The best bet to make in the Final Four is the first-half under. (0:29) We have reached the last night of March Madness, but the calendar has turned to April. The Final Four in New Orleans will feature blue-blood games and ticket prices to match. The schools that have produced college basketball and NBA legends include the Kansas Jayhawks, Duke Blue Devil, and North Carolina Tar Heels. The Jayhawks were the top seed and faced the second seed. Bill Self and Jay Wright have faced off with these schools before in the Sweet 16 or beyond. Each time the winner has gone on to win the title, this is a positive precedent for Self's squad, who came out on top 81-65. The Tobacco Road rivalry between Duke and UNC is taking on new stakes. For the first time in the Final Four, these schools will meet. It will be the first Final Four for UNC coach Hubert Davis and the last for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. Coach K has won 101 NCAA tournament games. He will close his legendary career with two more. Duke should have an advantage on the court. There are two of the top eight draft prospects in this year's class. Paolo Banchero is Duke's leading scorer. Social media reacts to a Kansas win. We have analysis from each game. Coach K lost to his arch-rivals in his final home game of the season. It could be good. I'm locked in. Could be one of the best college basketball games of all time #MFinalFour There are many shades of blue in the Big Easy. Appreciate the Duke fans showing love out here in the Big Easy! #StayCrazie pic.twitter.com/mij9ze6SBU Headed to the Superdome 🗣#CarolinaFamily | #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/aqE0KJ1UIp Everyone will remember the poster dunk by David McCormack, but the truth is that the Kansas senior was too much for the other team all night long. McCormack is TOO STRONG 💪@KUHoops #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/ONDR0qq7HH That's somebody's grandbaby, David McCormack! The dunk was the first thing. With a little more than 10 minutes remaining in the second half, McCormack slammed home two points despite the best and ultimately futile efforts of Samuels to stop him. A jubilant McCormack jumped into the air and began to pat his head, a reference to the fact that he had just dunked on someone else. There was no reason for McCormack to celebrate. He scored 25 points on the evening, his highest point total since December. He only needed 29 minutes and 12 shots to get to the title game. Not that he didn't have help. Christian Braun came alive with 10 points after the break. The Jayhawks made 13 3-pointers, their most productive since February. WHAT CAN BRAUN DO FOR YOU 🤯🤯 Christian Braun with an UNREAL triple!@KUHoops | #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/EYArMWJKdZCheck your brackets
Fired up
Familiar foes
McCormack and KU just too much for Nova
13 times, Villanova connected on 3s. After a slow start, he got going and hit five 3s on his way to 17 points.
McCormack is TOO STRONG 💪@KUHoops #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/ONDR0qq7HH
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2022
That's somebody's grandbaby, David McCormack!
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) April 2, 2022
The lead was cut to six at one point. Every run by the Wildcats was answered by a score by Agbaji or McCormack.
The year ended as the greatest free throw shooting team in men's Division I history for Jay Wright's men. Harvard set a record for the highest percentage of free throws in a single season.
The Jayhawks will play for a title on Monday night despite the fact that the Cats were 8-of-10 at the line in their final game.
vibes are immaculate pic.twitter.com/a9peRNDyVj
— Kansas Men's Basketball (@KUHoops) April 3, 2022
whispers softly...roooooockkk chaaaaalk...jaaaaayhawwwk...kuuuuu
— Kansas Men's Basketball (@KUHoops) April 3, 2022
Enjoying this back home 👏 pic.twitter.com/hw7tEk6uEe
— Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) April 2, 2022
The version of Kansas 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 888-270-6611 The Jayhawks drained seven 3s in the first half to take a 40-29 halftime lead.
Jayhawks are off and running in NOLA
10-0 run to start the game 🔥 #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/hxFbEyvCtU
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2022
The team was very good on both sides of the ball in the first half. On the first possession of the night, Agbaji made a 3, and at the other end, KU repeatedly trapped and frustrated the usually unflappable Gillespie.
AGBAJI AGAIN
4 for 4 from deep to start the game 🤯@kuhoops #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/4SGhSDaSEe
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2022
Remy Martin for threeee!!!
Kansas is 7 for 10 from deep 😳 #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/kLOBq9NewO
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2022
The Jayhawks started the game with a big run and were in control of the game. The Cats capped their run with three offensive boards on a single possession. Self called a timeout after the hard work on the glass resulted in a Gillespie 3.
.@Colling1021 for three 🎯@NovaMBB getting back on track #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/NXA0DJ0QN7
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2022
The thought going into the game was that the Jayhawks could use their size to their advantage. McCormack scored 13 first-half points, many of which came early on post-ups deep in the paint.
If there was any surprise, it was that the Jayhawks have been unable to use that size on its defensive glass. The only thing keeping the Wildcats in this game is the nine offensive boards they pulled down.
Braun and Martin have combined for three points. Kansas has not needed them. The offense scored 40 points in just 30 possessions with Agbaji and McCormack carrying the load.
The game is being played at the preferred pace, but Jay Wright's team hasn't been able to stop the other team. One adjustment that could help in the second half? If the defenders stay on Agbaji, they will refuse to help dribble penetration.
The VBDI feels loss of Justin Moore major thus : @KUHoops 70 @NovaMBB 65! pic.twitter.com/8hYlaZgZzj
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 2, 2022
It has been tough making the call on @DukeMBB vs @UNC_Basketball due to trying to assess value to the EMOTION involved but finally my VBDI says DUKE 83- UNC 77! The GOAT gets another game to coach ! @ESPNPR pic.twitter.com/QZs4eLyuZd
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 2, 2022
We feel good today 😁 Half court shot, Final Four edition! pic.twitter.com/IWwZDMkH5Q
— Kansas Men's Basketball (@KUHoops) April 2, 2022
The #NovaNation is bringing the energy in NOLA‼️ 🗣#MFinalFour#GoNova pic.twitter.com/ABruEn4UVu
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) April 2, 2022
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