NEW ORLEANS -- The Kansas Jayhawks got the 2022 Final Four off to a smoking start on Saturday night, running out to a 10-0 lead and keeping the Villanova Wildcats at arm's length the rest of the way in an 81-65 win at the Caesars Superdome. The victory puts KU in Monday night's title game for the first time since 2012, with a chance to hoist the NCAA trophy for the first time since defeating Memphis for the 2008 championship.
The contest offered a prelude to Saturday's much-anticipated second matchup between the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels -- the first NCAA tournament meeting between the Tobacco Road rivals, and the possible last act for Duke head coach and Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski on what will be the final weekend of his storied college basketball career.