New Orleans – The University of Kansas has been playing as poorly in the first half as it has been all season, trailing North Carolina by 15 points in the first half.

But in the second half, those Jayhawks from all seasons came back; Those who play in defense, avoiding unnecessary mistakes and making them at key moments, to stage a historic comeback and be crowned as National Champions of Men’s Collegiate Basketball.

Kansas beat North Carolina 72-69 Monday night to win its fourth title, the second under coach Bill Self, who became the first from that league to win multiple championships.

“I told the players we needed to play better,” Self said. “I knew this would happen eventually.”

His best player during Final Four had to be quarterback David McCormack, who could play a full half. Initially, he had to leave early due to foul troubles, and his North Carolina teammate, Armando Bacote, seized the opportunity to make a difference.

In the second, without tomorrow, he sent coach Self McCormack onto the field and became the dominant force on the board, as Paco couldn’t do much in the final minutes with the apparent discomfort of the ankle he injured in the semi-final against Duke.

McCormack also made the last two baskets of the game for Kansas, including the last two in a visible personal effort, bypassing North Carolina’s Tonight’s Player of the Year, Brady Mannick, 22 seconds into the game.

Earlier, McCormack had scored with a hook, after winning an offensive rebound with 1:20 gave his school the advantage, at the time by only one point.

“Yes, they were big plays, the biggest plays of my life,” McCormack said. “It shows how much the coach and my teammates have faith in me. The coach called the play and said we were going to shoot in the paint. I appreciate that I had the chance and that I was able to respond.”

Kansas was a deserved champion who had already shown on the Elite 8 tour that he could recover from adversity.

They advanced against Miami to become the first league to win by 26 points in the NCAA Championship. This Monday, in the National Championship game, the difference was 16 points, the greatest ever for a team crowned at the end of the game as a National Champion.

It was the biggest comeback in Championship Finals history, overcoming the biggest deficit to win a 15-point National Championship game, by Loyola Chicago against Cincinnati in 1963.

“The message has always been the same, trust each of us,” said Ochai Agbaji. “The coach challenged us and we had to respond from all sides. It was a matter of playing our game and executing in the second half, trying to stop them from doing again what worked for them and hurt us.”

Kansas won the game despite outsmarting hits (55-35) and outplaying second chances (28-8); Something almost unimaginable. But his 31-point collection in the first 10 minutes of the second half saved the season and resulted in the national title.

“Champions don’t fall from trees,” said coach Self. “It’s very hard to get to them. We were close and couldn’t. We hit the ticket today. I knew we deserved more than we won lately.”

“This is the result of an entire effort, for an entire university.”