Kansas vs. Memphis NCAA Championship Game Prediction

The Professor
The Professor, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Apr 7, 2008 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
Most analysts predicted that neither team was by to make it past the Final Four. Now after both pulled off upsets Memphis and Kansas meet each other in the National Championship. Memphis was supposed to go down to the force of Kevin Love and UCLA. Instead, Derrick Rose shredded UCLA as he led the Tigers to victory. Next up was UNC led by Tyler Hansbrough an unstoppable force. At first it looked like Kansas had it in the bag only to have UNC roar back into the game to close the lead to 4 points. From that point on though Kansas took control and went on to win 84-66 victory. Now the two teams meet for the first time all year. Memphis will bring the "dribble-drive motion" offense to the biggest stage it has ever had. Kansas will bring a more balanced attack and a ferocious defense that has shut down teams like UNC, Texas, and Michigan State. Now here are the breakdowns at each position and which team has the edge.

Point Guard: This is a position with two very talented guards leading each team. Derrick Rose leads Memphis on the attack and slices through teams like they are soft butter. On the other hand Brandon Rush has more experience and he is a great defender as well as a talented scorer and passer. Rose though was just more clutch than Rush during each team's last game. Rose never let Memphis falter against UCLA, while Rush did let UNC get back into the game thanks to many of the Jayhawks' turnovers.

Edge: Memphis

Shooting Guard: Chris Douglas-Roberts just pours in points every game. Chalmers is good and a very talented defender but, Roberts scoring makes up for everything and gives him the advantage against Chalmers.

Edge: Memphis

Third Guard: Antonio Anderson plays a third guard for Memphis in their offense. While, Sherron Collins and Russell Robinson split time in the starting lineup for Kansas. Anderson poor shooting puts him at a disadvantage compared to Kansas's combination.

Edge: Kansas

Forwards: Down low the battle will be Robert Dozier and Joey Dorsey versus Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson. The Memphis combo are rebounding machine that gave Kevin Love all he could handle. Jackson and Arthur bring both defense and offense to the court. It will be quite a battle, but Kansas can score more than Memphis.

Edge: Kansas

Prediction: in the end Kansas wins the battle down low, but Memphis controls the ball and the backcourt as Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts lead the Tigers to victory.

Final Score: Memphis 78, Kansas 70

Published by The Professor

I'm a kid that just plain loves baseball and has played fantasy sports since I was ten yrs. old. I have been to the greatest race ever the Indy 500 twice with my dad and my brother.  View profile

1 Comments

Post a Comment
  • A. M.4/7/2008


    A couple of comments on your article:

    Brandon Rush is not a pointguard. He will not be matched up against Derek Rose. Derek Rose will be guarded by Russell Robinson. When Robinson is not guarding Rose, then you will likely see Collins on him. I think Memphis has a decided advantage in this matchup.

    Chris Douglas Roberts is a wing guard (otherwise called 3) just like Brandon Rush. He will match up against Brandon Rush, who is one of the best defenders in the country. Very unlikely that you see CDR ever matched up against Chalmers. When Rush is not guarding him, I think Russell Robinson gets the call. The matchup between CDR and Brandon Rush will go a long ways to determine who wins the game. If Rush can slow down CDR in the same way he slowed down Kevin Durant last year Kansas wins the game. If not look for Memphis to come up ahead.

    That leaves Chalmers. While Rose and CDR are really good guards Chalmers and Collins and Rush are a formidable backcourt as well. Kansas has dept

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.