The 2022 college final, played at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, held a crazy scenario, perhaps the most improbable ever seen in the history of the competition. The Kansas Jayhawks snatched the fourth title in college history (the first since 2008) once morest the North Carolina Tar Heels (72-69) by recovering a gap of 16 points (38-22, 17th), the widest deficit never closed in an NCAA Finals. The previous record dated back to 1963 when Loyola beat Cincinnati (60-58) following being up to 15 points behind.
For Kansas everything was decided upon returning from the locker room. Much more comfortable offensively, the Jayhawks inflicted a 16-5 on their opponents which allowed them to pick up at 45-41 from the 26th minute (a university game is played in 2 times 20 minutes). Then it was a huge battle between the two teams. It found its epilogue in the very last moments when David McCormack scored the last two baskets of the game to put Kansas back in front and then give it a three-point lead.
The senior interior (that is to say, playing his fourth and final year of university) thus concluded a solid double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, plus an interception and a block. Opposite, North Carolina (the University of Michael Jordan) completely stalled in the last seconds missing the last four shots despite several opportunities to come back including a last three-point shot from Caleb Love who did not find the bottom from circle to buzzer.
4th national title for Kansas
Both teams finished with five players each over eleven points, underscoring the collective strength of the finalists. Besides McCormack, Jalen Wilson (Kansas), Armando Bacot and RJ Davis (North Carolina) also scored 15 points.
Kansas thus won the university’s fourth title following 1952, 1988 and 2008. During the previous coronation, the team was already coached by Bill Self, the current coach, who was playing his 19th season at the head of the team. He becomes the sixteenth coach to win at least two university titles.
