Top-rank Jayhawks hold off Memphis 57-55

ST. LOUIS — Cole Aldrich had 18 points, 11 rebounds and blocked five shots, helping top-ranked Kansas overcome a sloppy night to hold off Memphis 57-55 in a rematch of the 2008 national championship game Tuesday.

Kansas (2-0) led most of the night despite 21 turnovers, but could never shake the scrappy and supposedly overmatched Tigers.

Memphis (1-1) closed within three on Doneal Mack’s 3-pointer with a minute left, then cut the lead to 56-55 on Elliot Williams’ long 3 with 16.7 seconds left.

Sherron Collins hit 1 of 2 free throws at the other end to give Memphis a final chance, but Williams’ contested 3-pointer clanged off the back iron.

Collins scored 12 points while struggling with leg cramps and former Memphis recruit Xavier Henry added 11.

Memphis wasn’t supposed to have much of a chance against the depth and talent of Kansas, and had a miserable night from 3-point range, hitting 6 of 25. The Tigers hung around with scrappy defense, keeping the score low and the Jayhawks within reach far longer than anyone expected against the nation’s top-ranked team.

Williams had 21 points to lead Memphis, 0-9 all-time against No. 1 teams.

The last time these teams played, it turned into one of the greatest games in Final Four history.

That was 18 months ago. These aren’t the same teams. Not even close.

Collins is the only major contributor left. Aldrich, despite outplaying North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough in the semifinals, logged four minutes in the final. The rest of the Jayhawks were either buried on the bench or watched it on TV.

Memphis’ Pierre Henderson-Niles, Willie Kemp and Mack played a combined seven minutes in the title game. None of the other Tigers were even on the roster.

Different teams, certainly a different feel.

The Tigers came out jittery, shooting airballs and wild 3-pointers that caromed high off the glass, getting their pockets picked from behind.

Kansas played out of control out of the gate, forcing up shots, turning it over on poor post entry passes and weak dribbles into the lane.

At the 15:55 mark, Kansas led 4-2.

Fed up with the foolishness, Kansas coach Bill Self yelled out to Collins: “1 game, get the ball to the big fella.” The Jayhawks did and Aldrich hit a layup, then a rebound slam before sitting out the final 1:34 after picking up his second foul.

Kansas went right back to the big fella in the second half.

Tyshawn Taylor found Aldrich on an alley-oop to open the half and Collins set up another dunk on an over-the-top pass to the post. That seemed to jump start the Jayhawks, who finally pushed their lead to double digits, 38-28 on Henry’s fastbreak layup.

Aldrich added a dunk on a dish from Collins to put Kansas up 52-45 with just under 3 minutes left. He finished 7 for 10 from the field after taking just five shots against Hofstra on Friday.