Kansas drops North Carolina, 72-69, by overcoming NCAA Final-record 15-point halftime deficit

The Kansas Jayhawks won their fourth ever NCAA title in New Orleans by beating North Carolina, 72-69. 

Undeterred by an early 7-0 deficit in Monday’s NCAA Tournament final in New Orleans, the underdog North Carolina Tar Heels took control of the game by reeling off a 32-15 first-half run against the favored Jayhawks to take a 40-25 lead into halftime. 

Kansas isn’t done, though, and jumped out on a 12-1 second-half run and eventually took a six-point lead with 10 minutes remaining in regulation.

UNC and first-year coach Hubert Davis are trying to become just the second eighth seed ever to win the NCAA tourney, following the 1985 Villanova Wildcats, but those prospects seemed slim as Kansas stifled the Tar Heels on their first four possessions.

‘We were nervous at the beginning, then we started to settle in,’ Davis told sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson coming out of a timeout in the first half.

Both teams struggled to shoot early, with North Carolina hitting just 8 of its first 25 field goals compared to 9 of 25 for Kansas.

The biggest difference, at least for the first 20 minutes, was UNC’s ability to get to the free throw line (16 attempts to Kansas’s four).  

Armando Bacot and RJ Davis led North Carolina with 12 and 11 points, respectively, in the first half. Kansas did not have any scorers in double figures.  

Christian Braun #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks guards Puff Johnson #14 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second half

Christian Braun #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks guards Puff Johnson #14 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second half

North Carolina guard Caleb Love drives to the basket past Kansas forward David McCormack, left, and forward Jalen Wilson

North Carolina guard Caleb Love drives to the basket past Kansas forward David McCormack, left, and forward Jalen Wilson

Kansas forward David McCormack (33) shoots over North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) during the first half of a college basketball game in the finals of the Men's Final Four NCAA tournament

Kansas forward David McCormack (33) shoots over North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) during the first half of a college basketball game in the finals of the Men’s Final Four NCAA tournament

Overhead view of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on Monday

Overhead view of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on Monday

Historically speaking, there’s nothing strange about North Carolina facing off with Kansas in the final of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament in New Orleans on Monday night. 

The schools have won a combined nine national titles, including three in the last 14 years (North Carolina in 2017 and 2009, and Kansas in 2008), and rank among the bluest of basketball blue bloods.  

North Carolina’s rich history includes none other than Michael Jordan, who nailed the game-winning jumper for Dean Smith’s team against Georgetown in the 1982 Finals at the Superdome, where Monday’s game is being held 40 years later. 

Not to be outdone, the Jayhawks boast Dr. James Naismith, the Canadian-born chaplain who literally invented the game in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891 before serving as the University of Kansas’ athletic director and basketball coach. 

But Monday’s final is a peculiar matchup for one major reason: The Tar Heels are a lowly eight-seed playing under a first-year head coach in Hubert Davis. 

The UNC alum and former NBA player took over for Roy Williams, who also coached Kansas as well during his Hall-of-Fame career, but the Tar Heels struggled at times this season while finishing 29-9. If they were to upset the favored Jayhawks, a top seed in the Midwest bracket, the Tar Heels would be just the second eighth-seed in NCAA history to win an NCAA title, following the 1985 Villanova Wildcats. 

Oddly enough, Kansas’ Bill Self also replaced Williams, only he did it back in 2003, when Williams returned to Chapel Hill to coach the Tar Heels. 

Kansas forward Mitch Lightfoot (44) shoots against North Carolina forward Brady Manek during the first half

Kansas forward Mitch Lightfoot (44) shoots against North Carolina forward Brady Manek during the first half

North Carolina guard Leaky Black, right, blocks a shot by Kansas guard Christian Braun during the first half

North Carolina guard Leaky Black, right, blocks a shot by Kansas guard Christian Braun during the first half

Kansas forward David McCormack, right, and North Carolina forward Armando Bacot vie for the ball during the first half

Kansas forward David McCormack, right, and North Carolina forward Armando Bacot vie for the ball during the first half

The Kansas Jayhawks mascot is seen during player introductions prior to Monday's NCAA Tournament final in New Orleans

The Kansas Jayhawks mascot is seen during player introductions prior to Monday’s NCAA Tournament final in New Orleans

North Carolina's rich history includes none other than Michael Jordan, who nailed the game-winning jumper for Dean Smith 's team against Georgetown in the 1982 Finals at the Superdome, where Monday's game is being held 40 years later

Not to be outdone, the Jayhawks boast Dr. James Naismith, the Canadian-born chaplain who literally invented the game in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891 before serving as the University of Kansas' athletic director and basketball coach

North Carolina’s rich history includes none other than Michael Jordan, who nailed the game-winning jumper for Dean Smith ‘s team against Georgetown in the 1982 Finals at the Superdome (left), where Monday’s game is being held 40 years later. Not to be outdone, the Jayhawks boast Dr. James Naismith (right), the Canadian-born chaplain who literally invented the game in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891 before serving as the University of Kansas’ athletic director and basketball coach

Kansas fans cheer on the Jayhawks before Monday's game against North Carolina at the Superdome in New Orleans

Kansas fans cheer on the Jayhawks before Monday’s game against North Carolina at the Superdome in New Orleans 

A North Carolina fan wearing a Brady Manek beard cheers on the Tar Heels before Monday's game in New Orleans

North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brady Manek appears during warmups before Monday's game against Kansas

(Left) A North Carolina fan wearing a Brady Manek beard cheers on the Tar Heels. (Right) Brady Manek warms up on Monday

Both Kansas coach Bill Self and UNC's Hubert Davis replaced Hall of Famer Roy Williams (center with ex-UNC star Rick Fox)

Both Kansas coach Bill Self and UNC’s Hubert Davis replaced Hall of Famer Roy Williams (center with ex-UNC star Rick Fox)

Despite their intertwined history and all the games they have played – 6,394 to be exact – Monday night will be just the 12th meeting between them. This will be the sixth postseason meeting to come in a regional final or later.

By comparison, the Jayhawks have played Kentucky 34 times.

The first meeting between the Tar Heels and Jayhawks was a triple-overtime NCAA title game in 1957, with UNC capping an unbeaten season by outlasting Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas 54-53. After Davis´ painful loss in ’91, the Tar Heels won a rematch in the national semifinals on the way to Smith´s second championship.

But the Jayhawks have won the past three meetings, all in the tournament, most notably in the 2008 Final Four on the way to Self’s lone national title.

Most of the players that ultimately will decide the latest showdown between the historic programs know only of the past through stories and memories. Some of them weren’t even born when Williams was coaching at Kansas, let alone Davis playing for the Tar Heels, and it’s been up to their coaches to instill upon them the importance of this moment.

Kansas and North Carolina for the national championship.

‘I’ve told them this: The best experience that I have had as a player, hands down, was going to the Final Four,’ Davis said. ‘I told them, ”I played 12 years in the NBA and that was my finest as a basketball player, finest moment, just being part of the Final Four.” I was trying to convey to them how special it is to be here. Now that they’re being able to experience it is great.’

Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts on the sidelines in the first half

Head coach Hubert Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts on the sidelines in the first half

Paul Pierce, a former Kansas Jayhawks star and NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, cheers on his school in New Orleans

Paul Pierce, a former Kansas Jayhawks star and NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, cheers on his school in New Orleans 

Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks looks on prior to playing the North Carolina Tar Heels

Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks looks on prior to playing the North Carolina Tar Heels

TICKET PRICES PLUNGE AFTER COACH K’S OUSTER

Fans hoping to watch underdog North Carolina square off with Kansas in the championship could get in for as little as $22. Previously the lowest prices to see Monday's title game had been around $123, but that was when there was a chance that Coach K would be ending his illustrious 47-year in the season finale

Fans hoping to watch underdog North Carolina square off with Kansas in the championship could get in for as little as $22. Previously the lowest prices to see Monday’s title game had been around $123, but that was when there was a chance that Coach K would be ending his illustrious 47-year in the season finale

By Alex Raskin, US Sports News Editor for DailyMail.com

Prices for Monday night’s NCAA title game in have plummeted following Duke and coach Mike Krzyzewski’s Final Four defeat on Saturday.

Fans hoping to watch underdog North Carolina square off with Kansas in the championship could get in for as little as $22. Previously the lowest prices to see Monday’s title game had been around $123, but that was when there was a chance that Coach K would be ending his illustrious 47-year in the season finale.

Of course, the rival Tar Heels had other plans, upsetting their Tobacco Road rival in their first-ever NCAA meeting in Saturday’s Final Four, 81-77. Krzyzewski, who has been planning to retire after this season, fell to 50-50 all-time against North Carolina with the crushing Final Four defeat.

‘The biggest factor is that this was Coach K’s final run,’ Thomas Leung, a strategic analyst at the ticket website, Gametime, said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com. ‘Prices were at a premium previously, but now he’s not going to be in the championship, and people no longer wanted to see the game.’

The men’s national championship game is still a sellout, but as has been customary in recent years, fans are still able to buy seats through re-ticketing agencies, such as Gametime and Seat Geek.

Similarly, Seat Geek had ticket for as cheat as $36 hours before tipoff.  

Naturally, top seats for Monday’s game at the Superdome are still well over $5,500 on the secondary market, down from nearly $10,000 per seat. 

Similarly, Seat Geek had ticket for as cheat as $36 hours before tipoff

Similarly, Seat Geek had ticket for as cheat as $36 hours before tipoff

source: dailymail.co.uk