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Kansas Looks To Improve Shooting If Jayhawks Are To Punch Final Four Ticket

The Kansas Jayhawks continue play in the 2012 NCAA Tournament against North Carolina in the Elite Eight.

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North Carolina Vs. Kansas Game Preview: TV Time, Live Stream, Radio Info

The Kansas Jayhawks are looking forward to the chance to not only make it to the Final Four with a win today in their Elite 8 match-up in the 2012 NCAA Tournament but to do so against such a storied opponent in North Carolina. With former Kansas coach Roy Williams at the helm and such a talented roster, Kansas' players say they will be ready for such a tough contest.

"This is going to be one of the funnest games of our careers," KU center Jeff Withey said. "We’re excited to play against them. We wouldn’t want it any other way than to play North Carolina to get to the Final Four. We match up really well with them. It’s going to be fun game, a physical game, one for the history books."

Thomas Robinson, the team's unquestioned star, has confidence the Jayhawks will bounce back from poor shooting efforts in their last two games. The team shot less than 40 percent versus both North Carolina State and Purdue to get to this point, so they can ill afford a third performance.

"We know we haven’t been playing great lately," Robinson said. "A lot of people see that as a bad thing, but I see it as a good thing. We’ve been finding a way to win and we still haven’t played close to our abilities. The lid will come off (the rim) tomorrow and we’ll play a great game."

Here's the info you need heading into the game tonight:

Game Date/Time: Sunday, March 25, 4:05 p.m. CT

Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Mo.

TV: CBS

Radio: Dial Global Sports

Streaming: NCAA March Madness Live

Line: Kansas (-2)

Go check out Rock Chalk Talk for all things regarding Kansas hoops and Carolina March for everything on North Carolina basketball. For more on the 2012 NCAA Basketball tournament, head over to SB Nation's March Madness hub for all things NCAA basketball.

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Kendall Marshall Injury: North Carolina's Roy Williams Compares Peyton Manning To Point Guard

Everyone knows Kendall Marshall means a lot to the North Carolina Tar Heels. There’s no doubting the point guard’s ability to control the Tar Heel offensive attack and become the centerpiece upon which everything else in the offense moves. However, head coach Roy Williams believes he’s as essential as perhaps the single most extreme example of a team falling apart after a single player injury.

“It’s just one player, but I think this is the best example,” Williams said, pausing before he continued. “I understand the Indianapolis Colts were in the playoffs [in 2010], then they lose Peyton Manning, and they got the No. 1 pick in the draft [after going 2-14 in 2011 without Manning]. That’s how important Kendall is to us.”

Manning, of course, failed to play for the Colts and everything was lost. A franchise that was once an automatic bid for the playoffs suddenly is choosing first in the draft and blew up the entire roster in the process. That’s quite an overstatement on Williams’ part considering his team moved on through the Sweet 16 without him.

Can they face the Jayhawks without him or even with an injured version? It will be a tough call today.

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Kansas Looks To Improve Shooting If Jayhawks Are To Punch Final Four Ticket

Sunday afternoon in St. Louis will be chalked full of storylines on and off the court as the North Carolina Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks do battle with a ticket to New Orleans and the Final Four on the line.

Maybe no bigger storyline will be bigger than the availability of North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall. Back-up Tar Heel point guard Stilman White filled in nicely against Ohio, dishing out six assists and not turning the ball over in 32 minutes. However the Kansas backcourt is another level above that of Ohio.

Marshall figures to give it a go on Sunday afternoon with the season on the line, and look for the Jayhawks to be gearing it up on the defensive end. KU has yet to allow more than 60 points in the NCAA tournament thus far.

The key for Kansas may be which Tyshawn Taylor shows up to play, as he and Thomas Robinson are just a combined 27-of-75 from the field so far in the NCAA tournament. As has been all season, the Jayhawks seemingly go as far at Taylor goes. If Taylor doesn't turn the ball over, it may mean the Jayhawks are headed for another Final Four.

With a game in the post that will feature the likes of Robinson and Jeff Withey against John Henson and Tyler Zeller, the one is going to be good.

For more KU discussion, make sure to head on over to Rock Talk Chalk, your home for Jayhawk sports on the SB Nation network of blogs.

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