Rock Chalk, Comeback! 🏆

04/05/2022

By: Jeff Yoder

#1 Kansas Uses 2nd-Half Rally to Beat #8 North Carolina (72-69) for 4th NCAA Championship

 

Rock chalk, comeback! Kansas got the last laugh in a “game-of-runs” title match on Monday night against North Carolina (72-69) to claim the fourth championship in program history. Despite going down 15 points at halftime and as many as 16 overall, the Jayhawks rallied for the largest comeback in NCAA Championship Game history.

 

Fun Fact: North Carolina was 161-0 when leading by 15 points at the half in the last 25 years.

 

A Tale of Two Halves

The Jayhawks jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes of the title game, but UNC wouldn’t be rattled. The Tar Heels caught fire on offense and locked down KU to spark a 40-18 run in the final 17 minutes of the opening half, including a 16-0 run. UNC led by as many as 16 and took a 15 point lead into the break. The second half was all Kansas, and they didn’t wait long. KU came out and ripped off a 31-10 run in less than 10 minutes to take a 56-50 advantage. But again, Carolina responded.

 

The Final Minutes

The Tar Heels retook the lead with 1:41 left to play on a Brady Manek tip-in (69-68), but that would be Carolina’s last make. Kansas got it inside to David McCormack for back-to-back buckets on the last two trips. Down 3 with the clock ticking, UNC got three different looks at a game-tying 3. No dice. Celebration, Jayhawks.

Stats & Game Info

A remarkably balanced box score saw both squads have five players each in double figures and no one with more than 15. UNC dominated on the boards (55-35) thanks to Armando Bacot’s 15-point, 15-rebound performance. Bacot had a double-double in all six games of the tournament, but it was Kansas’ offensive efficiency (43.9 percent) — while holding Carolina to 31.5 percent shooting — that made the difference.

 

NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player

Ochai Agbaji (KU): 13.7 ppg, 5.8 reb, 1.8 ast

Kansas Climbs the Blue Blood Ladder

Four blue bloods entered the Final Four with a combined 17 NCAA championships, but its Kansas who adds to its own blue-blood legacy. The Jayhawks’ fourth title in program history pushes KU past Villanova (7th) and into a tie for 6th all-time with UConn. Head coach Bill Self can lay claim to two of those (2008 & 2022).

 

Highlights: #1 Kansas Wins 4th NCAA National Championship

Watch: ‘One Shining Moment’ 2022 Video

 

The Blue Blood Final Four is complete, and it’s the Kings of Kansas on top!

 

Additional Storylines

SI: Kansas Pulls Off Record Comeback to Win National Championship

ESPN: How Kansas Rallied, And What’s Next for Both Kansas & North Carolina

USA Today: Bill Self, Kansas Go From Uncertain Choke Job to Stunning Recovery in Blink of an Eye

 

Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images