National championship gameday: Memphis vs. Kansas

WHERE

The Alamodome, San Antonio

TIME

Tip at about 8:20 tonight

TELEVISION BROADCAST

CBS (Ch. 4), with play-by-play man Jim Nantz and analyst Billy Packer

THE BUZZ

Both teams prefer a fast pace and thrive on transition baskets. There are differences, though, most notably size in the backcourt for Memphis. Both teams start three guards, but two of Kansas' starters are 6-1; two of Memphis' are 6-6. Memphis freshman point guard Derrick Rose, who is 6-3, has been a matchup nightmare in the tournament; he dominated a UCLA backcourt known for its defense. Expect KU to use three guards -- each 6-1 or shorter -- in an attempt to wear down Rose. The Jayhawks must cut down on his penetration and cannot give him -- or any other Memphis guard -- many easy layups in transition. The Jayhawks did a superb job against North Carolina in limiting transition baskets, but stopping Rose is more difficult than stopping North Carolina point man Ty Lawson. What Kansas wants to do, actually, is slow the tempo and force Memphis into a halfcourt game. Two problems: No one has been able to do that in the tournament, and KU does not want to get into a halfcourt on offense. KU also needs to get Tigers center Joey Dorsey in foul trouble. KU has greater frontcourt depth, and if Dorsey sits out for extended periods, KU should have some success in the low post. KU did a nice job on the boards against North Carolina, and that needs to carry over tonight. Finally, watch each team's 6-6 guards: Brandon Rush for Kansas and Chris Douglas-Roberts and Antonio Anderson for Memphis. When Rush's three-point stroke is working, he's a difficult matchup because he also can blow by opposing guards. Douglas-Roberts can score in so many ways, and Anderson does all the little things for Memphis.

THE LINE: Memphis by 1.5

KANSAS STARTERS

G Mario Chalmers, 6-1/190, Jr.

12.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.4 spg, 29.7 mpg, 52.1 FG percent, 47.3 3-pt FG percent, 73.4 FT percent

G Russell Robinson, 6-05, Sr.

7.4 ppg, 4.1 apg, 2.0 spg, 42.1 FG percent, 31.8 3-pt FG percent, 77.9 FT percent

G Brandon Rush, 6-6/210, Jr.

13.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 29.3 mpg, 43.2 FG percent, 42.3 3-pt FG percent, 78.3 FT percent

F Darrell Arthur, 6-9/225, Soph.

12.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 24.2 mpg, 53.8 FG percent, 69.6 FT percent

F Darnell Jackson, 6-8/250, Sr.

11.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 24.2 mpg, 62.5 FG percent, 68.7 FT percent

KEY RESERVES

F Cole Aldrich, 6-11/240, Fr.

2.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 8.4 mpg, 51.8 FG percent, 68.4 FT percent

G Sherron Collins, 5-11/205, Soph.

9.2 ppg, 3.0 apg, 1.1 spg, 23.5 mpg, 46.5 FG percent, 36.6 3-pt FG percent, 76.8 FT percent

C Sasha Kaun, 6-150, Sr.

7.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 17.6 mpg, 62.6 FG percent, 54.1 FT percent

MEMPHIS STARTERS

G Antonio Anderson, 6-6/210, Jr.

8.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.2 spg, 29.2 mpg, 41.0 FG percent, 33.6 3-pt FG percent, 57.7 FT percent

G Chris Douglas-Roberts, 6-7/200, Jr.

18.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.2 spg, 28.3 mpg, 54.4 FG percent, 41.3 3-pt FG percent, 71.4 FT percent

G Derrick Rose, 6-3/190, Fr.

14.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 28.8 mpg, 48.0 FG percent, 34.7 3-pt FG percent, 71.1 FT percent

F Robert Dozier, 6-9/215, Jr.

9.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.0 spg, 1.9 bpg, 25.6 mpg, 44.3 FG percent, 67.5 FT percent

C Joey Dorsey, 6-9/265, Sr.

6.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.9 bpg, 25.2 mpg, 64.0 FG percent, 37.8 FT percent

KEY RESERVES

G Willie Kemp, 6-2/175, Soph.

5.2 ppg, 14.1 mpg, 38.3 FG percent, 36.7 3-pt FG percent, 64.0 FT percent

G Doneal Mack, 6-5/175, Soph.

7.1 ppg, 12.7 mpg, 39.0 FG percent, 36.5 3-point FG percent, 66.7 FT percent

F/C Shawn Taggart, 6-10/230, Soph.

6.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 16.9 mpg, 50.9 FG percent, 64.6 FT percent

COMPARING THE STATS

                              KANSAS MEMPHIS

Points per game                80.7   80.2

Opponents' points per game     61.3   61.6

Field-goal percentage          50.8   46.7

Three-pt FG percentage         39.9   35.1

Free-throw percentage          69.8   61.3

Opponents' FG percentage       37.9   38.7

Opponents' three-pt FG pct.    32.9   30.3

Three-pointers per game         6.9   7.6

Opponents' three-ptrs per game  7.1   5.0

Assists per game               18.2   16.0

Turnovers per game             13.1   11.7

Opponents' turnovers per game  15.6   15.8

Rebounds per game              38.7   40.8

Opponents' rebounds per game   30.9   34.2

Offensive rebounds per game    12.1   14.2

Opponents' off. reb. per game  11.0   11.1

Steals per game                 8.8   8.4

Blocks per game                 6.0   6.2

Fouls per game                 17.6   17.3

Opponents' fouls per game      18.9   20.1