NCAA Tournament 2012: Kansas Jayhawks Advance to Final Four

The Kansas Jayhawks are advancing to the Final Four once again.

The Jayhawks defeated North Carolina in the Midwest Regional Final 80-67 setting up a meeting with Jared Sullinger and Ohio State in the Final Four.  

The game remained close throughout until Kansas slammed the door on UNC with a 12-0 run to finish the game.  

Kansas held UNC to 22 percent shooting in the second half including 2-17 three-point shooting for the game.  The Jayhawks are advancing to their second Final Four in the past five years. 

Guard Tyshawn Taylor led Kansas with 22 points.  Forward Thomas Robinson scored 18 while grabbing nine rebounds and Jeff Whithey had 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.  

Kansas shot 46 percent from the field while scoring by far its most points in any games so far in the tournament.

The game went back and forth with both teams exchanging runs throughout the first half before trading baskets at the beginning of the second half.  UNC twice came back from seven-point deficits late in the second half before Kansas finally put them away for good.

Tyshawn Taylor exploded out of his tournament long shooting slump shooting 10-19 though he still hasn't hit a three-pointer all tournament going 0-5 vs. UNC.

The game was an emotional one for UNC coach Roy Williams who coached Kansas until leaving for UNC in 2003.  It was his second meeting with Kansas since joining UNC.

Now, Kansas moves on to the Final Four and will face Ohio State, who defeated Syracuse 77-70 a day earlier.  

The victory over UNC ends a string of disappointing tournament losses: 2011 to VCU, 2010 to Northern Iowa, 2006 to Bradley and 2005 to Bucknell.