The Sports Watercooler

I will first start by saying that I was wrong. Yesterday I was lamenting how the championship game of the tournament always fails to match the awesomeness of the first weekend.

Well, last night's overtime thriller essentially killed that. It was a beautiful game, executed perfectly. A game marked not by mistakes and sloppy play, but by great basketball.

So hats off to Kansas for the last second shot to send the game to overtime, and for sealing the deal in overtime. NCAA Men's Basketball Champions.

Yet, I can't help but wonder, did Kansas win the championship, or did Memphis lose it? I remember watching those last 3 minutes in regulation and thinking (and possibly saying out loud) "This game is over."

How could they let Kansas back into it? Was it the terrible free throw shooting? They shot 1 for 5 from the line in the last 1:15. Or maybe it was their poor shot choices in OT. Instead of playing the game they did the first 38 minutes of the game, they panicked and hoisted up ill advised shots.

Then there is the forever on going debate...if you are up three with less than ten seconds to go (as Memphis was), why do you even let the other team attempt a 3 pointer? If they had fouled as Kansas brought the ball up, Chalmers wouldn't have had the opportunity to shoot the ball. Sure, there is a chance a Jayhawk could hit the first free throw, miss the second, Kansas could rebound and then have 8 seconds down 2, but isn't that more attractive than just letting them run a play to shoot a 3?

Anyways, whether Memphis choked it away, or Kansas simple took matters into their own hands, the last 10 minutes plus overtime were a glory to watch. Almost as much as this....take it away Luther!