April 7, 2008

The University of Memphis squad (38-1, 16-0 C-USA), ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll and No. 3 in ESPN/USA Today poll, tries to take its final step toward the 2008 NCAA title on Monday, Apr. 7 when it meets Kansas (36-3, 13-3 Big 12) in the NCAA Tournament national championship contest in San Antonio's Alamodome. The game, to be televised by CBS Sports, is slated to start at 8:21 p.m. (CT).

Memphis is the South Region's No. 1 seed, while the Jayhawks are the Midwest Region's top seed.

Memphis advanced to the NCAA Tournament title game with victories over Texas-Arlington 87-63, Mississippi State 77-74, Michigan State 92-74, Texas 85-67 and UCLA 78-63. Prior to the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers swept the Conference USA regular season and tournament crowns for a third-straight year in 2007-08. The Tigers posted a perfect 16-0 league mark in regular season play for a second-consecutive year.

The Tigers enter Monday's NCAA Tournament national championship on a 12-game win streak after a Feb. 23 setback to then-No. 2 Tennessee. The Tigers defeated Tulsa, Southern Miss, SMU and UAB to close the regular season and then posted victories over Tulane, Southern Miss and Tulsa in the C-USA Tournament. Memphis defeated Texas-Arlington, Mississippi State, Michigan State, Texas and UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.

The Jayhawks are also on a 12-game win streak entering Monday's NCAA Tournament title game. Kansas defeated Portland State, UNLV, Villanova, Davidson and North Carolina to reach the championship game. The Jayhawks tied for the Big 12 Conference regular season title and won the league's postseason tournament crown.

SCOUTING THE JAYHAWKS
Kansas brings a 36-3 overall record into Monday's NCAA Tournament title game. The 36 victories are a school record.

The Jayhawks are on a 12-game win streak entering Monday's contest. Kansas defeated Portland State, UNLV, Villanova, Davidson and North Carolina to reach the championship game. The Jayhawks tied for the Big 12 Conference regular season title and won the league's postseason tournament crown.

Kansas has four players averaging double figures with Brandon Rush (13.4 ppg), Mario Chalmers (12.6 ppg), Darrell Arthur (12.6 ppg) and Darnell Jackson (11.3 ppg). Jackson leads the Jayhawks on the glass with a 6.6 rebounding average, while Arthur is second at 6.2 rpg. Chalmers (47.3 percent) and Rush (42.3 percent) are the team's top threats from the arc. Chalmers (166 dimes) and Russell Robinson (161 dimes) have dished out over 150 assists apiece.

The Jayhawks are shooting 50.8 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from the arc and 69.8 percent from the charity stripe. Kansas is out-rebounding its opponents by an average margin of +7.8 boards per game (38.7-30.9)