OMAHA – In its third try in three years, No. 1 Kansas finally got to the Final Four, edging No. 2 Duke 85-81 in overtime of the Midwest Region final.
What happened
In the best game of the tournament – a high-level affair worthy of the Final Four, much less a regional final – Kansas sophomore Malik Newman sent the Jayhawks to San Antonio. Newman scored 32 points – 13 in overtime – hitting the go-ahead three-pointer and sealing victory from the free-throw line.
The game featured 11 ties and 18 lead changes and even more momentum changes. It also included attrition in the middle, with both teams’ centers fouling out.
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Mostly, it featured Newman, whose career started at Mississippi State. He declared for the NBA draft two years ago, after his freshman season, then withdrew and transferred to Kansas. His emergence in the postseason has been the key to elevating the Jayhawks to a higher level. On Sunday, he carried them to the Final Four.
Key moments
Newman’s three-pointer from the corner – a favorite spot for him Saturday – gave Kansas an 81-78 lead with 1:47 left in overtime.
It came after Kansas ran a picture-perfect play right through Duke’s zone. Lagerald Vick took an entry pass in the lane and found Newman setting up for the shot.
From there, Newman added four more free throws.
Duke missed its last four shots, including three three-pointers, before Grayson Allen hit a three-pointer with three seconds left. But it was already over.
Kansas had to rally to get into overtime. Down by three points in the final minute of regulation, Kansas guard Devonte' Graham somehow flipped the ball over his head – as he was losing his balance – to senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk, who took one dribble and nailed a 22-footer to tie it with 25.9 seconds left. That left Duke with a chance to win it in regulation, but Allen – who had pushed Duke ahead with four free throws in the final two minutes – just missed a short jump shot; it rolled around the rim and hit the backboard before falling out as the buzzer sounded.
The battle underneath between Kansas sophomore center Udoka Azubuike and Duke freshman center Wendell Carter sent both of them to the bench early in the second half with four fouls. Newman drew Carter’s fourth foul with 16:06 left; Bagley drew Azubuike’s fourth with four minutes later. Azubuike fouled out with 1:59 left in regulation; Carter followed with 2:49 left in overtime.
What’s next
Kansas (31-7) advances to the Final Four for the 15th time and the first time since 2012. The Jayhawks will face Villanova on Saturday in a national semifinal.
Duke will lose Allen and likely see Marvin Bagley III and possibly other freshman leave. But there's help on the way as the Blue Devils have the No. 1-ranked recruiting class set to arrive in Durham.
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