NEW ORLEANS – Kansas was on the ropes at halftime Saturday against Ohio State. With the Jayhawks' chances of playing for their second national championship in five years hanging in the balance, they turned the screws defensively and sped past the Buckeyes 64-62 and into Monday's final.
By Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
Kansas guard Elijah Johnson shoots during the Jayhawks' national semifinal game against Ohio State on Saturday.
By Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
Kansas guard Elijah Johnson shoots during the Jayhawks' national semifinal game against Ohio State on Saturday.
Trailing by 13 points late in the first half and nine at intermission, Kansas (32-6) held OSU to eight second-half field goals on 33 attempts. The Jayhawks also dominated the Buckeyes on the backboards, outrebounding them for the night 42-30.
The riveting back-and forth-battle put the Jayhawks (32-6) into Monday's title matchup against No. 1 Kentucky, which beat Louisville 69-61 in the other semifinal. The Wildcats beat the Jayhawks 75-65 in New York on Nov. 15.
"I don't think anybody probably thought we could get here," said KU coach Bill Self. "These guys find ways to win games. Kentucky is terrific. They've got guys who can make plays; they've got pros, but I think we're pretty good, too."
KU got a key defensive performance from center Jeff Withey, who blocked seven shots and also contributed eight rebounds and four points.
"He was playing hard," said OSU's All-American forward Jared Sullinger. "It seemed like he stepped up his defensive intensity." Sullinger said he has not made up his mind yet on whether he will leave OSU for the NBA draft.
Self said he believes Withey is the second-best shot-blocker in the nation. He'll go up against the best one Monday in Kentucky's Anthony Davis.
Elijah Johnson's layup with 1:10 remaining put the Jayhawks ahead 62-59, but after a steal by KU's Thomas Robinson, Withey was called for traveling on a layup that would have put KU ahead by five. OSU then drew within one on a follow-up dunk by William Buford with 9.6 seconds left.
KU's Tyshawn Taylor made two free throws with 8.3 seconds left for a three-point lead, but then after stealing a pass in the backcourt, he threw the ball away with 3.6 seconds to go. It was KU's 17th turnover.
OSU's Aaron Craft was fouled with 2.9 seconds left, preventing the Bucks from getting off a tying three-pointer. But after making the first free throw, he intentionally missed the second but was called for a lane violation when going after the offensive rebound. KU inbounded and ran out the clock.
All-American Robinson had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Jayhawks and Travis Releford scored 15. Buford led OSU (31-8) with 19 and Sullinger had 13 points and 11 boards.
"It was a tale of two halves," said Self. "They dominated us in the first half, and in the second half, we were able to make some plays. The big thing is we got some stops. These guys have been in so many close games they just stepped up and made plays.
"I told then at halftime. 'Come on boys, we're a little bit better than this. That's not who we are.' We've got to play a lot better than that (Monday). … Sometimes, we thought instead of reacting."
Johnson said Self " told us we're not doing what we (normally) do."
Ohio State coach Thad Matta lamented the second half offensive performance.
"We didn't shoot the ball as well as we needed to," Matta said. "Our inability to put the ball in the basket enabled them to gain momentum."
OSU was also hampered when high-scoring forward Deshaun Thomas picked up his fourth foul. He finished with only nine points and missed 11 of 14 shots.
After trailing 34-25 at halftime, Kansas opened the second half by scoring 13 of the first 17 points and tied the score at 38 on a drive by Johnson. Thomas had gone to the bench with his third personal foul at the 17:36 mark.
OSU gained a 43-38 lead on a three-pointer by Craft and a tip-in by Sullinger. But then with the Buckeyes ahead 43-40, Thomas, who had scored 89 points in Ohio State's first four tournament games, committed his fourth foul and went to the bench again.
Three-pointers by Lenzelle Smith Jr. and Buford put OSU ahead 49-43, but KU again rallied as Conner Teahan hit a three and Releford chased down a loose ball in the corner and went in for a layup to bring the Jayhawks within one.
Teahan came in the game when Johnson went to the bench with four personals.
With OSU up 49-48, Sullinger scored inside and then made two foul shots sandwiched around a dunk by Buford as OSU went ahead 55-49.
But Robinson then scored on a hook, and Johnson returned and drove in for a score to bring KU within two. Robinson made one free throw with 3:51 to play, and when Releford was fouled by Sullinger with 2:48 to go he made both free thrown to put KU ahead 56-55.
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