Kansas named 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Champion after record-setting comeback victory over North Carolina
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks celebrate after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Christian Braun (2) and forward Jalen Wilson (10) and forward K.J. Adams (24) react after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks celebrate after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Christian Braun (2) reacts after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks celebrate after beating the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Chris Teahan (left) celebrates with forward Mitch Lightfoot (44) after they won the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Caesars Superdome. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (left) and guard Christian Braun (2) celebrates their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Chris Teahan (12) cuts a piece of the net after their win against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks fans celebrate after their win over the North Carolina Tar Heels in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks celebrate after beating the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; The Kansas Jayhawks place their name on the NCAA Tournament bracket after beating the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
NEW ORLEANS — The No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks (34-6) were crowned the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Champion after defeating the No. 8 seed North Carolina Tar Heels Monday night at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The Jayhawks' 72-69 victory over the Tar Heels was thanks to a valiant second-half comeback effort. Kansas entered the locker room down 40-25 at the half then outscored UNC 47-29 in the second half. The comeback marked the largest ever recorded in a men's national championship game.
"This team has been down before," Kansas head coach Bill Self said. "I told them at halftime: 'Would you rather be down 15 with 20 left or down 9 with 2 left?' Because that was obviously what happened in 2008. They all said, 'let's take 15.' So we played off of that."
Kansas was led by forward David McCormack who posted 15 points and 10 rebounds. Following the game, McCormack said that he knew a second-half comeback was possible.
"I was smiling to my teammates [at halftime], they thought I was crazy," McCormack said.
Guard Christian Braun also recorded double double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Forward Jalen Wilson added 15 points and guard Ochai Agbaji added 12.
Monday's win brings the Jayhawks' national trophy tally to four. It also marks Self's second championship game victory, making him the first coach in program history to claim multiple national titles.
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