One Shining Moment 2008

KANSAS JAYHAWKS-2008 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

National Championship Preview

MEMPHIS VS KANSAS

JOEY DORSEY VS DARNELL JACKSON

ROBERT DOZIER VS DARRELL ARTHUR

CHRIS DOUGLAS ROBERTS VS BRANDON RUSH

ANTONIO ANDERSON VS RUSSELL ROBINSON

DERRICK ROSE VS MARIO CHALMERS

MEM BENCH:
WILLIE KEMP
DONEAL MACK
SHAWN TAGGART

KU BENCH:
SASHA KAUN
SHERRON COLLINS
COLE ALDRICH

The National Championship is here. This game will fun to watch because of the up-tempo offenses for the Jayhawks and Tigers as well as the individual matchups to watch with Chris Douglas-Roberts vs Brandon Rush and Derrick Rose vs Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson, and Sherron Collins.

KU WILL WIN IF: They can limit the transition game of Memphis. They can contain, not stop, Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas- Roberts from driving into the paint and making a play. Forcing turnovers and making them into fast break points, and finally playing with poise, not panicking and always staying focused.

MEM WILL WIN IF: They keep playing the way they did in dominating wins over Michigan State, Texas, and UCLA. Joey Dorsey produces another defensive gem like his game against UCLA where he had 15 rebounds and held Kevin Love to 12 points. And finally if they play with confidence.

PREDICTION: KANSAS 82 VS MEMPHIS 80

Final Four Prediction

NORTH CAROLINA VS KANSAS

TYLER HANSBROUGH VS DARNELL JACKSON

DEON THOMPSON VS DARRELL ARTHUR

MARCUS GINYARD VS BRANDON RUSH

WAYNE ELLINGTON VS RUSSELL ROBINSON

TY LAWSON VS MARIO CHAMLERS

UNC BENCH: KU BENCH:
QUENTIN THOMAS SASHA KAUN
ALEX STEPHESON SHERRON COLLINS
DANNY GREEN COLE ALDRICH

Even bigger than the game itself is the massive storyline on the sideline: Roy Williams vs Kansas. The old Kansas coach who visited the Final Four with the Jayhawks in 2002 and 2003 is back against his old team. It's the Tar Heel Nation vs The Rock Chalk Jayhawks. This game will be fast paced, high scoring, and exciting to watch.

KU WILL WIN IF: Sherron Collins scores in double figures off the bench, Mario Chalmers forces Ty Lawson into turnovers, and Sasha Kaun and Darnell Jackson force Hansbrough to the free throw line and limit offensive rebounds.

UNC WILL WIN IF: Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson win the backcourt battle, Tyler Hansbrough gets 23+points and 10+rebounds, and if they improve on their 72.2 points per game allowed.

PREDICTION: KANSAS 82 VS NORTH CAROLINA 79



MEMPHIS VS UCLA

JOEY DORSEY VS KEVIN LOVE

LUC R. MBAH A MOUTE VS ROBERT DOZIER

JOSH SHIPP VS CHRIS DOUGLAS-ROBERTS

RUSSELL WESTBROOK VS ANTONIO ANDERSON

DARREN COLLISON VS DERRICK ROSE

MEM BENCH: UCLA BENCH:
WILLIE KEMP JAMES KEEFE
DONEAL MACK LORENZO MATA-REAL
SHAWN TAGGART ALFRED ABOYA

Another important coaching storyline hangs over this game, but not as an uncomfortable thought but a story line of breaking through. John Calipari in his first Final Four since 1996 with UMASS and Ben Howland in the Final Four for the third year in a row. Howland has never won the title and only went to the title game once (2006).

MEM WILL WIN IF: They can run and show off their superb athleticism, they don't get nervous playing in their first Final Four, and if they can bottle up Kevin Love and Darren Collison.

UCLA WILL WIN IF: They make this game a half-court affair, get Kevin Love plenty of touches and looks for the outlet pass, and if they can limit Derrick Rose.

PREDICTION: UCLA 78 VS MEMPHIS 77

The Worst Music Theme Ever

2008 ACC Tournament. I can't believe someone thought this was a good idea. It was so funny to hear on TV.

J-DHS Junior Basketball Players

Brandon Triche and Alshwan Hymes, helping my alma mater dominate. Only HS juniors!

How Old Are You?

MEMPHIS:

JOEY DORSEY-SENIOR-24 years old
ROBERT DOZIER-JUNIOR-22 years old
CHRIS DOUGLAS-ROBERTS-JUNIOR-21 years old
ANTONIO ANDERSON-JUNIOR-22 years old
DERRICK ROSE-FRESHMAN-19 years old

AVERAGE YEAR-JUNIOR/AGE-22

NORTH CAROLINA:

TYLER HANSBROUGH-JUNIOR-22 years old
DEON THOMPSON-SOPHOMORE-19 years old
MARCUS GINYARD-JUNIOR-20 years old
WAYNE ELLINGTON-SOPHOMORE-20 years old
TY LAWSON-SOPHOMORE-20 years old

AVERAGE YEAR-SOPHOMORE/AGE-20

UCLA:

KEVIN LOVE-FRESHMAN-19 years old
LUC RICHARD MBAH A MOUTE-JUNIOR-21 years old
JOSH SHIPP-JUNIOR-22 years old
RUSSELL WESTBROOK-SOPHOMORE-18 years old
DARREN COLLISON-JUNIOR-20 years old

AVERAGE YEAR-SOPHOMORE/AGE-20

KANSAS:

DARNELL JACKSON-SENIOR-22 years old
DARRELL ARTHUR-SOPHOMORE-20 years old
BRANDON RUSH-JUNIOR-22 years old
RUSSELL ROBINSON-JUNIOR-22 years old
MARIO CHALMERS-JUNIOR-21 years old

AVERAGE YEAR-JUNIOR/AGE-21

Strength in Location?

If you compare the starting lineups of each Final Four team you will see that you have two national programs, one regional program, and one program that is a combination of the two.

NATIONAL PROGRAMS:

MEMPHIS: PLAYER-HOMETOWN-DISTANCE FROM SCHOOL

JOEY DORSEY-BALTIMORE MD-916 miles
ROBERT DOZIER-LITHONIA, GA-407 miles
CHRIS D-R-DETROIT, MI-745 miles
ANTONIO ANDERSON-LYNN, MA-1324 miles
DERRICK ROSE-CHICAGO, IL-535 miles

AVERAGE DISTANCE-785 miles

NORTH CAROLINA-HOMETOWN-DISTANCE FROM SCHOOL

TYLER HANSBROUGH-POPLAR BLUFF, MO-807 miles
DEON THOMPSON-TORRANCE, CA-2538 miles
MARCUS GINYARD-ALEXANDRIA, VA-266 miles
WAYNE ELLINGTON-WYNNEWOOD, PA-415 miles
TY LAWSON-CLINTON, MD-279 miles

AVERAGE DISTANCE-861 miles

REGIONAL PROGRAM:

UCLA-HOMETOWN-DISTANCE FROM SCHOOL

KEVIN LOVE-LAKE OSWEGO, OR-958 miles
LUC R. MBAH A MOUTE-MONTVERDE, FL-2496 miles
JOSH SHIPP-LOS ANGELES, CA-7 miles
RUSSELL WESTBROOK-13 miles
DARREN COLLISON-RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA-58 miles

AVERAGE DISTANCE-706 miles/take away Mbah A Moute and distance is 259 miles

REGIONAL/NATIONAL PROGRAM

KANSAS-HOMETOWN-DISTANCE FROM SCHOOL

DARNELL JACKSON-OKLAHOMA CITY, OK-317 miles
DARRELL ARTHUR-DALLAS, TEXAS-520 miles
BRANDON RUSH-KANSAS CITY, MO-41 miles
RUSSELL ROBINSON-NEW YORK, NY-1233 miles
MARIO CHALMERS-ANCHORAGE, AK-3563 miles

AVERAGE DISTANCE-1134 miles/take away Chalmers and distance is 527 miles