SAN ANTONIO — If the NCAA Tournament committee and the results of the NCAA Tournament didn't make it clear before Saturday, Kansas and Memphis hammered home the point on the Final Four stage — the ACC has long way to go.

It wasn't just that UNC lost to Kansas, or that the Tar Heels fell behind by 28 points and eventually lost by 18, it was the level of talent on display by both Kansas and Memphis in San Antonio.

Let's start with Kansas, since the Jayhawks overwhelmed a team that went 14-2 in the ACC and a player that has dominated the league for three seasons. The Jayhawks have eight players who could start for 11 ACC teams while Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush would all displace UNC's current starters.

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Rush, a junior who had reconstructive knee surgery in June, was the best player on the floor Saturday by a large margin. To compare Rush, a 6-6 wing, to an ACC player, he would be Duke's DeMarcus Nelson, only he's taller, more athletic, faster and shoots better. What else is there?

Nine of Rush's game-high 25 points came after UNC made it a four-point game. That's what great players do — when their team needs it, they go and get the ball and make plays.

Tyler Hansbrough did that against Louisville. Against Kansas, he was outplayed by Cole Aldrich, the new Dan Dakich. The 6-11 freshman had four points and four rebounds in the first four rounds of the NCAA Tournament. On Saturday, he was Psycho C, taking away rebounds from Hansbrough, blocking his shots and scoring over him in an eight-point, seven-rebound, four-block wrecking ball of a performance.

And Aldrich wasn't even the most impressive Kansas forward. The ACC simply doesn't have post meat like Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun, who are two-and-a-half bills each.

Then there's Kansas' guards. Sherron Collins wears No. 4 and Russell Robinson wears No. 3, that's about the only discernible difference between the two. They are just quick and smart defensive players who run the floor and know how to find the proper options to finish the break.

Collins turned the ball over seven times but made up for it with a step-back 3-pointer late in the second half that effectively ended Carolina's comeback.

That's ignoring Chalmers, the 6-1 shooting guard — apparently the only player from Alaska not to go to Duke — who had a quiet 11 points, three steals and three assists.

What makes the Kansas players great is they're versatile. We compartmentalize Carolina's starters because for the most part they're one-dimensional — Wayne Ellington can shoot, Marcus Ginyard can defend, Ty Lawson can dribble. Kansas players, at least on Saturday, could do all of the above.

That's where UNC and the ACC falls short. There are good athletes in the ACC — Virginia Tech's Deron Washington, Maryland's James Gist come to mind — but not enough good athletic basketball players, like the ones on display Saturday.

Three combo guards made the first team All-ACC — UVa's Sean Singletary, BC's Tyrese Rice and Miami's Jack McClinton — none of three could start for Memphis.

That's how good Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts are. Rose is otherworldly. At 6-3 and 190 pounds, he's bigger and stronger than most point guards and the ball is attached to his hand.

The tempo Rose established from the beginning ended any hope of UCLA — who is the UNC of the West, by the way — finding its 12th national title. And Memphis has the horses to keep up with Rose. CDR, Shawn Taggart and Antonio Anderson were a blur to the slower, plodding Bruins.

While Rose and CDR were scoring 53 points, Joey Dorsey, he of Greg Oden trash-talking fame, secured the line of the NCAA Tournament — 15 rebounds, three steals, three blocks and zero points.

The teams (and writers) in the ACC just didn't see talent like Memphis and Kansas rolled out Saturday night. Maybe that's why only four ACC teams made the NCAA field. Maybe that's why only one lasted beyond the second round. Maybe that's why on the first, second and third-team All-American list, Hansbrough was the only ACC player.

Either way, the conference — namely former powers Duke, Maryland, N.C. State and Georgia Tech — have a lot of catching up to do in recruiting.

04/06/08 at 17:40
KU has nobody listed on the AP All-American 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team. Hmm. What does that mean?

04/06/08 at 20:38
Rush and his inabiltiy to knock down 3 balls was one of the reasons UNC got it back to 4 pts.

but yes, he still played well, no doubt.

also the aldrich kid played really well for about 5 mins. golly, anyone can do that. the fact they ran 4 or 5 guys in on Hansbrough was the difference. all supposed to foul him every time. all did, but hardly any called.

KU was more than a worthy opponent as Pyscho overcame the slight of fouls called on him in the lastt 1/3 of the season. he just couldnt do it last night.

I better not see where Ty Lawson announces his intent to go pro. that would be humorous. does anyone have confirmation on whether he missed the team flight to SA all together?? I know you are better than that Ty. just keep your head up!

04/06/08 at 22:05
NC College at Chapel Hill has been over rated all season. The heels failed miserably when finally playing one of the true top five teams in the country. Basketball fans all over the world are smiling today and saying 'I told you so".

04/07/08 at 10:18
Lawson and Ellington both showed that they are not ready for the NBA. It seemed to me that the refs simply decided not to give Hansbrough the benefit of the doubt when it came to calling fouls. He was mugged inside all night.