SAN JOSE, Calif. — Kansas slowed down but didn't stop.
The Jayhawks — in a seesaw, grind-it-out defensive game with Southern Illinois, otherwise known as Floorburn U — refused to wilt under the pressure and survived to play Saturday in the West Regional final.
Kansas (33-4) outlasted the smaller Salukis 61-58, rallying from a six-point second-half deficit and getting within one victory of a trip to the Final Four.
GAME REPORT: Kansas 61, Southern Illinois 58
Jayhawks coach Bill Self, in his fourth year, has coached three previous teams to the Elite Eight: Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas. But he's never made the Final Four.
He'll get another chance largely because of a clutch driving basket by 6-6 sophomore forward Brandon Rush with 24.9 seconds left — the last points in the game.
"It came down to one possession, and we were fortunate enough to make a play," Self said. "We have a 6-6 athlete, and I thought instead of running plays, let's just find a way to get him in the middle of the paint and let him shoot over them."
Southern Illinois (29-7) was fueled on offense by guards Jamaal Tatum, the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year, with 19 points and Tony Young with 14. Forward Randal Falker, the MVC defensive player of the year, added 11 points.
Tatum, the Salukis' best clutch shooter, had a chance to tie on a three-pointer with 10 seconds left, but it rimmed out.
"That's a shot I practice numerous times late at night, early in the morning, between classes," Tatum said. "It looked good. The release felt good. I just missed. That's part of basketball."
Like the Egyptian hunting dogs they are named for, the Salukis hounded the bigger Jayhawks and nearly sniffed out an upset.
"They can play with anybody, anywhere," Self said.
The Jayhawks, who had averaged 83.6 points in winning their previous 13 games, found themselves, like most Southern Illinois opponents, playing at the Salukis' tempo. SIU came in allowing just 56.1 points a game.
None of the Jayhawks got untracked individually on offense, but they handled the defensive pressure enough to shoot 59.5%.
"I think this showed that whatever the circumstances are, we can adjust," Kansas guard Mario Chalmers said. "We like to play in the 80s, but we can slow it down with the best of them."
Brandon Rush led Kansas with 12 points, shooting 6-for-6. Chalmers and Russell Robinson and reserve forward Darrell Arthur scored nine apiece.
"I thought we would struggle running offense," Self said. "I thought maybe the best thing we could do would be to put our head down and drive it. We were able to do that pretty well at the end of the game."
SIU's defense never took a possession off, but the Salukis struggled during stretches to find good shots against the taller Jayhawks. They shot just 36.8% and had 15 turnovers.
"A missed layup here, a turnover there and maybe it would have been a different outcome," Salukis coach Chris Lowery said. "But I'm very proud of these guys."
Despite the difference in reputation and NBA-type talent, the teams came in with similar winning pedigrees. They are two of the eight winningest programs since 2001-02 and two of a dozen teams that have been in each of the last six NCAA tournaments.
The Salukis, though, again hit a wall at the Sweet 16. They have never reached the Elite Eight.
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