Kansas 81 Villanova 65
Kansas is in the National Championship Game for the first time since 2012 and the 10th time overall.
Kansas is 10-6 in National Semifinals Games.
Kansas is 2-2 vs. Villanova in the tournament:
- 2008 Sweet Sixteen - Kansas 72 Villanova 57
- 2016 Elite Eight - Villanova 64 Kansas 59
- 2018 National Semifinals - Villanova 95 Kansas 79
- 2022 National Semifinals - Kansas 81Villanova 65
In their three previous meetings, the team that won eventually won the National Championship.
It is the 4th time since 2008 that Kansas and Villanova have met in the Sweet Sixteen or later. The 4 matchups are the most by any two teams in that timeframe.
This is the 3rd consecutive tournament with a Big 12 team in the National Championship (Texas Tech - 2019, Baylor - 2021, Kansas - 2022). It is the first time that a conference has had 3 consecutive appearances since 2016-2018 (Duke - 2016, North Carolina - 2017 & 2018). It is the first time ever that a conference has had 3 different teams play in the National Championship in 3 consecutive tournaments.
The win is the 60th tournament win for Kansas as a member of the Big Twelve and the 200th win for the Big Twelve in the tournament overall.
Kansas defeated three Big East teams in the 2022 Tournament (Creighton, Providence, Villanova). The 3 wins is the most vs. the Big East in any single year in tournament history. Kansas is 7-5 overall vs. the Big East.
Kansas's win is the first for a Big Twelve team vs. the Big East in the National Semifinals. They were previously 0-3:
- 2003 - Syracuse 95 Texas 84
- 2016 - Villanova 95 Oklahoma 51
- 2018 - Villanova 95 Kansas 79
- 2022 - Kansas 81 Villanova 65
Kansas advances to the National Championship as a #1 seed for the first time in their last 7 appearances.
#1 seeds are 9-5 vs. #2 seeds in the National Semifinal game including 3 straight wins.
Kansas is 3-1 in National Semifinal games in New Orleans:
- 1993 - North Carolina 78 Kansas 68
- 2003 - Kansas 94 Marquette 61
- 2012 - Kansas 64 Ohio State 62
- 2022 - Kansas 81 Villanova 65
Villanova is eliminated by a Big Twelve team for the second straight year. They lost to Baylor 62-51 in the 2021 Sweet Sixteen. They are 5-3 vs. the Big Twelve in the tournament. The other two times they lost to a Big Twelve team, that team eventually won the National Championship.
Villanova is 4-3 in National Semifinal Games
Villanova's loss ends a 10-game winning streak as a #2 seed.
Villanova's loses vs. a #1 seed when seeded #1 or #2 for the first time. They were previously 3-0.
Villanova loses to the #1 team in the RPI for the first time. They were previously 2-0.
North Carolina 81 Duke 77
North Carolina is in the National Championship Game for the first time since 2017 and the 12 time overall.
North Carolina is 12-9 in National Semifinal Games and has won 5 of their last 6.
North Carolina is 4-0 vs. the ACC in the tournament. Duke is 3-1 vs. the ACC.
This is the 4th time that two ACC teams have played each other in a National Semifinal Game:
- 1981 - North Carolina 78 Virginia 65
- 2001 - Duke 95 Maryland 84
- 2016 - North Carolina 83 Syracuse 66
- 2022 - North Carolina 81 Duke 77
North Carolina is 5-0 vs. teams from its home state.
North Carolina is 3-0 in National Semifinal games played in New Orleans. They won the National Championship the other two times they played in the Final Four in New Orleans.
North Carolina has won 8 consecutive tournament games played on Saturday.
North Carolina wins their record 12th game as a #8 seed. They are now 12-4 as a #8 seed.
It is the first time that North Carolina has defeated a #2 seed when not seeded #1. They were previously 0-2.
#8 seeds are 3-0 vs. #2 seeds in the National Semifinals:
- 1985 - #8 Villanova 53 #2 Memphis 45
- 2014 - #8 Kentucky 74 #2 Wisconsin 73
- 2022 - #8 North Carolina 81 #2 Duke 77
Duke is 11-6 in National Semifinal Games.
Duke loses to a #8 seed for the first time in tournament history. They were previously 9-0.
Duke's loss snaps a 6-game tournament winning streak on Saturdays.
