Memphis Chokes Away a Championship as John Calipari Still Can't Win the Big One

For 238 of 240 minutes played in the NCAA Tournament, the Memphis Tigers played like a team that didn't read press clippings that said how they couldn't win the tournament. 

They made free-throws and beat very good opponents.  It was as if John Calipari had figured out a way to finally win the big one. 

With two minutes left in the championship game, Memphis led Kansas 60-51.  Then everything that everyone said would happen, happened.  Although it was a lot later in the tournament than many expected, their meltdown came at the worst possible time and place. 

Kansas coach Bill Self decided at the two minute mark in regulation to start fouling. 

As I wrote in previous articles, the numbers don't lie.  Memphis spent the next two minutes wetting their leg and missing free-throw after free-throw. 

With over a minute left to play, Joey Dorsey fouled out on what Billy Packer called "a terrible foul to commit." 

Memphis' execution in the final two minutes of regulation can be compared to watching the Titanic sink.  Memphis gave Kansas every possible opportunity to come back and Kansas took every one of them. 

Mario Chalmers made an acrobatic three-pointer with mere seconds remaining to tie the game at the end of regulation.  At that point, you could see that Memphis wasn't going to come back from this.

If John Calipari is such a great coach, he would have done a better job of motivating his shocked bunch at a time when his players really needed his guidance. 

Instead, Kansas ran out to a six point lead early in overtime.  Memphis was simply chucking shots at the rim and most were pretty ugly.  

Kansas' strategy was perfect.  They said, "OK, if Memphis has the lead with 2:00 left, let's foul the crap out of them."  Mississippi State had this opportunity in round two but didn't take advantage of it. 

Bill Self is clearly the better coach, and furthermore, Kansas was definitely the better basketball team tonight. 

Great athletes can only take you so far.  Memphis somehow made it to the final, and amazingly, had it won until they realized that they ARE the Memphis Tigers. 

Coach Cal, great season!  Nobody remembers who came in second…

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