Mario Chalmers: Top 1 + 5 Plays at Kansas

On Saturday night in front of a typical packed crowd at Allen Fieldhouse, Mario Chalmers will have his jersey retired.

No. 15 gave Kansas fans one of the most memorable moments in NCAA history during the 2008 National Championship game against Memphis. With 3.1 seconds left in regulation, Mario Chalmers drained a three over Derrick Rose to send the game to overtime.

The rest was history. Kansas went on to win 75-68 in overtime and Mario Chalmers won the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

“Mario definitely deserves to have his jersey hung,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “He was the most outstanding player in a 2008 Final Four, which featured four number one seeds. He was as clutch of a player as we’ve ever had here. He was a guy that seemed like the bigger the stage, the brighter he shined. He had an orneriness and toughness that a lot people didn’t see because they saw the smile. He was an assassin on the court.”

The MOP is what is putting Chalmers in the rafters. Chalmers becomes the 27th men’s basketball player to have his jersey retired (Max Falkenstein, Kansas radio legend, and three women’s players have their jerseys retired).

Anyways, I decided to compile some of Mario Chalmers’ top moments of his career in a list.

I wonder what the No. 1 moment will be… Because the No. 1 moment is so obvious, I decided to give you five other great moments in his career at Kansas. 1+5… 15… No 15. being Chalmers’ jersey number.

5. Chalmers has a career-high in the 2008 Big 12 tournament:

Chalmers: 35 minutes, 30 points, 10-15 from the field, 8-for-12 from three, six assists, four rebounds. This was a ridiculous game. The first half was probably one of the best ever between Texas and Kansas (at this time, the rivalry was great. Chalmers always had big games against Texas). Chalmers rose to the occasion, hitting eight threes.

4. Chalmers put-back dunk on Georgia Tech

This one speaks for itself. Chalmers puts back a missed bunny and slams it with one hand. The kick afterwards is what made it even more awesome.

3. Chalmers ices it in Southern Cal:

After a dismal first-half by Kansas and Chalmers (only 3 points), Chalmers surged in the second half scoring 17 points, leading the Jayhawks to victory. Biggest play of the night came with 20 seconds left when Chalmers drains a three-pointer about five feet behind the arc to make it a five-point game. Without Collins, Kansas struggling offensively and Chalmers was able to scrape together 20 points in a 59-55 win.

2. Chalmers recreates The Miracle Shot in Legends of the Phog exhibition:

The NBA was locked out and Kansas Athletics capitalized on bringing back legendary Kansas players. After Paul Pierce put the blue team up three, Kansas fans chanted “Mario! Mario! Mario!” calling for the famous Miracle Shot to be recreated. Chalmers takes the ball out of bounds, takes the ball up the court and ties the game at 111. Allen Fieldhouse went nuts.

1. 2007 Big 12 Championship game

Look familiar? Of course it does. This is the same play ran by Kansas in late game situations when they need a three… The same play they ran in the 2008 National Championship game.

And without further ado… here’s “Mario’s Miracle Shot”:

Congratulations to Mario Chalmers!