The Kansas Jayhawks are back in the National Championship, as they came back from way behind against the Ohio State Buckeyes in an epic Final Four match-up to win, 64-62. Now they will face John Calipari's Kentucky Wildcats to see how will be claimed as the winner of 2012's college basketball season.
Doesn't this story seem familiar?
It should be.
In 2008, Kansas faced the No. 1-ranked, John Calipari-led Memphis Tigers in the National Championship. They ended up with the upset victory, thanks to some crucial missed free throws by Derrick Rose and an amazing three-pointer by Mario Chalmers late in the fourth. The game would end up going into overtime, where Kansas took control and won 75-68.
Now they will face a much similar situation four years later, where it's a Calipari-led team that is ranked No. 1 in the nation. Along with that, they have the soon-to-be No. 1 overall pick for the upcoming NBA Draft in Anthony Davis, much like what Memphis had four years ago with Derrick Rose.
The story just seems to good to be true as the Jayhawks can do it all over again. Can they?
It's happened before in sports world. That same year in 2008, the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, with the highlight play being the helmet-catch by David Tyree. This year, New York did it again as they stopped Tom Brady's Pats, 21-17. Four years ago, New England had a league-best record, 16-0. And of course, they were upset. This year, they were the best in the AFC....and then they got upset.
Kansas can do the same thing all over again.
Thomas Robinson looks to be the man with something most to prove. In my opinion, he should have won the Wooden Award, which Davis ended up walking away it. Robinson, a junior, looks to end his college basketball career the right way: a winner. He's spent the most time in this level of basketball play, unlike Kentucky's squad which are filled with one-and-done players.
Robinson ended up scoring 19 points and eight rebounds in the last game, and I expect him to have a huge impact on the Jayhawks Monday night.
However, Kansas isn't all built off of Robinson. They have several key players, like obviously Tyshawn Taylor. Taylor has paid his dues as a senior guard and who looks to shut down Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Along with that, they have Travis Releford and Elijah Johnson.
The X-Factor, in my opinion, looks to be Jeff Withey. The junior center didn't look like he did much in the win over the Buckeyes if you look at the statsheet, only having four points and eight rebounds; however, he was able to play strong defense on one of the best big men in the nation in Jared Sullinger. Withey looks to do the same as he will go head-to-head with Davis.
This just looks like too good of a match-up and I have feeling it will be really exciting and high-scoring. I'm looking for the Jayhawks to upset and relive the 2008 season.
We'll see Monday night if Bill Self's squad can do it again.
