The Kansas Jayhawks had their best NCAA Tournament game against their toughest opponent.
The No. 2 seed Jayhawks barely scraped by third- and four-round opponents Purdue and North Carolina State, winning those two by a combined six points.
But KU hit its stride against the No. 1 seed North Carolina Tar Heels. The Jayhawks scored 47 points in the first half alone -- they came in averaging just 63 in the Tournament -- and scored the final 12 points of the game en route to an 80-67 win.
Senior point guard Tyshawn Taylor had a game-high 22 points.
While Taylor's matchup with Ohio State's defensive stopper Aaron Craft will be one to watch, Jared Sullinger and Thomas Robinson will square off in one of the season's most anticipated duels.
Both players were named AP First-Team All-Americans on Monday, adding some extra spice to what is already a primetime matchup.
Sullinger was sidelined when these teams met earlier this season in Lawrence, a game which Kansas won by 11, 78-67.
Sullinger, who is averaging 17.6 points and 9.3 boards on the season, has had a soild NCAA Tournament thus far. The sophomore had 23 points against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 and followed that up with 19 in the regional final against Syracuse -- and that despite playing just 26 minutes because of foul trouble. He is averaging 8.3 boards as well.
Robinson has been just as important for the No. 2 seed Jayhawks. The junior is averaging 15.8 points and 12.5 boards per game. He went for 18 and 9 in the Jayhawks' Elite Eight win over North Carolina, and notched 18 and 15 in the Sweet 16 win over North Carolina State.
For more on the Ohio State Buckeyes, check out Along The Olentangy. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NCAA Basketball hub at SBNation.com/NCAA-Basketball. 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.
