What are the keys to victory in the championship game?
Knocking down some jump shots: The Tigers haven't had to do that through the entire tournament. They've been terrific on defense, which has allowed them to get out on the open court. That gives them easy fastbreak points. But in a half-court set, there hasn't been one team that has stopped their dribble penetration from any position. Memphis will be playing the best defensive team they have played this year in Kansas. Guards Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers combine for more than four steals a game. If you get by them, this is a team that blocks six shots a game.
Knocking down some jump shots: The Tigers haven't had to do that through the entire tournament. They've been terrific on defense, which has allowed them to get out on the open court. That gives them easy fastbreak points. But in a half-court set, there hasn't been one team that has stopped their dribble penetration from any position. Memphis will be playing the best defensive team they have played this year in Kansas. Guards Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers combine for more than four steals a game. If you get by them, this is a team that blocks six shots a game.
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College Basketball Experts
Fran Fraschilla is an analyst for ESPN and was previously the head coach at New Mexico, St. John's and Manhattan.
Joe Lunardi is the resident bracketologist for ESPN.
Seth Greenberg is an analyst for ESPN and was previously the head coach at Virginia Tech, South Florida and Long Beach State.
