Kansas Completes Historic Comeback to Win the 2022 National Title over North Carolina, 72-69

The Jayhawks were down 16 in the first half before going on an incredible second-half run.

It wasn’t as easy in The Big Easy on Monday as it was Saturday, but the Kansas Jayhawks pulled off the largest comeback in the history of the NCAA title game to become the 2022 NCAA National Champions after beating North Carolina 72-69.

The start was almost as good as Saturday. Ochai Agbaji hit a three in nearly the same spot as against Villanova and pulled out to a quick 7-0 run. But then everything stalled and UNC went to work. Led by offensive rebounds and Kansas boneheaded plays, UNC went on an 8-0 run that turned into a 14-4 run. After it was tied at 22, UNC rattled off 16 straight points and Kansas trailed by as many as 16. At halftime, it was 40-25 North Carolina.

That might as well have been a year ago. In the first 4:20 of the second half, Kansas had already cut the lead to 45-38. Christian Braun couldn’t be stopped at the rim, Agbaji drew fouls, and McCormack went to work down low and it was tied at 50.

Maybe the best sequence of the night was a Remy Martin 3, a Dajuan Harris steal, and then a Jalen Wilson and-one to make it 56-50. But UNC would not go away, and it was a back-and-forth fistfight. UNC tied it at 57 and then Martin hit another huge 3. Another Martin drive on Bacot got it to 65-61 before UNC once again tied it. It was Martin again with a step-back three to pull away 68-65 but UNC again answered quickly with a Brady Manek put-back to give the Tar Heels the lead 69-68.

Then it was McCormack’s time to shine. His four points, including a huge hook shot over Manek gave Kansas the three-point lead it would eventually not surrender. Even Harris stepping on the baseline with 4.3 seconds left to give UNC one last look for a tie couldn't ruin the ending, as Braun contested the shot and the Jayhawks finished off the incredible comeback.

Five Jayhawks finished in double figures, led by McCormack (who also grabbed 10 rebounds) and Wilson at 15 apiece. Braun also recorded a double-double (12 points and 12 rebounds) while Agbaji recorded 12 points and three rebounds. Martin also had 14 points and three rebounds off the bench.

Bill Self becomes the first Kansas coach to win multiple national titles, as the Jayhawks add another to the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse. 

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THE KANSAS JAYHAWKS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!

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— Rock Chalk Podcast (@RockChalkPod) April 5, 2022