9:13 – OK, I’ll go on the record and predict wildly: Memphis wins, 84-66. I’m not huge on predictions, but I’m also known for making a fool of myself. Interesting note: Nantz seemed to go out of his way to mention Packer’s 34th-straight Final Four broadcast. It does seem like this could be his last. Also, Self just made a nice speech to his team with a “be ourselves, go have fun” type deal. I’m ready, let’s tip this thing.
9:15 – Both Kellogg and Davis take Memphis to win it all. Gumbel correctly notes that no one is talking about Memphis’ free throw shooting anymore.
9:21 – Hey, weren’t we supposed to tip off right now? These team introductions are nice and dramatic. “Slick. Fast. UNORTHODOX.” That’s the Memphis Tigers.
9:27 - Totally random, but CBS’ first scores for Memphis and Kansas were 88 and 92 respectively, before each teams ACTUAL score was put up. Weird. And a weird play with that ball going off the official’s foot (the official is part of the court, by the way) and leading to a textbook ugly two points by CD-R.
9:31 – 9-5 Memphis at the first TV timeout. Memphis looks as confident as they have all Tournament long. CD-R stout on Rush right now.
9:39 – It’s 13-11 Memphis and it might be CD-R taking this team as far as it can go tonight. No one else is doing anything right now.
9:41 – Memphis in some unnecessary foul trouble early with Taggart and Dozier both with a pair. Each of them had a couple of ticky-tackers.
9:48 – 7-0 run for Kansas and now Dorsey just picked up a dumb over-the-back. 18-13, Kansas.
9:50 – The big guy’s in! Niles, who is about the size of a minivan, is in the game.
9:55 – Roy Williams in the crowd with a Kansas sticker on his shirt. That’ll draw some attention.
9:58 – CD-R is on pace for an all-time performance – already has 13 and ties the game at 28.
10:04 – Rose has been stifled so far. “Where is Derrick Rose?” asks Jim Nantz.
10:07 – If Memphis wants their mo’ for the second half, I’d suggest an alley-oop play or a nice screen ‘n’ roll out of this timeout.
10:11 – 33-28 Kansas at the half and what a wasted 60 seconds by Memphis. I feel bad that I told my buddy to take the over.
10:21 – Wheat thins and hummus. That’s just fine.
10:32 – Alright, the final half of basketball in the 2007-08 season. Memphis, I’ve got more than a month’s worth of rent riding on a win … I’m ready to be screwed over!
10:36 – And it’s 36-35 Memphis after Antonio Anderson takes charge in the first two minutes of the second half. That’s more like it.
10:40 – First TV timeout and it’s just as helter skelter as the first half.
10:45 – Wow. Rose cannot get anything to fall. Is it Kansas’ night?
10:52 – “I’m going to start giving credit to the Kansas defenders,” Billy Packer says with 11:18 to go in the game and Memphis only having scored 42 points.
10:56 – Is it Rose time? The frosh hits a 3 to get to double digits and Memphis is up again. Free throws could be big down the stretch…
11:04 – A steal and tear drop from No. 23. The Flower is starting to feel it. 51-47, Memphis.
11:08 – Rose misses a 3 with the shot clock winding down, Dozier grabs the carom, passes to Rose who has a sick move in the air … AND ONE! 53-47 Memphis with the foul shot coming … he makes it.
11:10 – Rose with a RIDICULOUS bank shot as the shot clock expires! “There’s the shot of The Tournament,” Nantz says. Stephen Curry and Ty Rogers may want in on that discussion.
11:14 – 3:36 to go and Dorsey sits with four fouls … let’s see…
11:16 – Huge, Brook Lopez-like bucket from Taggart to give Memphis a seven-point lead. Now, Dozier goes to the line to shot a one-and-one …hits both!
11:20 – Whoawhoa…Collins with a huge steal and then a BIG THREE. 60-56, Memphis and now it’s freebie time…
11:22 – Appropriately, Dorsey fouls out on a stupid play. (It was a hip check.) His college career is done. CD-R just hit two freebies to make it 62-56.
11:24 – Oh damn, CD-R misses the front end of a one-and-one … Arthur hits a huge fallaway. 62-60 under a minute and it’s tense right now.
11:26 – Terrible shot by Collins…CD-R gets his chance for two AND MISSES BOTH WHAT A BOARD BY Dozier.
11:28 – I don’t even know if I typed everything that needed to be typed … but Memphis begging to let Kansas steal this one. Rose HAS to hit these upcoming freebies.
11:30 – Mario Chalmers hits a GORGEOUS shot and we’ve got OT with Rose hobbling. What the hell is GOING ON.
11:35 – We’ve got OT and Kansas has all the mo’. Game of The Tournament without question. So glad it’s the last one.
11:38 – Memphis can’t get their rhythm going and it’s all coming back to the free throws. I can’t believe it, but it’s all coming back to the free throws. KU leads by six with just over three to go.
11:40 – I know it means something because my hands shake as I type right now.
11:42 – CD-R hits a 3 that was positively mandatory after Rush misses a breakaway layup but then gets the board for the bunny!! Memphis, you’re killin’ me. Jayhawks lead with 71-68 with 56.8 left.
11:45 - Dumb foul by Memphis sends Chalmers to the line and he sinks both.
11:46 – CD-R can’t lasso in a finger roll and the looseball/ensuing jump goes to Kansas. And TO when Collins slips on the floor! Still hope…
11:48 – Memphis officially has choked this one away. I can’t believe it. Just awful.
11:50 – “Rock, chalk, championship!” Is the call from Nantz.
……………….unbelievable
Maybe I’m picking nits, but twice in OT Memphis inbounded in the back court and they let it roll without touching it until closer to half court (which is a pretty normal play to see). Both times Packer made a comment about how they were wasting time (wrong) and once said something about a five second call (again, wrong). Is it me, or did he not know the rule about the clock not starting until you touch it? For the five second call, maybe he was actually thinking of the ten seconds to cross half court rule. i don’t know if that applies when the ball has not yet been touched though. Okay, enough of that.
Great game and it is somewhat funny that the one major flaw everybody talked about for Memphis leading into the tourney is what bit them in the end. Make your freaking free throws!