NCAA Basketball: Reflecting on the upsets from 2022 NCAA Tournament

North Carolina and Kansas

North Carolina over Duke

When North Carolina Basketball and Duke Basketball meet rankings, stats and seeds should be thrown out the window. Every fan of the Tar Heels saw this victory as a sure thing. On the reverse side, every fan of the Blue Devils predicted a victory over their in-state rivals and the 81-77 North Carolina victory was indeed an upset according to the Duke faithful.

Truth be told, despite it being a No. 8 seed versus a No. 2 seed this game always had a chance to go either way, In early February Duke won by 20 points, then in early March, the Tar Heels won by 13 points. Entering the tournament the Tar Heels were playing better than a No. 8 seed while the Blue Devils were not playing as a No. 2 seed should.

Based on their play in the tournament both teams were deserving to play in this historical Final Four match-up. Despite the Blue Devils having the scoring advantage in; fast break points, points off turnovers, and points in the paint, the Blue Devils’ inability to have success from beyond the three-point line and the foul line received the most attention.

The stats were not far off as they connected on 12 free throws – which was their conference play average – yet was 11 percent lower than in conference play. Ultimately it was the ACC’s best free-throw team defeating the ACC’s 13th best free-throw team.

Kansas as champs

Is it ever really an upset when a No. 1 seed wins the National Championship? Considering my seven-year-old – who liked the bird mascot – chose them in her bracket because she mostly goes by the percentage number of who has taken the team, but for those of us who did not, we should have known and known before the season even began.

The Jayhawks had a prototypical finish to the 2020-21 season that would lead to a 2021-22 championship, which should have been the first tip-off. They themselves were upset by No.  6 USC in the second round, which gave the four returning starters additional motivation. Not only did four starters return, over 74 percent of their scoring did, plus they added transfer Remy Martin.

The 2021-22 roster consisted of their three top scorers returning and the addition of Remy Martin created a starting line-up with three seniors, a valuable resource come tournament time. Not only should we have known the Kansas Jayhawks were going to be the 2021-22 NCAA National Champions when we were filling out our bracket, but we all should also have known on Nov. 9, 2021, when they defeated Michigan State 87-74 in their first game of the season.