Even when Kansas had droughts, Maryland wasn’t equipped to take advantage. Point guard Frank Mason III, who seemed hobbled in the first half, looked like himself in the second, coming around on a curl and swishing his first three-pointer of the tournament for a 41-37 Jayhawks lead.
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Ellis provided the steadying force with 12 points in the first half and added a couple of more baskets during a 14-9 run for a 50-43 lead early in the second half, a stretch in which the Jayhawks made their first six shots to start the second half. The 79-63 triumph over Maryland was the 17th in a row for Kansas, the longest active winning streak in the nation. Its last loss was two months ago today. Center after the Jayhawks’ 79-63 victory over No. 5 seed Maryland. “I’m a confident player”, Trimble said at the Maryland press conference. There’s some things that Kansas does really well that we’re going to have to do a good job with, but most importantly [we have to] play well. And he’s a great kid. “I’ve just enjoyed getting to know him and exchanging drills with him and talking basketball”, Larranaga said of his opponent in Thursday’s regional semifinal.
Five players are averaging at least 11.1 points for Maryland, they are: Melo Trimble (14.8), Diamond Stone (12.7), Robert Carter (12.4), Jake Layman (11.7) and Rasheed Sulaimon (11.1).
The Terrapins tied the game at 43 two-and-a-half minutes into the second half. “We try not to pay attention, but they’re so passionate and they want us to be prepared”.
Anyone that’s followed OR this year knows that Benson has done yeoman’s work at point guard following Dylan Ennis’ season-ending foot injury, but on Thursday night against Duke Benson’s offense also joined the party.
Greene spent three seasons starring on MP’s varsity squad from 2009-12, which included MP’s lone region championship in program history during his sophomore season in 2010-11.
Kansas did just that on Thursday night in Louisville. He believes that it helps to play alongside someone who is such a handful. They play multiple defenses. “Our confidence is up there and if we keep continuing with that and keep continuing playing the way we are then we can just go with that”.
The losing coach was asked if the hurt was more acute because it came against his alma mater.
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Dana Altman’s team is one win away from the Final Four and there’s absolutely no way it would be in this position without Benson, a pass-first floor general who’s only committed a total of 24 turnovers this season in 1,063 minutes played. They’re playing really well. A new NCAA rule this year makes it likely that all of them will declare for the NBA Draft, but they won’t necessarily actually leave school.
