Kansas, Maryland Can Do the Math

To Maryland, it’s a trick solution to a math problem: Two times (Final) Four might equal No. 1.

To Kansas, it’s a twist on physics: A team in motion stays in motion, even when said team has been at rest the last eight years.

But only one answer can be correct. Only one team can win tonight’s NCAA semifinal.

A Maryland victory would soothe the sting of blowing a 22-point lead in last season’s semifinal loss to Duke and transform the defeat into the necessary learning experience that could lead to the Terrapins’ first national championship.

A loss would mean that the unexpected absence of nemesis Duke from the Final Four made no difference, that for the second year in a row the Terrapins couldn’t get past a semifinal.

A Kansas victory would erase the pain of eight consecutive early NCAA exits and turn the frustration into the necessary dues paid for enjoying this year’s shot at a title against the winner of the Oklahoma-Indiana semifinal.

A loss would mean that Coach Roy Williams’ first Final Four appearance in nine years was just that, an appearance, a quick how-do-you-do followed by a limp back to Lawrence, where he won’t be two club lengths from criticism even on his favorite golf course.

“At Kansas, our folks think we should always be good,” Williams said. “Some of them think we should always be the best or always be really good. That’s not as easy as it appears.”

Expectations haven’t been as weighty at Maryland, which stood in line behind Duke even through a recent rise to the nation’s upper echelon. And in today’s game, Gary Williams isn’t even the most well-known coach with his surname.

“Coach Williams has brought this program a long way,” Maryland guard Juan Dixon said. “He’s done a great job. Hopefully we can do something special. I think we have a great chance of winning this tournament.”

That the Terrapins do, primarily because of Dixon and fellow senior Lonny Baxter. They combined for 56 points in a hard-fought Elite Eight victory over Connecticut and match up well against Kansas stars Drew Gooden and Kirk Hinrich.

Dixon might be the best guard in the nation, averaging 20.1 points with 85 steals and 99 assists. He makes three-point shots from NBA range, penetrates quickly and draws a lot of fouls, which he converts into points as a 90.8% free-throw shooter.

Hinrich is the nation’s most accurate shooter among guards, making 54.2% of his field-goal attempts, including 47.4% from three-point range. He also has 182 assists and along with Gooden keys the signature Jayhawk transition game.

“[Dixon] is so quick and active on the court,” Hinrich said. “He seems like he can be anywhere at any time.”

The frontcourt battle between Gooden and Baxter is every bit as intriguing. Both are Wooden Award finalists with complete games.

Gooden, a wiry 6-foot-10 junior, averages 20.0 points and is savage on the boards, averaging 11.5 rebounds and helping Kansas grab nearly 10 more a game than its opponents.

Baxter, a senior, is two inches shorter than Gooden, but at 260 pounds, outweighs him by 30. He bulls his way to easy baskets, is shooting 55.2% and averages 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds.

“I think we have an advantage at all three main positions,” Dixon said, giving an edge to powerful Maryland senior swingman Byron Mouton over Jayhawk three-point specialist Jeff Boschee.

Mouton and forward Chris Wilcox must assist Baxter in countering Kansas’ devastating edge on the boards. Besides Gooden, the Jayhawks have excellent rebounders in forwards Nick Collison and Wayne Simien. Even Hinrich gets into the act, grabbing 4.8 a game.

“When you have just two great inside players like me and Chris going against Gooden and Collison, it doesn’t get any better than that,” Baxter said. “It’s going to be a very physical inside game, very intense. I can’t wait to get on the floor and play them.”

And look for any edge.

Kansas (33-3) believes its three freshmen provide one. Simien, point guard Aaron Miles and swingman Keith Langford combine for 23.2 points a game and more energy than can be quantified.

Maryland (30-4) believes its Final Four experience of last season will make the difference. Even when that experience consisted of allowing a large lead to slip away against Duke.

“That game, you know, it just stays with you. You can’t get rid of it,” Gary Williams said. “You have to live with it. Hopefully that makes you better, for going through that situation.”

Kansas and Maryland, two of the nation’s elite programs, still have something profound to prove.

It appears to be a classic case of an immovable object meeting an irresistible force. But as both Williamses have learned, no object is immovable, no force irresistible.

There is just a basketball game between two excellent teams, and the loser will have even more to prove next season.

If that seems unfair, consider the winner, expected to beat either Oklahoma or Indiana in the final. To slip would bring Kansas or Maryland, programs that have won everything but a national title, right back to square one.