years. My guess is that he has already met with his team to help them understand his view, because those relationships are what's to him.

Posted by actorman (anonymous) on April 10, 2008 at 3:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Dagger, that is one of the best analyses I've ever seen of the Roy situation. I completely agree; in fact I would think for most coaches it's all about relationships.

One of the things that bothers me is how so many people hail Larry Brown as a saint and villifies Roy as a devil, when Roy has shown far more integrity and class than Larry ever did. Roy has cultivated relationships and Larry has broken promises right and left, yet because of one glorious game Larry gets a free pass.

Brock, I agree with you about Michael Lee's shot. He had been a great clutch shooter at KU, although he had had a better year in '95-'96. But I stll think he would have made it. On the other hand, the one thing (and I realize I'm grasping at straws) that made me feel slightly better about Warrick's block is that I'm pretty convinced KU would have lost in overtime. Langford, who had been the best player in the game (yes, even better than the sainted Carmelo), had already "fouled out" (without touching anyone), and as I recall KU had one or two others with four fouls. I think Syracuse would still have won. This time, of course, it was the opposite, with Dorsey having fouled out. Was there a single KU fan anywhere who was the least bit concerned once it got into overtime??? Even if someone was a little concerned, that must have ended when KU got the steal and first basket. They might as well have not even played the overtime, it was so clear that KU was going to win.