Jayhawks at the top: Kansas rallies to beat North Carolina for the national title
Kansas used the biggest comeback in championship game history to earn its fourth national title Monday night, rallying from 16 points down to beat North Carolina 72-69.
The Tar Heels led by 16 late in the first half and by 15 (40-25) at halftime. But the Jayhawks used a 30-10 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and the teams battled it out evenly the rest of the way, It certainly was not an offensive masterpiece: Kansas shot 43.9 percent from the floor and UNC 31.5 percent, including 5-of-23 from 3-point range. KU won despite being outrebounded 55-35 and outscored by 10 from the line.
Jayhawks coach Bill Self became the 16th coach with at least two national titles. It came 14 years after his first. Among the coaches who have won at least two, the only longer span between first and second titles is Rick Pitino, at 17 years (1986 at Kentucky, 2013 at Louisville).
The title does come with some controversy. Kansas currently is under NCAA investigation and has five Level 1 allegations pending against the program. Despite the investigation, which has lasted more than three years, Self was given a rolling five-year contract — basically a lifetime deal for as long as he wants to coach KU — last April.
It’s Kansas’ fourth national title; the Jayhawks also won in 1952 under Phog Allen, 1988 under Larry Brown and 2008 under Self.
Kansas got 14 points off the bench from guard Remy Martin, who hit four 3-pointers. He was one of five Jayhawks who finished in double figures, with each scoring between 12 and 15 points. Christian Braun had 12 points and 12 rebounds; he provided a huge boost by scoring six points in the first 4:01 of the second half.
North Carolina guards R.J. Davis and Caleb Love had brutal shooting nights, combining to go 10-of-41, including 1-of-13 from 3-point range. Love was 5-of-24 overall and 1-of-8 from beyond the arc; his 3-pointer at the buzzer off an out-of-bounds play that would’ve tied it barely grazed the rim from about 23 feet.
UNC did have three players finish with double-doubles. Armando Bacot, who was limited by an ankle injury, still had 15 points and 15 rebounds; he had a double-double in each of UNC’s six tournament games. Brady Manek had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Davis had 15 points and 12 rebounds.