SAN ANTONIO (AP) -What Roy Williams needed was a comeback for the ages. What he got was a disappointing dose of payback - a chance to see what it feels like when Kansas breaks his heart.The Jayhawks left their old coach in the dust Saturday night, getting 25 points and seven rebounds from Brandon Rush to stave off a ferocious comeback by North Carolina for an 84-66 victory in the national semifinals.
Trailing 40-12 late in the first half, Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and the Tar Heels made a valiant rally, getting to within five points with nine minutes left, but ran out of steam in their effort to pull off the biggest Final Four comeback ever.
"I've never been so embarrassed in my life," said Tar Heel guard Marcus Ginyard.
Now, the Jayhawks will play Memphis, an earlier 78-63 winner over UCLA, in Monday's title game.
Kansas moved within a win of its first national championship since 1988, the year before Williams began his storied 15-year tenure in Lawrence - one that ended when he jilted Kansas for his alma mater.
Hansbrough had 17 points and nine rebounds for North Carolina (36-3) - a typically gutsy effort - but his next move will be to decide whether to come back for his senior season.
Darnell Jackson #32 of the Kansas Jayhawks covers Wayne Ellington #22 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the National Semifinal game of the NCAA Men's Final Four at the Alamodome on April 5, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas. The Jayhawks defeated the Tar Heels 84-66. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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