The Kansas Jayhawks won their fourth National Championship Monday, beating the North Carolina Tar Heels 72-69. The championship was their first since 2008 Kansas head coach Bill Self became the first coach to win more than one championship while at Kansas. UNC was up 40-25 at the half, but Kansas came out running their uptempo offense to perfection, completing the largest comeback in title game history, being down 16 at one point in the game. Experience mattered down the stretch to complete the comeback, as according to ESPN, the Jayhawks came into that game with their players having “973 games of college experience”.
Coming into the game UNC’s star center Armando Bacot had suffered an ankle injury in the prior game against Duke, but would play. Bacot would look slow at the start, along with all of UNC, as Kansas quickly got out to a 7-0 lead within 2 minutes. As the adrenaline began to kick in for Bacot, he began to relentlessly attack the Jayhawk defense, getting to the free-throw line as much as he pleased during the first half. Bacot would bully any big man Kansas ran out, as they appeared to not be able to out-muscle Bacot. As halftime got closer, it appeared that Kansas could do absolutely nothing on both sides of the ball. With the score being 40-25, with UNC being energized by the fired-up intensity that first year coach Hubert Davis was bringing.
Kansas would adjust well coming out of the second half, quickly bringing the game to 45-41 with 14:12 left in the second half. Kansas guard Christian Braun quickly scored 6 of Kansas’ 16 points in that time span, making this game that once seemed to be a blowout, back within their reach. Kansas would take a 53-50 lead shortly after, giving them their first lead since 11 minutes into the first half. The game would go back and forth from here on out, as UNC took a 69-68 lead with 1:41 left in the game. Kansas would retake the lead, going up 70-69. Armando Bacot would re-injure his ankle, leading to a stoppage in play after he turned the ball over. Kansas would take advantage of this, going up 72-69. On UNC’s next possession, Caleb Love would take a deep three that wouldn’t fall, UNC would get their own rebound and miss another three. Brady Manek would get another offensive rebound but turned the ball over. This seemed to end all hope for UNC. Kansas would inbound the ball, however, Dajuan Harris Jr. would step out of bounds, giving UNC one final chance with 4 seconds left. Caleb Love would shoot a last second shot that would go flat and airball, giving Kansas their first national championship in 14 years.
UNC’s top players would struggle shooting with Armando Bacot, Caleb Love and R.J. Davis shooting a combined 13-54. Kansas would hold UNC to a 31.5% clip from the field, as the held every team they played in the tournament to under 40% shooting from the field. Kansas’ fast paced up-tempo style seemed to wear out UNC as the game ran on, as UNC gave up many easy looks at the basket, as the Tournaments Most Outstanding Player Ochai Agbaji would have a strong second half of his own along with Christian Braun. UNC would tire as the game got closer and closer to the final buzzer, as UNC seemed flat on offense. Kansas finishes the season with a 34-6 record, UNC finishes with a 29-10 record.
