Poz: That was some feeling when Chalmers hit the shot
 

http://www.kansascity.com/180/v-print/story/565754.html

SAN ANTONIO | As soon as Mario Chalmers’ shot went up in this wild Kansas-Memphis championship game, you could feel that crazy twist in your stomach. It’s going in. It’s the same feeling that every sports fan has in the last second, when the last Hail Mary is thrown, when the last fly ball is hit, when the last putt is curling toward the hole.

Of course, most of the time the Hail Mary is knocked away, the last fly ball dies at the warning track, the last putt breaks left of the hole. And the last shot usually hits the rim and bounces away. Great finishes, like straight flushes, rarely come through.

Only, when Chalmers shot the ball — well, the feeling was alive. It’s going in. This game had been over. Memphis had led by nine with 2:12 left. Kansas had started fouling. The rest of the game seemed as scripted as a sitcom. Kansas would foul, Memphis would make enough free throws, the Jayhawks would lose valiantly.

Then again, people said that free throws might come back to haunt Memphis. Right? People had been saying that all year. The Tigers had vowed to solve the problem, and they made their first two free throws.
Then Memphis’ Chris Douglas-Roberts missed one. Then he missed a shot. Then he missed two more free throws. And suddenly the game had started to turn back, Kansas’ Russell Robinson made a huge steal, Sherron Collins made a huge three-pointer, Darrell Arthur made a huge shot — well, you know they’re all huge. And Kansas cut into the lead.

With 10 seconds left, Memphis’ Derrick Rose — who had been absolutely magnificent, it’s no wonder that some NBA teams are now talking about him as the No. 1 overall pick ahead of Michael Beasley — had two free throws that would have put away the game. He missed the first one. Memphis only led by three. There was still that crazy hope sports fans have.

The Jayhawks rushed the ball up the floor. It seemed likely that Memphis would try to foul to prevent Kansas from shooting the three-pointer. The Tigers didn’t. The ball worked around to Mario Chalmers, who came off a screen, and he had a hand in his face and he fired a very high three-pointer.

You know, heartbreak has followed this Kansas program like a stray dog. There was the three-overtime loss in ’57 with Wilt Chamberlain at the center. There was the 1997 loss to Arizona when Kansas had, perhaps, the best team in its history. There was the championship-game loss to Syracuse when Nick Collison, as solid a player as the Jayhawks have ever had, could not make a free throw.

And now there was this team, this gifted, intense and tough team that Bill Self had put together. These Jayhawks could play fast with North Carolina, and they could play slow with Davidson. They could beat you with speed, with defense, with athletic ability, with precision passing, with high-flying dunks.

For most of this game, the Jayhawks had done what many thought they could not do — they played Memphis’ talent even, they had matched all of Memphis’ athletic ability, they had run the floor with Memphis, they had flown above the rim with Memphis.

And now, Chalmers shot the ball over two outstretched hands, and the ball was in the air, the shot was heading for the basket, and that feeling was all over the Alamodome. It’s going in.
The basketball swished through.

It is now the greatest shot in Kansas basketball history. That’s all. After it went through, Kansas could not lose. There was no way. Memphis’ great players had been knocked out by the shot. The Jayhawks rolled in the overtime, winning 75-68. Confetti fell from the ceiling. There were tears. Hugs. More tears.

It had been a long time at Kansas. It had been a long time since there had been a champion in the Heartland. “This is for you,” Kansas coach Bill Self said to

We love you too Bill. Please Stay.

Please give Self a lifetime contract at KU....

Any dude with a hyphenated last name deserves to miss free throws.

Coaches who don't foul when the other team needs 3 points to win doesn't deserve to win.

Coaches who don't call timeout with 2 seconds left don't deserve it either.

Self out coached his counterpart.

When Mario nailed this shot, I knew we would win the championship, and I started to cry a bit. One massive tear.

again

At least Bill Self did something Roy couldn't....win the championship as a Jayhawk.

That shot was unreal. I'll remember it forever, and don't expect to see it's equal in my lifetime.

The steal and 3 pointer by Collins was a good one for the ages also.

Yeah, it got one-uped, though. Kansas fans will remember the Collins steal/shot, all basketball fans will remember the Chalmers score.

How do you remember the shot? Real time speed or the slow motion heart pounding intense hold your breathe speed?

I freaked out in my apartment and my fiancee was sleeping next to me, and I scared her to death. It was a fitting end to one of the best college games, let alone championships, I have ever seen...and for once my team won.

Awesome article, awesome game, awesome everything

That was amazing

Even more than the free throws, that was the game.

We were up by 7. GOD ****ING DAMNIT, we were up by 7. And we were never the same again.

Answer: ...slow motion heart pounding intense hold your breathe speed....

Without a doubt, that's my memory of it....it's as if time slowed to a crawl. Fantastic. PBJ

I've seen the replay 30 times already....and EVERY SINGLE TIME I pump my fists and do a "Danny Manning"-you-have-to-believe-double-fist-squeeze/shake (KU fans know the image, it is iconic)....

so giddy....it feels better than I could ever imagine

there were 3 huge plays at the end:

Collins with steal and 3 pointer
Arthur with a beautiful turn-around jumper to cut it to 2
Chalmers with the shot for the ages

Chalmers shot will be the greatest in KU history...as it should. But in the game, Collins' 3 was more important. He misses that, Memphis rebounds and things could have been much different. Instead he cuts the lead down to 4 and gives us hope, a chance, new life. Collins' 3 begat Chalmers 3. Both huge.

Funny thing is, when he shot it, knowing the size of the Memphis guards, I thought it was blocked. It just looked short to me for some reason, and then it swished and I fell on the floor and started to sob a little.

I think I pissed my pants, and blamed it on "spilled my beer..." :shrug:



I'm just sayin'...... :shrug:





:p

I had to listen on the radio...the play by play guy was counting down and his co-announcer kept saying "gotta foul" the all I heard was "Chalmers with the ball...a shot for 3......"and it was like eternity waiting for the call...then I think there might have been some people looking at me like I was in a fist fight with a bee...

They replayed the call this morning on Mike and Mike. Don't know the play by play guy but the color guy was a guy who should know about fouling in that situation: John Thompson III

John Thompson and Kevin Harlan as the play by play...Thompson was saying gotta foul

Memphis screwed themselves. No way UNC, Duke, UCLA, Louisville or even Davidson blow that lead. The pushing of the ball up the floor with like 20 seconds left when if they had just passed the ball and kept it out of Kansas' hands for 3 more seconds, chalmers doesn't even get the opportunity to tie.

I'm not diminishing the championship - it was a great shot, a magnificent team effort and KU didn't quit - those are the marks of a true champion. Not selfish play, bad coaching\game management and the aforementioned fast break - which in my mind only a complete imbecile would have attempted. Memphis certainly deserved to lose.

"90% of the game is half mental." - John Madden.

I got screwed out of this.

I'm watching this game on march madness on demand (streaming video via computer) I didn't realize there was a delay. On my computer there were 10 seconds left with rose shooting, then a customer calls--and says dammit ku just hit a 3.

I laughed at him much and then charged him full price.

Frigging memphis prick.

Kansas' defense against Davidson in the last 16 seconds of that game, and Kansas' offense in the final seconds of this game defines this team.

After the game Chalmers said he had an open look.... really? LMAO

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008...s_shot_400.jpg

man that was scary.

I cried. I admit it. But the craziest thing is that as soon as it happened the first thing that came to my mind was to start yelling "oh the babies" (from the Borat movie when he's with the frat guys in the rv). So, I did. It was a thing of beauty. This is just freakin' awesome!!!

We recorded the game since it ran so late on the east coast. Went to bed at halftime and found out about the OT. My tape shut off at the 63rd free throw point for Memphis!

I'm sure I'll see it 100 times on ESPN today.

Go JayHawks!

Exactly. There was a collective gasp at Allen Fieldhouse and when the shot went in that place exploded.

cheese will do for brains when youre lucky.