D2 Basketball Championship 2022: Who Won?
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 2 Basketball Championship is one of the most popular and competitive basketball tournaments in the country. Every year, teams from all around the country battle it out to be crowned the champion.
In 2022, the tournament was held in Kansas City, Missouri, and the final four teams competing for the championship were the University of Central Missouri, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of West Florida and University of Montevallo.
Winning Team: University of Central Missouri
The University of Central Missouri emerged victorious in the 2022 D2 Basketball Championship, beating the University of Nebraska at Kearney in an exciting and hard-fought final. The team was led by star player Braden Smith, who scored an impressive 25 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the final.
The University of Central Missouri had an impressive season leading up to the final four. They finished the regular season with a 21-7 overall record and a 13-5 record in the MIAA conference.
Final Four Teams
The four teams that made it to the final four of the 2022 D2 Basketball Championship were the University of Central Missouri, University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of West Florida and University of Montevallo.
- University of Central Missouri: The Mules finished the regular season with a 21-7 overall record and a 13-5 record in the MIAA conference. They were led by star player Braden Smith, who averaged 16.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
- University of Nebraska at Kearney: The Lopers finished the regular season with a 21-6 overall record and 11-3 record in the MIAA conference. They were led by star player Chase Petersen, who averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds per game.
- University of West Florida: The Argonauts finished the regular season with a 20-7 overall record and a 13-5 record in the GSC conference. They were led by star player Josh Alexander, who averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds per game.
- University of Montevallo: The Falcons finished the regular season with a 24-4 overall record and a 14-4 record in the GSC conference. They were led by star player D.J. Porter, who averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Final Four Matchups
The four teams were seeded according to their regular season records and the matchups for the final four were as follows:
- University of Central Missouri vs. University of Nebraska at Kearney: The Mules emerged victorious in an exciting and hard-fought game, winning by a score of 76-73.
- University of West Florida vs. University of Montevallo: The Falcons defeated the Argonauts by a score of 75-71.
Championship Game
The championship game was a thrilling affair between the University of Central Missouri and the University of Montevallo. The Mules started the game strong and were able to build a lead early on. However, the Falcons fought back and the game went down to the wire. In the end, the Mules were able to pull off the victory and win the championship by a score of 77-72.
MVP of the Championship Game
The Most Valuable Player of the championship game was Braden Smith of the University of Central Missouri. Smith scored 25 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the game, and was instrumental in leading the Mules to victory.
NCAA Division 2 Basketball Championship 2022 All-Tournament Team
The NCAA Division 2 Basketball Championship 2022 All-Tournament Team was selected by the NCAA selection committee and included the following players:
- Braden Smith (University of Central Missouri): 25 points and 7 rebounds in the championship game.
- Chase Petersen (University of Nebraska at Kearney): 21 points and 8 rebounds in the semifinal game.
- Josh Alexander (University of West Florida): 18 points and 9 rebounds in the semifinal game.
- D.J. Porter (University of Montevallo): 21 points and 8 rebounds in the championship game.
Reaction to the Championship
The University of Central Missouri was ecstatic after winning the championship. The team was greeted with a hero’s welcome when they returned to campus, and the school held a celebratory parade in their honor.
The team was also recognized by the NCAA and the MIAA conference, and they were presented with the D2 Basketball Championship trophy.
Conclusion
The University of Central Missouri were the champions of the 2022 D2 Basketball Championship. They defeated the University of Nebraska at Kearney in the final and were led by star player Braden Smith.
The Mules had an impressive season leading up to the championship, and they were rewarded for their hard work and dedication with the championship trophy. It was an amazing accomplishment for the team, and one that they will remember for years to come.