Citizen Brand: Kansas Jayhawks Best of Best

I will have more later but for now I will let the Associated Press tell the story of one of the best national championship basketball games ever played. My Jayhawks have won their third national title since 1939 when the first NCAA champion was crowned. It was an incredible ride these Jayhawks took us on this year. 37 wins and three losses; a shared Big 12 regular season title; a third consecutive Big 12 conference tournament title. And after a 20 year wait, now a national championship. Here is the AP story:

Chalmers' big shot leads Kansas to first national title since 1988

Associated Press
Updated: April 8, 2008, 12:33 AM ET

SAN ANTONIO -- With each year, Mario Chalmers has become a better shooter from beyond the 3-point arc.

He saved his best for a night that college basketball fans will long remember.

Chalmers' 3-pointer with 2 seconds to play sent the national final into overtime, where Kansas pulled it out 75-68 over Memphis.

It's the Jayhawks' third NCAA title, and their first since 1988.

Chalmers, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, finished with 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. he made all six of his free throws and had three assists.

The Jayhawks have endured countless disappointments in the NCAA tournament, and they looked like they were headed for another until Chalmers took a pass, and launched the tying shot from the top of the key.

During his career, he has gone from a 37.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc as a freshman to 40.4 percent as a sophomore and 47.6 as a junior.

After his big 3-pointer Chalmers' teammates mobbed him as he returned to the bench for a timeout. At the other end, the Tigers walked off the floor with their heads bowed.

The game was still tied, but it felt as if Chalmers had won it.

Chalmers also did some good work on the defensive end. Among the nation's steal leaders all season, Chalmers had four. That was the most among the Jayhawks on a night they totalted 11 steals and took the high-scoring Tigers out of their comfort zone on offense.

At times, Chalmers seemed to be everywhere -- pestering the Tigers on defense and then slicing into the lane at the other end of the floor, only to find an open teammate.

When it ended, he was in the best place of all -- on a podium at center court, hoisting a national championship trophy with his teammates.