SB Nation DC - Final Four 2012: Kentucky Claws Past Kansas, 67-59; Wins 8th National Championship

2012 NCAA Finals, Kentucky Vs. Kansas Recap: Wildcats Win 8th National Championship

2012-04-03T03:49:24Z

The Kentucky Wildcats are your 2012 National Champions, after a 59-50 win over Kansas in the title game. The Wildcats dominated Kansas in the first half, and led by double digits for 25 minutes before back-to-back three-point plays by Tyshawn Taylor cut the deficit to nine with four minutes to play. The Jayhawks would get it within six but the talent of Kentucky was simply too much to overcome.

Doron Lamb led all scorers with 20 points, hitting three of five attempts from three-point range and consistently coming up with big shots to keep UK in front. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was the only other UK player in double figures, controlling the action in the first half and finishing with 11 points. He came up with a huge block in the final minute that promptly stopped Kansas' push to make it a one-possession game.

The Wildcats, who shot above 50 percent in the first half, hit only 27 percent of their shots in the second. But National Player of the Year, Anthony Davis, completely changed the game on the defensive end. While he made only one field goal, he grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked six shots.

Kansas' Thomas Robinson with a double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Tyshawn Taylor led all Jayhawk scorers with 19 points.

While it is John Calipari's first ever title, it's the eighth men's basketball championship in Kentucky's history but their first in 14 years.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket. For more on this game, check out our 2012 Final Four StoryStream

2012 NCAA Finals, Kentucky Vs. Kansas Score Update: Wildcats Control First Half On Both Ends, Lead 41-27

2012-04-03T02:37:44Z

The Kentucky Wildcats played up to their potential through the first 20 minutes and handed Kansas their largest halftime deficit of the season. Big Blue completely stymied the Jayhawks on defense, forcing KU to shoot 33 percent from the floor. National Player of the Year Anthony Davis has not scored, but he's made his usual impact on the defensive end, grabbing nine boards, blocking three shots, and altering several others as the Kansas guards tried to penetrate.

On offense, it was freshman phenom Michael Kidd-Gilchrist who set the tone early. He struggled mightily against Louisville on Saturday, but he has 11 points already on four of five from the floor. Sophomore Doron Lamb leads all scorers with 12 points.

For Kansas, it was go-to guys Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor who led Bill Self's club with eight points each. The DC native Robinson had a loud dunk early on but finished the half just three of 11 from the floor. Kansas will have to go on a run in the first five minutes if they want to have a shot and pull off the upset.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

2012 NCAA Finals, Kentucky Vs. Kansas Game Time, TV Schedule And More

2012-04-02T12:01:03Z

The Kentucky Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks have battled their way through to the Finals of the 2012 NCAA Tournament and will tip off against each other for the National Championship on Monday evening.

The Jayhawks knocked out of the Tournament early from the previous two NCAA Tournaments, but have been able to make their way to the Finals, powered by most of their players having experienced the previous stinging losses. The two-seeded Jayhawks took out Detroit in the first round, then slipped by Purdue and N.C. State, and then beat a North Carolina team without their starting point guard. In the Final Four the Jayhawks went on a late rally, including a 15-2 run late in the game to get past the Ohio State Buckeyes and advance to the Finals.

The Wildcats earn a one-seed for the NCAA tournament and have shown why the whole way through the tournament thus far. Kentucky has demolished just about every team they have faced so far in the tournament, beating up on Western Kentucky, Iowa State, pulling away from Indiana, and beating up on Baylor. In the Final Four, the Wildcats jumped out to an early lead over the Louisville Cardinals, but the Cardinals battled back and kept the game close until right near the end. Kentucky hit their shots and free throws late in the game to pull out the win.

Game Time: Monday, 9:23 PM ET, April 2, 2012

Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

TV: CBS

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub, and remember to pick up our printable NCAA Tournament bracket.

Final Four 2012, Ohio State Vs. Kansas Final Score: Jayhawks Roar Back For 64-62 Comeback Win

2012-04-01T03:53:29Z

In a game that went right down to the wire, the Kansas Jayhawks once again made big plays down the stretch and held on to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes by a score of 64-62.

Tyshawn Taylor made two clutch free throws late, and Thomas Robinson finished with 19 points and eight rebounds Saturday night to lift the Jayhawks to the come from behind win over Ohio State in the second of Saturday's national semifinal contests. The Jayhawks (32-6) won despite trailing by as many as 13 in this one, and for the entire game only held a lead for a total of 3 minutes, 48 seconds.

William Buford played great in the last game of his collegiate career, scoring 19 points to lead the Buckeyes. Jared Sullinger added 13 points and ten rebounds, but his team fell just a little short.

With the victory Kansas will now face the Kentucky Wildcats in Monday night's title game. The Wildcats defeated Louisville by a score of 69-61 in the early game.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

Final Four 2012, Ohio State Vs. Kansas Score Update: Buckeyes Hold 34-25 Lead At Halftime

2012-04-01T02:09:43Z

Led by an aggressive defense effort, the Ohio State Buckeyes have raced to a 34-25 halftime lead over the Kansas Jayhawks in the second National Semifinal game of the evening at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Kansas trailed by double digits late in the half before making a run to close the gap and get within striking distance.

Aaron Craft has set the tone for Ohio State defensively was with his relentless on the ball pressure. Craft has two steals in the first half and is making it difficult for the Jayhawks to get into any type of flow offensively. As a team Kansas is only shooting 36.7% from the field, but is managing to hang around due to the efforts of Thomas Robinson and Travis Releford, who have scored 8 and 7 points respectively.

William Buford, who has struggled of late for the Buckeyes, is pacing his team with 8 points at the intermission, burying all 3 of his shot attempts. Jared Sullinger, Deshaun Thomas, and Lenzelle Smith, Jr. each added 7 points for Ohio State.

The winner of this game will meet up with the Kentucky Wildcats in Monday night's title game. The Wildcats defeated Louisville by a score of 69-61 earlier this evening.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

Final Four 2012, Kentucky Vs. Louisville Final: Wildcats Advance To Championship With 69-61 Win

2012-04-01T00:50:23Z

Behind the superb pay of freshman Anthony Davis, the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Louisville Cardinals by a score of 69-61 to advance to the NCAA Championship game on Monday evening. Davis, recently named the AP National Player of the Year, finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocked shots.

Trailing 35-28 at halftime, Louisville (30-10) later feel behind by as many as thirteen points in the second half before making a valiant run. They managed to tie the game at 49 with a little under ten minutes to play, but in the end Kentucky's superior talent level and skill took over. Guard Darius Miller came off the bench and added 13 points for the Wildcats, who are seeking to win their his first national title under coach John Calipari.

Louisville was bothered by Kentucky's length and defensive intensity all game, and shot just 34.8 percent as a team from the field. Peyton Siva scored 11 points to lead the Cardinals, with Chane Behanan adding ten points and nine rebounds.

Kentucky (37-2) will play the winner of Kansas-Ohio State in Monday night’s title game.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

Final Four 2012, Kentucky Vs. Louisville Score Update: Wildcats Hold 35-28 Lead At Halftime

2012-03-31T23:12:07Z

The Kentucky Wildcats jumped out to a quick lead over the Louisville Cardinals, as the Cardinals struggled to sink shots and everything for the Wildcats went in. Kentucky cooled off and the Cardinals were able to collect themselves, but the Wildcats still took a 35-28 lead into halftime.

For the Wildcats, they once again put on a show of dunks thanks to some ally-oops by guys like Anthony Davis, who finished the first half with eight points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague also finished up the first half with eight points each, but the Wildcats shot just 20 percent from the three-point line, hitting on just a single three-point shot.

Louisville was able to weather the early storm by the Wildcats and got the game back to a more manageable score at halftime. Chane Behanan led Louisville in scoring with six points and five rebounds, but the Cardinals spread the ball and their scoring around. Surprisingly, the Cardinals also wound up out rebounding the Wildcats at halftime 15-14, which left Kentucky head coach John Calipari heated as he went into the locker room.

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

Ohio State Vs. Kansas Game Time, TV Schedule, Announcers And More

2012-03-31T20:45:50Z

The late game of the Final Four on Saturday is the less heralded of the two match ups, but most think it might wind up being the better overall basketball game. The matchup pits the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Kansas Jayhawks. The Jayhawks have been bounced early from the previous two NCAA Tournaments, but have been able to make their way to the Final Four of the 2012 Tournament, powered by most of their players having experienced the previous stinging losses. The two-seeded Jayhawks took out Detroit in the first round, then slipped by Purdue and N.C. State, and then beat a North Carolina team without their starting point guard.

The Ohio State Buckeyes had a much less rough road to the Final Four than the Jayhawks did, with the closest win coming by seven points to the Syracuse Orange in the Elite Eight. In the first round the Buckeyes took out Loyola, then moved on to beat Gonzaga and they beat up on Cincinnati to get to the Elite Eight. Both Ohio State and Kansas are looking for return trips to the Championship Game, but only one will get to make it.

Game Time: 8:49 PM ET, March 31, 2012

Location: Superdome, New Orleans, LA

TV Coverage: CBS

Announcers: Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg, and Steve Kerr

For up-to-the-minute scores on all NCAA Tournament games, please check out SI.com's complete scoreboard.

For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.