There’s no denying that winning a championship, in any sense, is an amazing feeling. It’s one of the best moments of your life, and you’ll remember where you were forever. Win that title by overcoming historic adversity at that, and it’ll be that much sweeter.
Kansas beat North Carolina, 72-69, to win the National Championship on Monday night. It’s the fourth title for one of the most prestigious programs in college basketball. Those facts alone should make the Jayhawks extremely proud. But this was no ordinary three-point championship win.
You see, Kansas (eventually) won by completing the largest title game comeback in the 83-year history of the Men’s NCAA tournament.
I’m sorry, can you repeat that? Certainly, (ahem): 83 years!
(Because I know everyone in Lawrence, Kansas, will never let me forget any detail.)
91% win probability at halftime — biggest collapse in title game history pic.twitter.com/cW5CQl7XXJ
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) April 5, 2022
A 91 percent win probability and a 47-29 second half for Kansas. Unfathomable.
Yes, after looking lifeless and trailing 40-25 at halftime, Kansas is now in possession of the largest second stanza comeback in the history of the Championship Game.
In fairness, you do have to play poorly to come back first. After all, the deficit happened for a reason. But it seems all-too-fitting that it happened for Kansas — the NCAA all-time wins leader — with all of their rich history.
Bill Self, Ochai Agbaji, Remy Martin, and every single Jayhawk deserves credit. They never tanked, plugged away, and their resolve paid off on the biggest stage. Also, Self clearly gave a rousing halftime Hollywood-like speech. There’s no other logical explanation for such a run.
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