A record-breaking comeback defined the 83rd annual NCAA tournament

Countries & Cities · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament featured a historic turn of events in New Orleans. The Kansas Jayhawks overcame a massive first-half deficit to secure their fourth national title, marking one of the most dramatic shifts in championship history.

Commencing on March 15, 2022, the tournament's 83rd yearly iteration finished within New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome. The final saw the Kansas Jayhawks defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels with a score of 72–69. This victory was notable because Kansas overcame a 16-point first-half deficit, which stands as the largest such deficit ever overcome in a championship game.

The tournament structure returned to its standard format following two years of pandemic-related adjustments. A total of 68 teams competed, with 32 automatic bids awarded to conference champions and 36 at-large selections made by the NCAA Selection Committee. The field included notable first-time participants like Longwood and Bryant, while others were designated as 'first four out' standbys in case of COVID-19 withdrawals. The tournament structure reverted from a single-location format used in 2021 back to the standard multi-site layout. The committee also managed the seeding for all sixty-eight participants. Additionally, the ASUN Conference winner was ineligible for an automatic bid due to its transition from Division II.

The bracket was defined by significant upsets, which the NCAA defines as a win by a team seeded five or more places lower than its opponent. A total of 13 upsets occurred throughout the event. One of the most striking examples involved 15-seed Saint Peter's defeating 2-seed Kentucky. This marked the first time in history that a 15-seed advanced to the Elite Eight, and it was only the tenth time overall that a 15-seed had ever defeated a 2-seed. The defending champions, Baylor, were knocked out by North Carolina during the second round. This ensured that at least one top seed failed before the regional semifinals for a fifth straight year. Furthermore, four double-digit seeds managed to reach the Sweet 16.

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