Men’s NCAA Tournament Midwest Region Elite Eight Breakdown
#1 North Carolina vs. #2 Kansas
Both North Carolina and Kansas got tougher tests than many thought on Friday night, but at this point in the tournament, that is how things usually turn out. The last time these two teams met was in the 2008 Final Four, where Kansas won and, of course, went on to win the NCAA National Championship.
The Tar Heels hope to get the better of the Jayhawks this time around, but North Carolina has struggled at times en route to the Elite Eight. This is a team that has not been healthy either. And the big question now is the wrist of point guard Kendall Marshall. He did not play against Ohio in the regional semifinals and the Tar Heels offense looked completely lost at times. The Jayhawks got past North Carolina State a little bit easier than UNC did against Ohio, but it came right down to the wire.
The Jayhawks got a great game out of Thomas Robinson, who scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Robinson will have a much tougher time in the paint against the Tar Heels, but this game will come down to the play on the perimeter. Kansas has the advantage over UNC if Marshall is out. Elijah Johnson is playing some good basketball right now and has turned into a smart offensive player who will give off to his teammates when necessary, but also is not afraid to take the big shots. With point guard Tyshawn Taylor by his side, the KU backcourt rarely makes mistakes.
If Marshall is not available for the Tar Heels, they will suffer on both ends of the floor. Stilman White did an admirable job against Ohio, dishing out six assists and committing zero turnovers, but he is no Marshall. The UNC frontcourt needed to get a lot more touches and White had trouble creating any offense. On the other end of the floor, somebody has to be able to stop Johnson and Taylor. White trying to defend Taylor may not work out too well. The Bobcats backcourt went wild against North Carolina and you can bet Kansas will do even more damage.
