CHICAGO — With its victory Sunday over Miami, the Kansas men’s basketball team reached its 16th Final Four in program history, which ranks fifth on the NCAA appearances list behind North Carolina, Kentucky, UCLA and Duke.
It’s also the Jayhawks’ fourth Final Four under Bill Self (2008, 2012, 2018, 2022), tying Roy Williams (1991, 1993, 2002 and 2003) for the most appearances by a KU coach. Phog Allen reached three (1940, 1952, 1953), Ted Owens (1971 and 1974) and Larry Brown (1986, 1988) reached two and Dick Harp (1957) reached one.
New Orleans is hosting the men’s Final Four for the sixth time (1982, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2012 and this year) and the Jayhawks will now have appeared in the last four events at the Superdome. KU reached the championship game there in 2003 and 2012 and lost in the 1993 semifinals.
The Jayhawks are also playing Villanova in the national semifinals for a second consecutive Final Four trip. KU lost to the Wildcats in 2018 in San Antonio, where the Jayhawks won the last of their three NCAA championships in 2008.
Tipoff for Saturday’s Final Four semifinal is 5:09 p.m. Central and the game will be televised on TBS.
Most men’s NCAA Division I Final Four appearances
20: *North Carolina, 1946-2017
17: Kentucky, 1942-2015
18: **UCLA, 1962-2021
17: Duke, 1963-2022
16: Kansas, 1940-2022
(*Entering Sunday’s regional final; **Does not include vacated appearances; Source: NCAA Final Four records book)
KU’s Final Four history
1940 (runner-up): Semifinal: KU 43, USC 42; Championship: Indiana 60, KU 42
1952 (champions): Semifinal: KU 74, Santa Clara 55; Championship: KU 80, St. John’s 63
1953 (runner-up): Semifinal: KU 79, Washington 53; Championship: Indiana 69, KU 68
1957 (runner-up): Semifinal: KU 80, San Francisco 56; Championship: North Carolina 54, KU 53 (3 OT)
1971 (fourth): Semifinal: UCLA 68, KU 60; Consolation: Western Kentucky 77, KU 75
1974 (fourth): Semifinal: Marquette 64, KU 51; Consolation: UCLA 78, KU 61
1986 (t-third): Semifinal: Duke 71, KU 67
1988 (champions): Semifinal: KU 66, Duke 59; Championship: KU 83, Oklahoma 79
1991 (runner-up): Semifinal: KU 79, North Carolina 73; Championship: Duke 72, KU 65
1993 (t-third): Semifinal: North Carolina 78, KU 68
2002 (t-third): Semifinal: Maryland 97, KU 88
2003 (runner-up): Semifinal: KU 94, Marquette 61; Championship: Syracuse 81, KU 78
2008 (champions): Semifinal: KU 84, North Carolina 66; Championship: KU 75, Memphis 68 (OT)
2012 (runner-up): Semifinal: KU 64, Ohio State 62; Championship: Kentucky 67, KU 59
2018 (t-third): Semifinal: Villanova 95, KU 79
2022: Semifinal: KU vs. Villanova, Saturday in New Orleans
