The 1-seed Kansas Jayhawks put together a fantastic performance to take down the 2-seed Villanova Wildcats 81-65 in the NCAA Tournament‘s Final Four on Saturday in New Orleans.
It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Jayhawks, who got off to a 10-0 start and led by as many as 19 points.
What a start for Kansas! #FinalFour pic.twitter.com/0gCVlcP2lq
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 2, 2022
The Jayhawks shot 53.7% from the field and 54.2% from three-point range.
Ochai Agbaji started out 6-of-6 on threes for Kansas (finished 6-of-7) and had 21 points.
Ochai Agbaji is 4-for-4 on 3s!
#FinalFour pic.twitter.com/I2TdQ0i0bj — The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 2, 2022
David McCormack was unstoppable in the paint for Kansas, going 10-of-12 from the field and throwing down a poster dunk. He scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
David McCormack with the posterizing jam!
#FinalFour pic.twitter.com/RhrUcJ2dBr — The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 2, 2022
And Christian Braun nailed dagger threes for Kansas down the stretch.
Christian Braun! What a shot for Kansas.
#FinalFour pic.twitter.com/krvqN6pQh8 — The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 2, 2022
Christian Braun hitting big-time shots in the second half for Kansas!
#FinalFour pic.twitter.com/prPomUJuR4 — The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 3, 2022
Villanova certainly missed guard Justin Moore — who tore his Achilles in the final minute of the Elite Eight; averaged 14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists this season — in this game, and they made a valiant effort to get within six points with six minutes to go, but the Jayhawks were too much to overcome.
Kansas will face the winner of Saturday night’s North Carolina-Duke game in the National Championship on Monday. The Jayhawks last won the National Championship in 2008, and they last reached the title game in 2012.
Here’s a look at how the basketball world is reacting to Kansas’ Final Four victory over Villanova: