Villanova no match for talented Kansas

By Larry Lage, Associated Press

Originally published 09:02 p.m., March 28, 2008
Updated 11:43 p.m., March 28, 2008

Russell Robinson drove down the left side of the court and tossed the ball off the glass to Brandon Rush, who slammed home the carom.

And to think Rush said it was a bad pass.

"I wasn't expecting that at all," he said.

But even when Kansas is off, its jaw-dropping talent is too much.

Rush scored 16 points and Robinson had 15 as the top-seeded Jayhawks toyed with Villanova 72-57 Friday night to earn a spot in the Midwest Regional final.

The Jayhawks (34-3) will be a huge favorite to end 10th-seeded Davidson's stay in the NCAA Tournament and advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2003.

Davidson star Stephen Curry, though, already has Kansas' attention.

"Curry is unbelievable and he's on a run," Jayhawks center Sasha Kaun said.

Kansas coach Bill Self is in the regional finals for the fifth time - at three schools - since 2000 and is a win away from no longer being regarded as the best coach without a Final Four on his resume.

"We've knocked on the door a few times," Self said.

Villanova (22-13) had to know the night was doomed when star guard Scottie Reynolds shot an air ball and missed another try on the opening possession of the game.

The Wildcats simply could not keep up with Kansas' speed, size and athletic ability at the other end of the court.

Kansas slammed four alley-oop passes in the opening nine minutes and made seven three-pointers to take a 41-22 lead at halftime.

"The threes hurt us early," Villanova coach Jay Wright said.

"When a team that good is making those kind of shots, it is going to be tough."

Unlike some NCAA Tournament games that are decided in the final moments, this one seemed over soon after it started.

Kansas took control early with a 14-2 run and didn't need to break a sweat to keep its cushion.

Kansas 72, Villanova 57

FG FT Reb

VILLA Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Pena 12 0-4 2-2 2-2 0 3 2

Anderson 30 4-9 0-1 2-3 0 3 8

Cunnnghm 35 3-8 4-6 3-7 0 3 10

Reynolds 37 4-13 1-1 1-2 0 2 11

Stokes 22 2-5 1-2 0-0 0 1 6

Colenda 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Fisher 20 2-8 2-2 0-0 4 3 6

Redding 19 1-2 2-4 0-3 1 0 4

Clark 25 5-10 0-0 3-7 0 2 10

Tchuisi 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Totals 200 21-59 12-18 15-30 5 17 57

Percentages - FG .356, FT .667. Three-point goals - 3-17, .176 (Reynolds 2-4, Stokes 1-4, Clark 0-1, Redding 0-1, Anderson 0-3, Fisher 0-4). Team rebounds - 6. Blocked shots - 2 (Anderson 2). Turnovers - 14 (Cunningham 5, Reynolds 4, Stokes 2, Fisher, Anderson, Pena). Steals - 10 (Anderson 4, Redding 2, Reynolds 2, Fisher, Cunningham). Technicals - None.

FG FT Reb

KANSAS Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Arthur 24 3-4 1-2 1-3 0 3 7

Jackson 24 2-5 0-0 1-6 1 1 4

Robinson 33 4-7 4-4 0-3 5 2 15

Chalmers 28 3-7 6-6 0-3 4 4 14

Rush 28 6-12 2-2 2-4 1 3 16

Teahan 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Collins 21 2-5 0-1 0-2 4 3 4

Stewart 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Case 9 1-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 3

Reed 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Kaun 29 3-4 3-5 1-7 0 1 9

Aldrich 3 0-0 0-0 0-1 1 0 0

Kleinmann 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Totals 200 24-45 16-20 7-33 16 18 72

Percentages - FG .533, FT .800. Three-point goals - 8-19, .421 (Robinson 3-5, Chalmers 2-5, Rush 2-6, Case 1-1, Collins 0-2). Team rebounds - 3. Blocked shots - 5 (Kaun 3, Arthur, Rush). Turnovers - 18 (Robinson 4, Chalmers 3, Rush 3, Collins 3, Arthur 2, Jackson 2, Case). Steals - 8 (Chalmers 3, Collins 2, Jackson, Rush, Robinson). Technicals - None.

Villanova 22 35 - 57

Kansas 41 31 - 72

A - 57,028. Officials - Doug C. Shows, Patrick D. Evans, Ted Valentine.