April 5, 2008

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Kansas 84, North Carolina 66

April 5, 2008 * Alamodome * San Antonio, Texas

Postgame Notes

Kansas' Win Over North Carolina...

... Improved Kansas to 36-3 on the season, giving the Jayhawks a school record 36 victories

... Extended Kansas' winning streak to 12 games, the second longest of the season (20-0 to open the year)

... Marked KU's 22nd win as a No. 1 seed, improving its mark to 22-7 in that spot

... Advanced Kansas to the national championship game for the eighth time in school history and first since 2003

... Gave KU an 81-36 record all-time in the NCAA tourney

... Made Kansas 4-6 in NCAA Championship games played in the state of Texas, including a 1-1 mark in games played in San Antonio

... Made Kansas 3-6 against North Carolina, all-time as well as 2-2 in NCAA Tournament games against the Tar Heels

... Improved KU to 81-36 all-time in the NCAA Tournament

... Made KU 8-0 in neutral site games this season and 16-3 away from Allen Fieldhouse in 2007-08 (8-3 away, 8-0 neutral)

... Made Bill Self 141-32 at Kansas, 318-137 all time and 21-9 in the NCAA Tournament (11-4 while at Kansas)

... Made Kansas 1,942-785 all time.

Notes

• The Jayhawks opened up a 28-point first-half lead after ripping off a 31-6 run mid-way through the opening frame. In the midst of the 31-6 run was an 18-0 stretch that took the Kansas lead from 9-6 at the 13:35 mark to 33-10 with 8:42 left to play before the break.

• Kansas led North Carolina 44-27 at the half. KU is now 30-1 when leading at the half. The Jayhawks have led at the break in all five of their 2008 NCAA Tournament contests.

• Kansas went over the 80-point mark for the 21st time this season, all KU wins.

• Brandon Rush led Kansas in scoring with 25 points in the game. Rush, who has now eclipsed the 20-point mark on three occasions this season (21 vs. Kansas State (3/1/08); 28 vs. Texas A&M (3/15/8)) has been the top scoring Jayhawk in nine games this season.

• Rush set a new career high with 11 made field goals. His previous career high was 10 field goals made versus Texas Tech on Jan. 30, 2006. He also tied his season-high in field goals attempts with 17. Rush also attempted 17 field goals versus Portland State on March 20, 2008.

• Rush pulled down seven rebounds for the second-straight game. In KU's five NCAA Tournament games he is averaging 6.0 rebounds per game.

• Darnell Jackson dropped in 12 points in the Kansas win, marking the second time in the 2008 NCAA Tournament he has recorded double-figures in scoring. Jackson has now scored 10 or more points in a game 24 times this season and 44 times in his Kansas career. Jackson connected on 5-of-6 shots from the field and made both of this free throw attempts.

• Mario Chalmers netted 11 points off of 5-of-10 shooting from the field. Chalmers has scored in double digits a team-leading 30 times this season.

• Chalmers' 11 points moved him into 24th place on the Kansas all-time scoring chart. He now has 1,323 career points and passed Walter Wesley who finished his KU career with 1,315 points.

• Chalmers tied for the team-high with three steals, giving him 93 on the season which ranks as the second best single-season performance in Kansas history. Chalmers' is the single-season leader with 97 during the 2006-07 season.

• Sherron Collins was the fourth Jayhawk in double figures with 11 points. Collins knocked down his lone three-point basket of the evening, giving Kansas an eight-point lead with 5:24 remaining in the game.

• Collins also finished the game with four rebounds and four assists. His four assists tied a team-high in the win.

• Darrell Arthur led the Jayhawks on the boards with nine caroms in the contest, as KU out-rebounded North Carolina 42-33 in the win. Arthur has now led KU in rebounding in 13 games on the season.

• Arthur also set a season-high with four blocked shots in the game. He had previously recorded three blocks in a game seven times this season.

• Russell Robinson collected four assists in the game, moving into a tie with Kevin Pritchard (499) on the Jayhawk all-time assists chart for seventh place.

• Robinson also recorded three steals in the win, giving him 78 on the season which ranks 11th in Kansas single-season history.

• Cole Aldrich came off the bench to post eight points and seven rebounds, both NCAA Tournament career bests. Aldrich played a big role in helping the Jayhawks to a 17-point lead at the break with six points and six rebounds in the first half of play.

• Aldrich turned in a career-high with four blocked shots in the game. He had previously recorded three blocks on three different occasions, most recently versus Colorado on Feb. 16, 2008.

• The Kansas defense held North Carolina to just five three-point baskets made on 24 attempts, good for only 20.8 percent.