Kansas tops Villanova, gets date with Davidson

DETROIT -- The Kansas Jayhawks toyed with Villanova, throwing alley-oop passes off the backboard and raining three-point baskets from all over the court without breaking much of a sweat.

Brandon Rush scored 16 points, Russell Robinson had 15 and top-seeded Kansas routed the 12th-seeded Wildcats, 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.

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 teams -- 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) was outclassed from the start and 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 nine minutes and made seven three-pointers to take a 41-22 lead at halftime.

“The threes 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.”