SteemSports Presenter:
SteemSports Editor:
The Final 4 had their last ticket punched when the Kansas Jayhawks beat the Duke Blue Devils 85-81 in overtime on Sunday night. The exciting win completed what has been an incredible weekend in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Kansas will move on to face the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday with a chance to play for the National Championship on Monday, April 2nd in San Antonio, Texas.
The Jayhawks entered the game as a slight underdog. Duke was favored by 3.5 points and it was the very unique circumstance of a number 1 seed not being favored in the Elite 8. The Blue Devils got off to a hot start and Kansas trailed most of the first half. Duke would find themselves up 36-33 at the break and head coach K was feeling good. But both teams were shooting the ball well so all of the experts on the CBS call expected a tight game in the second half.
Kansas sophomore guard Malik Newman caught fire in the second half. He would explode for 32 points including 5 huge shots from the 3 point line. Senior Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk would also play fantastic and had 11 points with 10 rebounds. But it was Devonte’ Graham’s leadership that kept the poise for the Jayhawks. Head coach Bill Self praised the play of his captain and applauded his role in the victory.
The Duke Blue Devils season comes to an end earlier than they had hoped for but they need to keep their heads held high. It was likely the last game in a Duke uniform for freshman Marvin Bagley II who ended up with 16 points and will be a top 5 NBA pick. The college career for senior Grayson Allen is also over but he may not hear his named called on draft night. Only time will tell.
Kansas and Villanova will face off on Saturday night in the Final 4. It will be one hell of a game, that is for sure.
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