San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Miami in Kansas’ way of another Final Four
CHICAGO — Kansas is one win away from a spot in the Final Four. Meanwhile, Miami continues its improbable run through the NCAA Tournament.
The Jayhawks, who entered Friday's Sweet 16 contest against No. 4 seed Providence as the only No. 1 seed left in the men's NCAA Tournament, squandered a 13-point second-half lead but still managed to upend the Friars, 66-61, in a Midwest Regional semifinal at the United Center.
Remy Martin scored 23 points, his most in a game as a Jayhawk, and grabbed seven rebounds with three assists. Jalen Wilson scored 16 points with 11 boards for KU.
The Hurricanes overcame Iowa State's stifling defense and vocal fan contingent in a 70-56 victory. Sixth-year senior Kam McGusty had the hot hand all night, leading all scorers – and surely improving his NBA Draft stock – with a gamehigh 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Jordan Miller had 16 points and seven rebounds.
This is a Miami team that was picked to finish 12th in the preseason ACC poll. Instead, in the program's fourth trip to the Sweet 16, the Hurricanes proved to be among the most underrated teams in the nation.
“The guys did a great job from start to finish. I'm very, very excited for them,” said Miami coach Jim Larranaga, who led George Mason to the Final Four in 2006. “They're an amazing group. They earned that today because they beat a very fine opponent.”
KU last reached the Final Four
in 2018, when Villanova ousted the Jayhawks, 95-79, in the national semifinals in San Antonio. Since then, KU was knocked out in the Round of 32 in 2019 by Auburn and 2021 by USC. There was no tournament in 2020 because of COVID-19.
The victory also vaulted Kansas past Kentucky for the most wins in college basketball history. KU has 2,354 victories against 877 losses. Kentucky, which lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Saint Peter's, is 2,353-720.
“I don't know that I totally buy in 100 percent that we don't ever get rattled,” Kansas coach Bill Self
said. “But I do think, as Jalen (Wilson) said, our league (the Big 12) has prepared us in the way you play so many close games. Every game is a fistfight. I think our guys have enough confidence that when things don't go well as a team, they think that they can go make an individual play.”
Al Durham scored 21 points and Noah Horcher added 10 points for Providence (27-6).
Martin, KU's super senior transfer from Arizona State, hit 6 of 9 shots the first half. Wilson had 10 rebounds to go with seven points. Agbaji had two points on 1-of-6
shooting the first half. He was 0 for 4 from 3-point range as KU made 2 of 10 3s to Providence's 1-of-13 3point shooting.
KU had just three total assists against five turnovers the first half; Providence had two assists to three turnovers. The Friars were led by Durham, who had seven points on 2-of-8 shooting.
Providence's 17 points were fewest in a half against KU in an NCAA Tournament game since Ohio scored 15 in a 49-38 first-round loss to the Jayhawks in the 1985 tourney.
KU led by 13 points (36-23) on a
Mitch Lightfoot slam dunk off a pass from Martin with 14:44 to play. However Providence rallied with a 17-5 run that sliced the deficit from 13 to one point at 41-40 with 9:22 left. Ed Croswell came off the bench to score seven in the surge.
Martin hit a free throw, then hit a driving layup and KU led 44-40 with 8:31 left. The Friars kept coming and grabbed a 48-47 lead with 5:51 to play.
The Jayhawks scored the next seven points and wouldn't relinquish the lead. Wilson scored a basket and hit a free throw and Braun hit a inside bank shot and KU led 52-48. McCormack put in a stickback and the Jayhawks were up 54-48 with 4:14 left.
KU led 55-50 at 3:36 when McCormack hit one of two free throws. Agbaji put down a fierce slam off a feed from Braun with 2:53 left and KU led 57-50.
It was 57-53 when Martin was fouled on a 3-point attempt. He made two free throws to put KU up 59-53 at 1:32. It was 59-55 KU following a Nate Watson dunk with 47 seconds left. Martin hit one of two free throws at to make it 60-55. Providence followed with an airball.
The Jayhawks led 63-57 with 16.3 seconds left when Martin fouled Durham on a 3-point try. Durham hit two free throws to make it 6359 with 10.4 seconds left. KU's Wilson was fouled at 9.1 seconds.
He hit two free throws to make it 65-59. Durham scored a layup at 4.2 seconds to make it 65-61. KU successfully inbounded, Martin was fouled and he hit one of two free throws.