Who Won March Madness in 2022
Kansas won March Madness in 2022, defeating North Carolina in the NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game. The game was held on April 4, 2022, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kansas secured its fourth national title and first since 2008, completing a dominant run through the tournament bracket.
The final score was Kansas 72, North Carolina 69. Kansas built a lead in the second half and held on as North Carolina missed several late shots. The win marked a milestone for the program and head coach Bill Self, who guided the Jayhawks to their fourth championship in program history.
Kansas March Madness 2022 Championship Run
Key Players and Performances
Kansas relied on a balanced attack led by guard Ochai Agbaji, who was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. Agbaji scored 14 points in the championship game and shot efficiently from three-point range. Center Remy Martin contributed crucial plays in the paint, while guard Christian Braun provided steady scoring and defense off the bench.
Kansas shot 45.9 percent from the field and controlled the tempo against North Carolina. The Jayhawks limited UNC to 38.5 percent shooting and forced multiple turnovers in critical moments. Kansas also outrebounded North Carolina, winning the rebounding battle that helped sustain their offense throughout the game.
Tournament Path and Bracket Results
Kansas entered the 2022 tournament as a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region. They defeated Texas Tech, Providence, Villanova, and Miami to reach the Final Four. In the national semifinal, Kansas beat Villanova 86–65 before facing North Carolina in the title game.
North Carolina, a No. 8 seed in the South Region, upset No. 1 seed Baylor in the Sweet 16 and advanced past Marquette and Duke. The Tar Heels reached the championship game for the 11th time in program history, but Kansas prevailed in a tightly contested matchup decided by late-game execution.
2022 NCAA Tournament Final Four and Championship Details
Final Four Matchups and Venues
The 2022 Final Four took place on April 2, 2022, at the Caesars Superdome. Kansas defeated Villanova 86–65, while North Carolina beat Duke 81–77 in the other semifinal. The two winners then met the next evening for the national championship, drawing one of the largest TV audiences for a college basketball game in recent years.
Broadcast and Viewership Data
The championship game was broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ in the United States. Early reports indicated the game drew more than 15 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched NCAA title games since 2019. The broadcast highlighted Kansas's defensive adjustments and North Carolina's missed perimeter shots in the final minutes.
Postgame Reactions and Program Milestones
Kansas head coach Bill Self called the victory a team effort and praised his players for their resilience in the second half. The championship gave Kansas its 1,000th win in program history during the 2021–22 season, according to official NCAA records. The Jayhawks also extended their streak of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis acknowledged his team's strong tournament run but noted missed opportunities in the championship game. UNC improved its all-time tournament record with another deep run, while Kansas added a fourth banner to its rafters and reinforced its status as one of the most successful programs in March Madness history. For more