After outscrapping the Tar Heels, Kansas beat Memphis on Monday night to win the NCAA Tournament.   (Photo: Jeffrey Camarati/UNC)

When the brackets first came out, I was asked by several people to join their pool.  

“No, thanks.”  “Nah.”  In some way, for some reason, I dodged them all.  I guess with the pressure of being the “sports guy,” I figured I was in a no win situation.  I lose, people think I don’t know anything about my field of “expertise.”  I win, people say “Oh he’s supposed to, he’s a sports writer.”  

But last minute, say like 12:30 on Thursday after a few games had already tipped, The Rascal called and essentially challenged my manhood.  “Come on, you and me, one-on-one.  Fill out the bracket, drop it off at my house.”

So I pulled up in front of his house, took out a CFSR with a blank bracket, and filled it out (without listening to any scores first, needless to say).

Wouldn’t you know, it all came down to the title game.  He had Memphis winning it all, I had Kansas.  I had no real rooting interest in this game, until I realized bragging rights were on the line…Go Jayhawks!

Feeling OK at the half with Kansas up five, things began to take a turn for the worse.  Derrick Rose, Memphis’ spectacular freshman guard who finished with 18 points, found his stride after a slow start and the Tigers had things going their way.  Memphis used a 16-4 run to go up nine points, and with time dwindling, I thought I was about to get a phone call from The Rascal proclaiming his victory.

But a game that had been close for the first half became a game of swings in the second.  Down nine with just over two minutes to go, Kansas miraculously clawed their way back and after Memphis missed four of five free throws down the stretch, the team’s one weakness coming into the Tourney, the Jayhawks found themselves down three with the ball and just over ten seconds left.  

Junior guard Mario Chalmers said after the game in his press conference, “It was a big shot.”  A three to send the Championship into overtime is bigger than just big.  Bill Self said “We got the ball in our most clutch player’s hands, and he delivered.” Did he ever.  With 2.1 left on the clock, Chalmers hit a three pointer with Rose draped all over him.  Memphis’ last second heave came up short, and the teams headed to overtime.

From there, Kansas would essentially cruise to their first championship since Danny Manning led the Jayhawks twenty years ago.  They held the lead throughout overtime, going on for the 75-68 win.  This time it was Chalmers taking the most outstanding player award, thanks in large part to his three pointer at the end of regulation. 

The Jayhawks held Memphis without a field goal for a six minute stretch at the end of the game lasting into overtime - their 18-3 run won them the title, and me the bracket.

Time to call The Rascal.

- Jesse Jones