This Week in Sports :: April 7-11, 2008

The Kansas Jayhawks

The Kansas Jayhwawks capture their first NCAA Championship in 20 years and Candace Parker gets drafted number one. See what else happened!

Kansas Wins NCAA Title

On the 20th anniversary of their last National Championship, the Kansas Jayhawks defeated Derrick Rose and the Memphis Tigers 75-68 in a thrilling game. Despite losing by eight points with two minutes to go in regulation, Kansas made an amazing run. Kansas guard, Mario Chalmers, made a desperation three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra period, the Jayhawks outscored the worn out Tigers 12-5 before winning the National Championship. Chalmers was named Most Outstanding Player with his 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals performance. The win marked Kansas' third national title.

Candace Goes Number One

Just 24 hours after her Tennessee Lady Vols won the National Championship, Candace Parker was chosen first overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Parker is a three-time college All-American and was the 2008 AP Player of the Year. She has gained a lot of notoriety for her dunking ability. Next year she will team up with Sparks' star and fellow dunker, Lisa Leslie, who is back with the team after missing a year due to pregnancy. Three other Lady Vols were drafted: Alexis Hornbuckle went fourth overall to Detroit, Nicky Anosike went 16th overall to Minnesota and Shannon Bobbit went 15th overall to L.A., where she will join Parker.

Pittsburgh Out For Revenge

Exactly a season ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins were routed by the Ottawa Senators, who took the series in five games in the first round. The Senators were the better team last year and even made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. This year, the roles are reversed as the Penguins finished the season as the second seed and the Senators had an underachieving year and finished with the seventh seed. While superstar Sidney Crosby and the Penguins looked intimidated last year, they were much more poised as they beat Ottawa in the opening game 4-0 on Wednesday night.

Notes Around the Sports World

The Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors are in a fierce battle for the last playoff spot in the West. Having tied records, the two faced each other on Thursday, and the Nuggets won 114-105. This game puts Denver a game up on the Warriors with four games remaining in the season.

The Baltimore Orioles are off to a hot start to the MLB season. As of Friday, the O's are 6-1 and have won six in a row.

University of Arizona sophomore Chase Budinger has declared for the NBA Draft. He has not signed with an agent, leaving the possibility open to return to Arizona.

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman won his 43rd career pole in qualifying for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 on Thursday. He won despite being penalized 25 points for his car being a centimeter too high.

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