Kentucky, seven national championships, playing in its 15th Final Four.
Kansas, second-most wins in college basketball history, three national championships, playing in its 14th Final Four.
They will meet Monday for the national title. But the clash of the basketball titans didn’t happen without drama Saturday.
First Kentucky had to dispose of in-state rival Louisville 69-61. Then Kansas had to rally past a determined Ohio State squad 64-62.
The championship game will be a coaching rematch between Kansas’ Bill Self and John Calipari, who led Memphis in 2008 when the Tigers missed four free throws down the stretch and blew a nine-point lead in an overtime loss to the Jayhawks.
“It would be a great honor” to win the title, said Kansas senior Conner Teahan, who could become the first Jayhawk to win two rings. “First we have to make it happen. Honestly, it’s not something I’ve focused on.”
That’s because both Kansas and Kentucky first had other opponents to focus on.
