Texas hooks ’em
Kansas joins Big 12 rival in Final Eight; Memphis State, Davidson advance
A week after shredding Gonzaga and Georgetown’s vaunted defenses, the son of former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry dismantled the Badgers and defensive specialist Michael Flowers. Curry outscored the Badgers all by himself in the second half, 22-20.
Wisconsin (31-5) was holding opponents to 53.9 points, best in the nation, and hadn’t allowed Kansas State a single 3-point basket in the second round.
Davidson looked right at home inside the monstrous Ford Field venue. The school’s Board of Trustees provided free bus fare, tickets and a hotel room for students who wanted to make the 11-hour ride from North Carolina, and a few hundred took them up on the offer.
Kansas 72, Villanova 57
DETROIT — The Kansas Jayhawks toyed with Villanova, throwing alley-oop passes off the backboard and raining 3-pointers from all over the court without breaking a sweat.
Brandon Rush scored 16 points, Russell Robinson had 15 and top-seeded Kansas routed the 12th-seeded Wildcats 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.
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.
Villanova (22-13) had to know the night was doomed when star guard Scottie Reynolds shot an airball and missed another try on the opening possession of the game.
Memphis 92, Michigan St 74
HOUSTON — Vulnerable? Not exactly.
The mighty Memphis Tigers humiliated Michigan State and embarrassed all those naysayers who suggested they were the most suspect of the top seeds in this year’s NCAA tournament.
The final score Friday night: Memphis 92, Michigan State 74, but really, it was worse than that.