The Kansas Jayhawks became national champions once again on April 4, 2022 — topping the UNC Tar Heels 72-69, despite a rough start and 15-point deficit at the half — and pure joy filled the air in Lawrence.
Here’s our coverage of the atmosphere surrounding that historic moment. We don’t cover sports in a traditional sense (yet), but capturing the Jayhawk fan experience here at home has been an honor for our team.
THE MAGIC MOMENT
Carter Gaskins / The Lawrence Times
JAYHAWKS WIN! KU takes national championship; Lawrence celebrates
The Kansas Jayhawks are national champions once again, and pure joy has filled the air in Lawrence.
Carter Gaskins / The Lawrence Times
JAYHAWKS WIN! KU takes national championship; Lawrence celebrates
The Kansas Jayhawks are national champions once again, and pure joy has filled the air in Lawrence.
MORE COVERAGE
Cuyler Dunn / The Lawrence Times
Jayhawks downtown share thoughts ahead of KU’s national championship matchup
We asked KU fans out shopping for gear in downtown Lawrence Sunday about their plans for the big game, what they think of the vibe in Lawrence when the Jayhawks win, and what game day superstitions they have. Here’s what they had to say.
George Bannister via Wikimedia Commons
Thinking of going to New Orleans for the big game? It’ll cost you
If seeing the Jayhawks play for the NCAA basketball national championship has always been on your bucket list, you’re probably going to need a bucket load of money — especially if you didn’t make plans in advance to go to New Orleans.
Andrea Albright / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence police ask fans to ‘rock chalk responsibly’; so far, so good
Despite thousands of people flooding the street to party Saturday, there were no serious injuries, accidents or property damage reported, according to Lawrence police. They hope that trend will continue Monday.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
Hot off the press: Final Four shirts travel 1 mile from manufacturer to market in Lawrence
A big smile covered Nick Motosko’s face Sunday morning as he folded and stacked T-shirts highlighting the NCAA men’s basketball championship matchup between KU and North Carolina set for Monday night.
Christina Craig / The Lawrence Times
Jayhawks fans celebrate KU’s Final Four victory in downtown Lawrence
The Jayhawks made it look easy, holding a lead over the Villanova Wildcats for the entire Final Four matchup. And Lawrence was partying in the streets.
Christina Craig / The Lawrence Times
Photos: Mass Street Madness
Mass Street shoppers, visitors and regulars were beginning to take advantage of the wide open street closed to vehicle traffic Saturday morning ahead of KU’s Final Four game against Villanova.
Christina Craig / The Lawrence Times
A view of Lawrence: Mass Street calm before the chaos
Massachusetts Street will come to life Saturday with a party ahead of the Kansas Jayhawks facing the Villanova Wildcats in the Final Four. But as the roads were closed in preparation Saturday morning, the street was almost empty.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Mass Street to close for Final Four games
The city will close Massachusetts Street in anticipation of — hopefully — large crowds of Jayhawk fans celebrating, according to a news release Monday.
Conner Mitchell / The Lawrence Times
KU headed to Final Four; downtown Lawrence celebrates
Despite offensive struggles in the first half, the Kansas Jayhawks wowed the crowd and came back to top the Miami Hurricanes on Sunday, 76-50.
Chance Parker/chanceleeparker.com
KU signs basketball coach Bill Self to lifetime contract extension
Basketball coach Bill Self, whose contract was scheduled to expire at the end of the 2021-22 season, signed a lifetime contract extension Friday to coach the Jayhawks, KU Chancellor Douglas Girod and Interim AD Kurt Watson announced.
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