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sports Dialuna 28 Maart 2022

Kansas races past Miami in 2nd half, reaches 16th Final Four

(AP) — Ochai Agbaji, David Mc-
Cormack and Christian Braun pow-
ered a dazzling second half for Kan-
sas, and the top-seeded Jayhawks
pounded Miami 76-50 on Sunday to
advance to the program’s 16th Final
Four.
Agbaji scored 18 points, McCormack
had 15 and Braun finished with 12,
helping Kansas rally after a lacklus-
ter start. The Jayhawks trailed by six
points at halftime but outscored Mi-
ami 47-15 in the final 20 minutes.
Kansas (32-6), the only No. 1 seed
left in the NCAA Tournament, won
the Midwest for the 13th time with
its ninth consecutive victory overall.
Next up is the national semifinals and
a matchup with Villanova on Satur-
day in New Orleans.
It’s the fourth Final Four for coach
Bill Self in his 19 seasons at Kansas.
The last time the Jayhawks made it to
the semis, they lost 95-79 to coach Jay
Wright and the Wildcats in 2018.
Remy Martin, the most outstand-
ing player in the Midwest Region,
finished with nine points and six re-
bounds for Kansas.
Kameron McGusty scored 18 points
and Isaiah Wong had 15 for No. 10 canes to a 35-29 halftime lead. But United Center. A 3 by Agbaji extend- Windy City.
seed Miami in the program’s first everything changed after the break. ed the lead to 23 points with 1:58 re- Big picture
appearance in the Elite Eight. The With McCormack asserting himself maining. Miami: One of the Hurricanes’ big-
Hurricanes (26-11) were bidding to inside and Braun and Ogbai picking The second-half numbers told the gest strengths in the tourney was
get coach Jim Larrañaga back to the up their play on the perimeter, Kansas story of Kansas’ dominance. Mi- their ability to generate turnovers,
Final Four for the first time since he outscored Miami 25-7 over the first ami shot 21.4% (6 for 28) after the but they were unable to rattle the ex-
led 11th-seeded George Mason there 10 minutes of the second half. break, compared to 59.3% (16 for 27) perienced Jayhawks. Miami finished
in 2006. Jalen Wilson made two foul shots and for Kansas. The Jayhawks also out- with 14 turnovers, compared to 11
McGusty spent two seasons at Okla- Agbaji connected from 3 to lift the rebounded the Hurricanes 25-11 in for Kansas.
homa before transferring to Miami, Jayhawks to a 54-42 lead with 10:14 the second half. Wilson finished with Kansas: The Jayhawks improved to
averaging 13.5 points in four games left. And the Big 12 champions just 11 rebounds to make up for a tough 44-16 in the NCAA Tournament
against Kansas. And he looked com- kept rolling. shooting day. under Self, but they are focused on
fortable playing against the Jayhawks A dunk by Agbaji capped a 10-0 run Sweet home Chicago winning the national title for the first
again. The redshirt senior guard and made it 67-46 with 4:35 left, de- Kansas improved to 6-0 in NCAA time since 2008.
scored 14 points to help the Hurri- lighting the pro-Kansas crowd at the Tournament games played in the

NFL owners not likely to make as much news as free agency

(AP) — There’s virtually far this year. Indianapolis, Khalil Mack in and a vote this week. touchdown and end the game
no chance NFL owners will Nor are they likely to try. Los Angeles with the Char- “One thing we’ve tried to do before the opponent gets an
be competing during their The headlines generated by gers, Davante Adams in Las is make sure overtime is de- opportunity on offense —
meetings this week with the the movement of star play- Vegas and Tyreek Hill in Mi- signed to be traditional foot- should be encouraged that
stream of big news made by ers show Russell Wilson in ami. And so many more ma- ball,” McKay says, “and that the NFL is looking into this.
trades and in free agency thus Denver now, Matt Ryan in jor moves. means we’re going to have Except for this:
The 32 team owners will deal special teams, we’re going to “I think with my history on
with some significant issues, have field position, we’re go- this rule, it tells me that 24
as they always do. Two pro- ing to have the ability to play votes are not easy to get,”
posals to change overtime defense. All those things are McKay says of the required
rules are particularly intrigu- elements. We’ve never tried three-quarters of positive
ing. as a committee to get our- votes from the owners to
Tennessee has recommend- selves in any type of gimmick cause a change. “But I do
ed that both teams possess in the football game. We try think that statistics absolutely
the ball in overtime unless to play traditional football. warrant an examination of
the team receiving the kick- “But the progression of of- whether our overtime rules
off scores a touchdown and fense and how efficient of- need to be further modified.”
a 2-point conversion. That fenses are, specifically in the A new stadium for the Buf-
would end the game. postseason where in 12 over- falo Bills, to be constructed
Indianapolis and Philadel- time games, the coin-toss in the parking lot of the cur-
phia have proposed that winning teams won 10 times rent venue in suburban Or-
both teams must have an and seven of those on the chard Park, New York, will
opportunity to possess the first drive, offenses progress be examined. New York state
ball in overtime. The power- a lot. So that’s why there’s a is committing millions of
ful competition committee, discussion of a rules modifi- dollars toward the project,
chaired by Falcons President cation.” and the owners are expected
Rich McKay, has brought Fans who believe the current to OK a $200 million loan to
both of those suggestions to setup is unfair — teams win- the Bills.
ownership for consideration ning the coin toss can score a