Twenty-five years ago, a zany coach named Jim Valvano ran all around the court in Albuquerque after his North Carolina State team upset Houston for the national title.

Upset?

I was far from the only one who picked Houston to win that night, but I was a little bit over the top rope. Parts of the story I wrote leading into that game wound up being quoted in Valvano’s book. I think it was the part of, “N.C. State will be escorted into the arena tonight by armed guards and priests mumbling the 23rd Psalm. Rain would make it perfect because it always rains at an execution.”

Well, that was dumb, even if I did get a certain immortality out of the deal.

You’d think I’d learn. But no.

Memphis and Kansas are playhing in a little less than two hours. Popular sentiment says Memphis will win.

So do I.

Memphis’ guards Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts will be too much for Kansas. The Jayhawks have a decided edge inside, in my opinion, and they defended the perimeter like crazy in their semifinal rout of North Carolina. Try that against Memphis, though, and Rose will drive right by them - just as he did all night against UCLA.

Plus, Memphis has just killed everybody it has played (except Mississippi State, a 77-74 win) in this tournament.

I don’t feel like you need to break out the 23rd Psalm for Kansas, but call it 88-79, Memphis.