March 29, 2008

DETROIT (AP) -- Brandon Rush scored 16 points, Russell Robinson had 15 and top-seeded Kansas beat 12th-seeded Villanova 72-57 Friday night to earn a spot in the Midwest Regional final.

The Jayhawks (34-3) will be a huge favorite to end 10th-seeded Davidson's stay in the NCAA tournament and advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2003.

Box Score | AP Action Photos   1st 2nd F NOVA  22  35 57  KU 41  31  72    The Inside Look - 3/28/08 Post-Game Press Conference    Team Stat Comparison NOVA KU   Field Goals 21-59 (35.6%)  24-45 (53.3%)   3-PT Field Goals 3-17 (17.6%) 8-19 (42.1%)  Free Throws 12-18 (66.7%)  16-20 (80%)   Rebounds (OFF/DEF) 30 (15/15)  33 (7/26)   Turnovers 14  18    Team Leaders NOVA KU Points Reynolds - 11 Rush - 16 Rebounds Clark/Cunningham - 7 Kaun - 7 Blocks Anderson - 2 Kaun - 3 Assists Fisher - 4 Robinson - 5 Steals Anderson - 4 Chalmers - 3

Davidson star Stephen Curry, though, already has Kansas' attention.

"Curry is unbelievable and he's on a run," Jayhawks center Sasha Kaun said.

Kansas coach Bill Self is in the regional finals for the fifth time--at three schools--since 2000 and is a win away from no longer being regarded as the best coach without a Final Four on his resume.

"We've knocked on the door a few times," Self said.

Villanova (22-13)simply could not keep up with Kansas' speed, size and athletic ability at the other end of the court.

Kansas slammed four alley-oop passes in the opening 9 minutes and made seven 3-pointers to take a 41-22 lead at halftime.

"The 3s hurt us early," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "When a team that good is making those kind of shots, it is going to be tough. I didn't think we were that bad defensively in the first half, they are just a very good team that is playing very well right now."

Looking like they were on asphalt in the middle of the summer, Robinson and Rush hooked up on a play that would make the Harlem Globetrotters proud.

Robinson drove on the left side of the lane and tossed a pass off the glass to Rush, who slammed home the carom.

"I wasn't expecting that at all," Rush said. "Russell gave me a bad pass, but I was able to get it in my hand and dunk it."

Mario Chalmers added to Kansas' balanced attack with 14 points.

Unlike some NCAA tournament games that are decided in the final moments, this was seemed over early.

Kansas took control early with a 14-2 run.

Reynolds was scoreless until making a 3-pointer midway through the first half, a shot that started an 11-2 burst that pulled Villanova within seven points with just under 7 minutes left.

Then, Kansas held the Wildcats to only a point and no field goals the rest of the half and opened up a 19-point lead at the break.

Villanova needed Reynolds to score at least 20 points as he had in each of his previous three NCAA tournament games, but he didn't come close against swarming guards and helping big men.

"They were trying to get the ball out of my hands," Reynolds said. "And if I drove it, they would bring over a big."

He was just 2-of-9 in the first half and finished 4-of-13 for 11 points, leading his offensively challenged team in scoring. Dante Cunningham and Shane Clark each scored 10 for the Wildcats.

Villanova's task on defense grew when center Casiem Drummond--its only player taller than 6-foot-8--broke his right ankle in the second-round win over Siena.

The Wildcats were one of the last teams to slip into the NCAA tournament and struggled against the high-powered Jayhawks, who lead the nation with an average scoring margin of 20.

"I just told Bill he's got a lot of big-time players that play the right way," Wright said. "What we feared was not being able to score. We needed to be able to make 3s and Scottie and Dante to score and they just did a great job defensively."

Villanova rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat fifth-seeded Clemson in the first round.

That wasn't happening against the Jayhawks, who coasted to the easy victory in the second half without needing to hold off any sort of rally.