Harrison Barnes
ST. LOUIS — All season Kansas has taken doubters and detractors, and used them to fuel their defense and determination. And last night those traits carried the Jayhawks past top-seeded North Carolina and former coach Roy Williams, carried them all the way to New Orleans and a Final Four few expected them to reach.
They made all the stops down the stretch in the Midwest Region final, scoring the last dozen points for a 80-67 win over the Kendall Marshall-less Tar Heels. Maligned senior point guard Tyshawn Taylor raised four fingers to the crowd of 24,107 at the Edward Jones Dome, finally earning cheers instead of jeers from Kansas fans.
“[This] makes the feeling even better. When people doubt you, that’s when I perform my best,’’ said Most Outstanding Player Thomas Robinson, who had 18 points and nine rebounds. “We knew we could do it. But it took a lot of work. It wasn’t a cake walk. This moment is great to have, but you just want to finish our business now.’’
VIDEO: COACH, PLAYER REACTIONS
Taylor, who had a game-high 22 points, five assists and five steals, led St. Anthony’s (N.J.) to a national title, and vows he can do the same for the second-seeded Jayhawks (31-6), who play Saturday against an Ohio State team they beat back in December.
“This is what you come to Kansas for. It’s a great feeling, but it’s just one step,’’ Taylor said after breaking out of a slump against North Carolina freshman Stilman White, playing a second straight game for the injured Marshall. “Oh, for sure [we can win the NCAA tournament title]. I think we definitely could win it.’’
Why not, if they defend the way they did down the stretch against top-seeded North Carolina (32-6). They allowed 63.6-percent shooting in the first half, but just 22.6 in the second.
Kansas didn’t allow a basket for the final 5:45, didn’t give up a single point for the last 3:57 and forced the Tar Heels to miss their final dozen shots from the floor — the last ten after Bill Self sprung a triangle-and-two that left them flustered.
“For the last four, five minutes, they played much, much better than we did, and their coach coached much better than I did,” said Williams, who coached Kansas to the 1991 and 2003 finals, bolting for Tobacco Road after the second. Kansas beat UNC en route to the 2008 title and is looking for an encore.
“It was a game of runs, and we didn’t answer the last one,” Williams said. “All of a sudden we panicked.”
Kansas was clinging to a 68-67 lead after UNC star Harrison Barnes (13 points, 5-of-14) hit a free throw with 3:58 to play. But Taylor stole the ball from Reggie Bullock and Elijah Johnson made a huge left-wing 3-pointer.
“I wouldn’t want to go home saying I could’ve shot that 3 that he backed off of me on. He took a step back and I made him pay for it,’’ said Johnson. “I just did what I do: I shot the ball.’’
Then, after Jeff Withey blocked John Henson and tapped the ball to Taylor, who leaked out, got fouled by White and converted a three-point play.
Bereft of their floor leader Marshall — who fractured his right (non-shooting) wrist last Sunday, and was ruled out about 90 minutes before tipoff — the Tar Heels lost their poise. Withey blocked White, and when Travis Releford finished a leak-out dunk it was 76-69 with 1:29 to play.
“Coach (Joe) Dooley said we played the triangle-and-two 12 possessions, and they scored five points in it, and they were just offensive rebounds,’’ said Taylor. “Once we realized they couldn’t score on it, that hyped us up.’’
All the way to New Orleans.