A meeting of college basketball powers in Monday night’s national title game delivered a game for the ages as Kansas rebounded from a 16-point deficit to beat North Carolina 72-69 and claim the program’s fourth national championship to back up. The Jayhawks’ furious rally marked the biggest comeback of all time in a national title game, surpassing Loyola-Chicago’s 15-point comeback against Cincinnati from the 1963 title game.
David McCormack got a crucial go-ahead with 1:21 left to give Kansas a 70-69 lead. He then added another bucket with 22 seconds left to give a 72-69 lead. North Carolina missed consecutive 3-pointers on subsequent possession and a look from the top of the key at the buzzer to cement the score.
Kansas took an early 7-0 lead but were outplayed 40-18 in the rest of the first half as the Tar Heels dominated the offensive glass for an 18-2 lead in second chance points going into the break. But whatever Coach Bill Self said to the Jayhawks at halftime worked wonders as KU stormed out of the locker room with a 31-10 sprint.
McCormack finished the tournament with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and was particularly late battling injured UNC bigman Armando Bacot. The Tar Heels’ junior center played with a twisted ankle, which he reinjured while maneuvering after a possible go-ahead bucket in the final minute. But he got the best of McCormack in the first half before McCormack came up late in an epic finish with key plays.
Here are the takeaways from a classic Monday night national title game in New Orleans.
David McCormack’s Redemption
When David McCormack hit a jumper less than a minute into the game to give the Jayhawks a 5-0 lead, it seemed like he was picking up right where he left off in Saturday’s semifinal win over Villanova. He scored a season-high 25 points in that 81-65 KU win. With Bacot limping and McCormack riding high on the confidence of Saturday’s performance, the early returns suggested the Jayhawks could have an advantage inside.
Bacot struggled initially, but as the half progressed UNC’s wounded warrior repeatedly got the better of McCormack, who left the game at 4:17 in the first half after committing his second foul. His exit came amid a 16-0 run for North Carolina and things didn’t improve despite McCormack’s absence.
But in the second half, the KU Big Man found his footing. He ended the season with his 11th double-double, and his two shots in the last two minutes made the difference. It’s been an up and down career for McCormack and that was embodied in Monday’s game. Ultimately, it ended with the greatest success when he led the Jayhawks to a national title.
Role players emerge
The trio of Remy Martin, Christian Braun and Jalen Wilson shot 3 of 18 from the floor for Kansas in the first half. In the second half, the same three players together made 13 of 18 shots from the field. Wilson connected McCormack for a team-high with 15 points, and Braun added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Martin, on the other hand, hit all four of his shot attempts in the second half, including a trio of 3-pointers.
While Agbaji and McCormack were arguably the most important players for this Kansas team throughout the season, it was their role players that set the Jayhawks apart. In particular, the dynamic play of Braun and Wilson as players with a unique combination of size and versatility made KU a tough duel throughout the season.
With Agbaji, Martin and McCormack as seniors on this season’s team, Braun and Wilson’s performance may only be a preview of things to come. While either or both could choose to test the waters of the NBA draft, the two dynamic playmakers could make Kansas a contender to repeat themselves as national champions when they return next season.
UNC is running out of star power
Bacot put the tar heels on his back in the first half but went out in the second half, going 0-for-6 off the floor after the half. With 50 seconds left, he twisted his injured right ankle again and fell to the ground in pain while tar heeling towards the basket, 70-69 behind.
The game was symbolic of how Bacot gave everything he had before hitting a literal breaking point in the last minute of the game. With guards RJ Davis and Caleb Love shooting 10 of 41 combined from the ground, North Carolina simply lacked the second-half firepower it needed to keep up with the red-hot Jayhawks.
eeSophomore striker Puff Johnson made a huge leap off the bench with 11 points, including nine in the second half when he played extra minutes due to foul problems from Leaky Black. But a UNC team that got so many clutch buckets from Love, Davis, Brady Manek and Bacot on a memorable run only needed one or two more to get across the finish line.
Kansas Jayhawks Championship Gear Released
The Jayhawks have won their first national title since 2008. You can now shop Kansas Championship shirts, hats, jerseys, hoodies and more to celebrate the historic win. Get gear here now.
We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.