Mainstays Duke, Kansas get down to business
In a tournament defined by unpredictability, there will finally be a regional final that makes sense.
No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Duke will square off in the Midwest final Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska, for the last spot in the Final Four — and the stakes are huge even by Elite Eight standards.
Mike Krzyzewski is looking to break UCLA legend John Wooden’s record of 12 Final Four appearances.
Kansas coach Bill Self, who recently joined Krzyzewski and Wooden in the Naismith Hall of Fame, is hoping to snap a two-year losing streak in regional finals and a 2-7 personal record in Elite Eights.
After scores of upsets produced some rather strange matchups elsewhere, it’ll be “Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk” vs. Coach K and the Blue Devils in a classic finale in Omaha.
“It’s great when you have two programs of this nature, this status in the history of our game play for a Final Four berth. I think it’s great for the sport,” Krzyzewski said.
As for the latest chapter in the Kansas-Duke series, the top-seeded Jayhawks (30-7) are more like a plucky underdog — at least by their high standards — while second-seeded Duke (29-7) and its cadre of ridiculously talented freshmen appear to be rounding into titlecontending form. Duke is a betting favorite in the game even though it is the lower seed.
The Jayhawks have clawed their way into their third straight regional final as a No. 1 behind teamwork and a toughness that wasn’t always there in the winter.
Their last two wins, over Seton Hall and Clemson, came by just 4 points apiece — but Kansas has won six straight postseason games after tearing through the Big 12 tournament.
“It’ll be a tough game. But it’s going to be a fun game,” Self said. “We know we’ve got our hands full. But we like to think they have their hands full too.”
• Kansas is ranked second in all-time wins with 2,247, and Duke is fourth at 2,144.
• The Jayhawks will be making their 22nd appearance in the Elite Eight, thirdmost in Division I history, while Duke will play in their 21st regional final.
• The Blue Devils are 9-6 against No. 1 seeds.
• Kansas clinched its third consecutive 30-win season on Friday.
VILLANOVA TAKES ON HUNGRY TEXAS TECH >> When Villanova coach Jay Wright talks to his players about the Wildcats’ 2016 national championship, he wants them to remember what it felt like before they took the court, not after they cut down the nets.
“There’s a certain hunger when you’ve never been there that can elevate you, too, that you just want it so bad,” he said on Saturday as he prepared to play Elite Eight newcomer Texas Tech (27-9) in Boston for a spot in the NCAA Final Four.
“When you’re in it for the first time and you’re advancing, you’re so excited. You’re so hungry. That can be your advantage,” Wright said. “We’ve got to remain humble, and we’ve got to be more hungry than Texas Tech, and then hope some of our experience pays off.”
No. 1 seed Villanova (33-4) will face the third-seeded Red Raiders on Sunday at TD Garden, a matchup of tournament veterans vs. a team that is so unfamiliar with this level of March The Red Raiders went 11-7 in the conference, losing four straight games to close out February. The Big 12 put seven teams in the NCAA tournament, and four advanced to the Sweet 16.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE HAS COACH >> Middle Tennessee has a new basketball coach in Nick McDevitt, who led UNC Asheville to the Big South regular-season title the last two years. He replaces Kermit Davis, who left to coach Mississippi after going 332188 in 16 seasons.