Kansas won the NCAA men’s college basketball national title on Monday by defeating North Carolina 72-69 after trailing by 16 points in the first half. It’s about the biggest comeback in an NCAA men’s final in all-time. The previous record was 1963 in the final when Loyola Chicago beat Cincinnati after trailing by 15 points.
This is the fourth title for Kansas in its entire history. David McCormac (15 points and 10 rebounds) was fundamental in the close outcome of the match for Kansas, in which Jalen Wilson (15 points), Remy Martin (14 points), Christian Braun (12 points and 12 rebounds) and Ochai Agbaji ( 12 points). Armando Bacot (15 points and 15 rebounds), RJ Davis (15 points and 12 rebounds) and Brady Manek (13 points and 13 rebounds) were North Carolina’s best.
Kansas began commanding and overwhelming North Carolina’s attack with its defense (11-4 with 15.35 to go). However, North Carolina reacted with the help of Armando Bacot to tie the match (22-22 with 6.08 to play). Two 3-pointers by Brady Manek further launched North Carolina, intractable in those last six minutes of the first half with a crushing 3-18 run against a Jayhawks without answers. The Tar Heels came into the break with a comfortable lead (25-40) thanks mainly to his mastery of the rebound (18-27) and second-chance points (2-18).
Kansas had no time to waste after the restart and, greatly improving their defense and running on the counterattack, they struck fear into North Carolina’s body (38-45 with 15:40 to go). The Jayhawks continued to row strongly, with Christian Braun and David McCormack pulling the cart, putting even more pressure on a stiff Tar Heels (45-46 with 12:07 to go). With the game totally even down the stretch, Armando Bacot sprained his ankle in the last minute and had to leave the game, David McCormack hit two providential hooks for Kansas and Caleb Love missed a 3-pointer that would have forced overtime.