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A14 sports
Monday 28 March 2022
Kansas races past Miami in 2nd half, reaches 16th Final Four

(AP) — Ochai Agbaji, David A dunk by Agbaji capped
McCormack and Christian a 10-0 run and made it 67-
Braun powered a dazzling 46 with 4:35 left, delighting
second half for Kansas, and the pro-Kansas crowd at
the top-seeded Jayhawks the United Center. A 3 by
pounded Miami 76-50 on Agbaji extended the lead
Sunday to advance to the to 23 points with 1:58 re-
program’s 16th Final Four. maining.
Agbaji scored 18 points, The second-half numbers
McCormack had 15 and told the story of Kansas’
Braun finished with 12, help- dominance. Miami shot
ing Kansas rally after a lack- 21.4% (6 for 28) after the
luster start. The Jayhawks break, compared to 59.3%
trailed by six points at half- (16 for 27) for Kansas. The
time but outscored Miami Jayhawks also outrebound-
47-15 in the final 20 minutes. ed the Hurricanes 25-11 in
Kansas (32-6), the only No. the second half. Wilson fin-
1 seed left in the NCAA ished with 11 rebounds to
Tournament, won the Mid- make up for a tough shoot-
west for the 13th time with ing day.
its ninth consecutive vic- Sweet home Chicago
tory overall. Next up is the Kansas improved to 6-0 in
national semifinals and a NCAA Tournament games
matchup with Villanova on played in the Windy City.
Saturday in New Orleans. Big picture
It’s the fourth Final Four Miami: One of the Hurri-
for coach Bill Self in his 19 canes’ biggest strengths in
seasons at Kansas. The last the tourney was their abil-
time the Jayhawks made it ity to generate turnovers,
to the semis, they lost 95-79 but they were unable to
to coach Jay Wright and appearance in the Elite 13.5 points in four games Braun and Ogbai picking rattle the experienced Jay-
the Wildcats in 2018. Eight. The Hurricanes (26- against Kansas. And he up their play on the pe- hawks. Miami finished with
Remy Martin, the most 11) were bidding to get looked comfortable play- rimeter, Kansas outscored 14 turnovers, compared to
outstanding player in the coach Jim Larrañaga back ing against the Jayhawks Miami 25-7 over the first 10 11 for Kansas.
Midwest Region, finished to the Final Four for the again. The redshirt senior minutes of the second half. Kansas: The Jayhawks im-
with nine points and six re- first time since he led 11th- guard scored 14 points to Jalen Wilson made two foul proved to 44-16 in the
bounds for Kansas. seeded George Mason help the Hurricanes to a shots and Agbaji connect- NCAA Tournament under
Kameron McGusty scored there in 2006. 35-29 halftime lead. But ev- ed from 3 to lift the Jay- Self, but they are focused
18 points and Isaiah Wong McGusty spent two seasons erything changed after the hawks to a 54-42 lead with on winning the national
had 15 for No. 10 seed Mi- at Oklahoma before trans- break. With McCormack 10:14 left. And the Big 12 title for the first time since
ami in the program’s first ferring to Miami, averaging asserting himself inside and champions just kept rolling. 2008.q

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

(AP) — There’s virtually no in Denver now, Matt Ryan overtime rules are particu- have special teams, we’re nity on offense — should be
chance NFL owners will in Indianapolis, Khalil Mack larly intriguing. going to have field position, encouraged that the NFL is
be competing during their in Los Angeles with the Tennessee has recom- we’re going to have the looking into this. Except for
meetings this week with the Chargers, Davante Adams mended that both teams ability to play defense. All this:
stream of big news made in Las Vegas and Tyreek possess the ball in overtime those things are elements. “I think with my history on
by trades and in free agen- Hill in Miami. And so many unless the team receiving We’ve never tried as a this rule, it tells me that 24
cy thus far this year. more major moves. the kickoff scores a touch- committee to get ourselves votes are not easy to get,”
Nor are they likely to try. The 32 team owners will down and a 2-point con- in any type of gimmick in McKay says of the required
The headlines generated deal with some significant version. That would end the the football game. We try three-quarters of positive
by the movement of star issues, as they always do. game. to play traditional football. votes from the owners to
players show Russell Wilson Two proposals to change Indianapolis and Philadel- “But the progression of of- cause a change. “But I do
phia have proposed that fense and how efficient think that statistics abso-
both teams must have an offenses are, specifically in lutely warrant an examina-
opportunity to possess the the postseason where in 12 tion of whether our over-
ball in overtime. The pow- overtime games, the coin- time rules need to be fur-
erful competition commit- toss winning teams won 10 ther modified.”
tee, chaired by Falcons times and seven of those A new stadium for the Buf-
President Rich McKay, has on the first drive, offenses falo Bills, to be constructed
brought both of those sug- progress a lot. So that’s why in the parking lot of the cur-
gestions to ownership for there’s a discussion of a rent venue in suburban Or-
consideration and a vote rules modification.” chard Park, New York, will
this week. Fans who believe the cur- be examined. New York
“One thing we’ve tried to rent setup is unfair — teams state is committing millions
do is make sure overtime is winning the coin toss can of dollars toward the proj-
designed to be traditional score a touchdown and ect, and the owners are ex-
football,” McKay says, “and end the game before the pected to OK a $200 million
that means we’re going to opponent gets an opportu- loan to the Bills.q