6:47 p.m. Saturday in Final Four game
No. 1 Tar Heels: 36-2, 14-2 in ACC No. 1 Jayhawks: 35-3, 13-3 in Big 12 Key matchup.
Kansas’ Darrell Arthur vs. North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough. Kansas isn’t real physical up front but is really fast, and Arthur is its best player. However, Hansbrough has faced numerous defenders similar to Arthur and 6-foot-8 Darnell Jackson. Hansbrough won’t be intimidated, and he’s the one go-to Tar Heel the Jayhawks must stop. Kansas’ speedy wing players may slow North Carolina’s backcourt, but slowing the national player of the year will be key.
Up high.
Kansas point guard Russell Robinson didn’t look good against Davidson or in the Big 12 Tourney final vs. Texas, leaving questions about his ability under pressure. If he chokes, it puts more pressure on small forward Brandon Rush, who has hit 20-of-40 3-pointers, and off guard Mario Chalmers. Carolina point guard Ty Lawson will have a challenge trying to race past Chalmers, and Wayne Ellington must shoot better than he did in Charlotte (9-for-27) to take pressure off Hansbrough. Marcus Ginyard is the designated defender who’ll likely cover Rush.
Down low.
Jackson’s numbers have dropped to 7.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the NCAAs, and though Arthur may be Kansas’ most talented player, he was practically a nonfactor against Villanova and Davidson. That won’t cut it against Hansbrough, who got lots of help from Dean Thompson against Louisville. Hansbrough will have issues getting that open shot from 18 feet out against Kansas’ athletic front line. With Hansbrough and Thompson, Kansas can afford a defensive specialist in Ginyard.
Quote.
“I’m a guy that grew up in North Carolina. Never left North Carolina. This is all I’d known. And I had heard Coach (Dean) Smith and Coach (Dick) Harp talk about (Kansas) and the passion that people had. And I got out there and found out that they had not exaggerated at all.”
Roy Williams North Carolina coach, on coaching at Kansas
The Post’s pick: Tar Heels
John Henderson, The Denver Post
