The National Championship 2022 Basketball is an exciting event that will feature some of the best teams in the country. It is a competition that is sure to bring out the best in all the teams competing. As of now, the teams that will be competing for the National Championship 2022 Basketball are yet to be announced. However, based on the results from the 2021 NCAA tournament, we can make some educated guesses as to who might make it to the 2022 National Championship.
The Defending Champions
The 2021 NCAA tournament was won by the Baylor Bears. They won their first national championship in 61 years, led by the incredible play of star guard Jared Butler. Butler was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player and was the leader of a team that was able to win six straight games against some of the best teams in the country. With Butler and the rest of the Bears returning for the 2022 season, they will be looking to defend their title and become the first team since the Florida Gators in 2006-2007 to win back-to-back championships.
The Contenders
In addition to the defending champions, the 2022 National Championship will likely feature some of the top teams from the 2021 NCAA tournament. The Gonzaga Bulldogs had a spectacular season, going undefeated for the entire regular season before losing a thrilling game to the Bears in the Final Four. The Bulldogs will be returning their core of stars, including All-American forward Corey Kispert, and they will be looking to make a run at a national championship.
Other teams that have a good chance of making it to the 2022 National Championship include the Illinois Fighting Illini, Alabama Crimson Tide, and the Michigan Wolverines. The Illini had an impressive 2021 season and were one of the few teams to make it to the Elite Eight. The Crimson Tide were one of the most dominant teams in the regular season and were the runner-up in the 2021 SEC tournament. The Wolverines were one of the most consistent teams all season and were a Final Four team in 2021.
The Dark Horses
There are also a few dark horse teams that could make a run at the National Championship in 2022. The Houston Cougars had a great 2021 season, winning their first AAC regular season title and making it to the Sweet Sixteen. The Cougars were led by stellar guard Quentin Grimes and will have all their key players returning for the 2022 season.
The Duke Blue Devils had an up and down 2021 season, but they still have a lot of talent. They have a core of experienced players and a star freshman in Jalen Johnson, who could make a big impact in his second season. The Blue Devils could end up making a run and surprising some people in the 2022 tournament.
The Surprise Teams
Every season, there are always one or two teams that come out of nowhere and make a run at the National Championship. In 2021, those teams were the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and the Loyola Chicago Ramblers. The Golden Eagles made a stunning run to the Sweet Sixteen and will be looking to build off of that success in 2022. The Ramblers were a Cinderella story in 2021, making it to the Final Four before falling to the Bears. If they can return their core of players for the 2022 season, the Ramblers could make another deep run in the tournament.
The Unknowns
At this point, it is impossible to predict who will be in the National Championship in 2022. Every team in the country is set to compete for the title, and many of the teams that made it to the 2021 tournament could be just as good in 2022. Some teams could even make a surprising run, while others could regress. The only thing that is certain is that the 2022 National Championship will be an exciting event that will feature some of the best teams in the country.