Man, what a ride this tournament's been. And sure, it was technically a Final Four made up of all No. 1 seeds — but it sure didn’t feel like an even playing field. Duke came in as the heavy favorite, with Cooper Flagg lighting up highlight reels and over 30% of brackets backing them to win it all. 

So when Houston pulled off that comeback? Honestly, that might’ve been the closest thing we were gonna get to a real upset. Especially with the way Duke was up double digits. That’s the kind of twist March Madness seems to have in its back pocket every year.

We also saw the Florida Gators storm back with a second-half surge that nearly shook the rafters in San Antonio. Now, those two teams — Florida and Houston — are poised to battle for a championship that has all the makings of an instant classic.

Florida Gators vs. Auburn Tigers — SEC Rematch

First on the docket: the Florida Gators vs. the Auburn Tigers. Now, if you’ve followed SEC basketball over the years, you know these teams are more than familiar with each other. But stakes are a whole lot higher when a berth in the national title game is on the line. 

True to form, Auburn came out swinging. Johni Broome, their star big man, showcased why he’s an All-American — even though he was nursing an elbow injury. It didn’t stop him from racking up 12 points in the first half. Being a left-handed shooter gave him certain angles that Florida’s defense initially struggled to handle. You could sense Auburn’s confidence building with every possession.

As the buzzer sounded for halftime, Auburn held a 46-38 lead. The vibe in the arena suggested that the Tigers were well on their way to a national championship appearance. Sure, it wasn’t a massive lead, but with Auburn’s experience and the way they’d run through opponents all tournament, eight points felt like a mountain for the Gators to climb.

But there were hints, subtle as they were, that the tide could still turn. Broome, who started 2-of-2 from the floor, missed his final three shots of the half. Meanwhile, Florida seemed to be figuring out some defensive wrinkles — particularly around forcing Broome away from his preferred left side. The big question: could they apply those adjustments effectively after the break?

Florida’s Spirited Second-Half Turnaround Fueled by Clayton Jr.’s Brilliance

Apparently, yes, they could. Florida charged out of the locker room like they’d been shot out of a cannon, going on an 11-0 run that erased the eight-point deficit in a flash. Suddenly, the scoreboard was even, and Auburn looked a bit rattled.

Leading the charge was Walter Clayton Jr. Let’s just call it what it was: a star delivering on a massive stage. Clayton Jr. poured in 34 points on 11-of-18 shooting, draining five from beyond the arc. 

He’d already been averaging nearly 25 points a game in this tournament, but this performance took him to another level. In fact, he became only the seventh player ever to rack up at least 30 points in both the Elite Eight and the Final Four of the same NCAA tourney.

It wasn’t just offense, though. Florida came out with a fresh defensive strategy, anchored by one simple directive: “Make Broome go right.” Evidently, that was enough to throw him off his rhythm. Broome managed only three points in the second half, and that spelled trouble for Auburn. 

Without that steady production inside, their entire offense went cold. The Tigers shot just 8-of-24 the rest of the way and coughed up 12 turnovers — an alarming jump from the first half, where they only had two giveaways.

Another Gator who deserves some love: Alijah Martin, who dropped 17 points and electrified the crowd with three breakaway dunks that felt like energy shots for the whole team. Put simply, Florida’s blend of intensity, physicality, and timely scoring turned the tables on Auburn.

Duke Blue Devils vs. Houston Cougars — Stunning Collapse Meets Clutch Comeback

If you thought Florida-Auburn was dramatic, the Duke-Houston semifinal went and topped it. Duke came in as the biggest favorite to cut down the nets, led by Cooper Flagg, the freshman phenom who scooped up AP national player of the year honors. The Blue Devils were a popular bracket pick (around 30% in most challenges), and with their brand and pedigree, it seemed like they were on another collision course with destiny.

Houston? They’d been around the top of the polls all season, but many folks still had lingering questions — like, could they truly overcome a powerhouse like Duke? And would they handle the spotlight of the Final Four, their first since 1984? Well, let’s just say they answered in spades.

Duke’s Seemingly Firm Control

For the majority of this game, it felt like Duke had the upper hand. They built leads of up to 14 points in the second half (56-42 with around 12 minutes to play). Flagg was, as usual, filling up the box score (27 points, 8-of-19 shooting, 7 boards, 4 assists). Duke’s offense, which averaged nearly 84 points a game, looked on track to meet or exceed that mark.

Everything pointed to Duke coasting into the championship. Houston’s offense wasn’t humming at an elite level, and the Blue Devils were stacking stops whenever they needed to. But as we’ve learned time and again, no lead is truly safe in March.

Houston’s Unrelenting “Clutch City” Comeback

Down nine points with 2:15 to go, Houston looked finished. Then, in what felt like the blink of an eye, they unleashed a 15-3 run that completely flipped the game. Duke, so potent all year, suddenly couldn’t buy a bucket. In fact, they scored just one field goal over the final 10 and a half minutes — an incredible stat for a team that hung its hat on offensive efficiency.

Defense was the catalyst for Houston. Head coach Kelvin Sampson famously said, “If you have a culture, quitting isn’t part of the deal,” and his players backed that up.

L.J. Cryer echoed, “It ain’t over because there’s still time on the clock.” Sure enough, they pressured Duke’s ball-handlers, trapped effectively on the perimeter, and forced rushed passes. Once that momentum started rolling, it just never seemed to stop.

Focus on Duke’s Critical Late-Game Inability to Close

Of course, it wasn’t just Houston being amazing — Duke also fumbled some fundamental plays down the stretch. Inbound passes went haywire, including one from Sion James that got snatched up. 

The immortal Jay Williams couldn’t help but point out how uncharacteristic these mistakes were for a program with Duke’s history:

This is probably the worst Duke loss that I think they've had in a long time. There were a lot of times in the first half Duke had a nine-point lead, you felt like the lead should have been 18. You felt like it was similar to the Alabama game where Houston was always there, but you felt like Duke was going to pull away when it mattered most down the stretch. The collapse, the shrinking. Game pressure is a real thing. And I think it was the first time where you felt like you were watching a young Duke team finish in a young way down the stretch. Those are daily habits that veterans do — you run the baseline, get the ball to the middle third of the floor, you provide a target, you secure the ball with two hands, you turn your face. Those small details down the stretch, you didn't see Duke do which led to an incredible... Duke didn't give the game away, Houston took the game... But Duke definitely played a significant part of that.

Tyrese Proctor missed a crucial front-end one-and-one free throw with less than 20 seconds to go and Duke up 67-66. Those are the moments in March where titles are won or lost, and Proctor’s miss was a heartbreaker for Blue Devil fans.

The Highly Controversial Over-the-Back Foul Call on Flagg

Perhaps the biggest talking point came with 19.6 seconds left: Duke leading by a single point, Houston’s J’Wan Roberts boxing out for a rebound, and Cooper Flagg whistled for an over-the-back foul. 

On replay, it was far from obvious that Flagg had committed a violation. Many questioned whether the referees should’ve just let them play, especially at that juncture of a one-point semifinal.

In just about every sport, there's a shared understanding — especially in tight, high-stakes moments — that a non-call is easier to live with than a bad call. Letting the players decide the outcome is usually the best path, even if it means swallowing the whistle in a crowded rebounding scrum. If the contact isn’t obvious, most fans and players would rather see no call than watch a game swing on something questionable. 

But the call stood, Roberts — who’s usually not a great free-throw shooter — drilled both shots, putting Houston in front for the first time since early in the first half. That was your ballgame.

The Frantic Final Moments

Duke still had a crack at stealing it back, but Flagg’s 12-foot turnaround fell short. L.J. Cryer, who’d already put on a show with 26 points and six 3-pointers, iced it with a pair of free throws. 

The final score: 70-67 in favor of Houston. A 14-point lead gone, a once seemingly sure trip to the title game evaporated for Duke. And for the Cougars, their first national championship appearance since the Phi Slama Jama days of 1984.

National Championship Preview

Now, it’s official: Florida vs. Houston for all the marbles on Monday, April 7. Both No. 1 seeds. Both fresh off thrilling comebacks. One known for explosive scoring (Florida). The other revered for suffocating defense (Houston). 

It feels like the unstoppable force against the immovable object scenario we dream about when filling out brackets.

To be honest, you couldn’t script it better. Both teams survived major scares; both have shown they can handle adversity; and both bring a unique style that could force the other into uncomfortable territory. Let’s break down the keys for each side.

Florida’s Keys to Championship Victory

Continued Offensive Explosion from Walter Clayton Jr.

If you’ve watched even a single Florida game this tournament, you know Walter Clayton Jr. is a bonafide star. He’s been dropping 30 or more points like it’s nothing. Against Houston’s top-ranked defense, he’ll need every bit of that confidence and shot-making ability. If he gets going, the Cougars might be in for a long night.

Elevated Performance from the Frontcourt

While Clayton Jr. is the headliner, Florida’s not a one-man show. Post players like Alex Condon, Micah Handlogten, and Thomas Haugh need to hold their ground against Houston’s physical bigs. 

They’ll have to rebound relentlessly, protect the rim, and perhaps most importantly, avoid foul trouble that could hamper the Gators’ high-octane offense.

Maintaining Hot Outside Shooting

Florida’s perimeter game can shred even elite defenses when it’s clicking. They shot nearly 50% from three over the season and have proven they can pull away if they catch fire in a short span. 

Against Auburn, they buried multiple big triples right when they needed them most. Doing that against Houston’s pressure is a bit tougher, but if the Gators get good looks early, watch out.

Dictating Game Tempo

Houston tends to slow things down, grinding opponents in half-court sets. Florida, on the other hand, might prefer a quicker pace. If the Gators can run in transition and avoid Houston’s set defense, they could rack up points in a hurry. Conversely, if they get bogged down and forced into late-clock situations, Houston’s physical edge might take over.

Defensive Lockdown on Houston’s Sharpshooters

Yes, the Cougars are known for defense, but they have perimeter weapons, too. L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and Jamal Shead are all capable of hitting big shots, as Duke found out the hard way. Florida cannot leave these guys open. That might mean rotating defenders or throwing different looks their way, especially once they cross half court.

Houston’s Blueprint for a National Title

Dominant Defensive Performance

This is the Cougars’ identity: they guard you tight, contest shots, and make it hard just to initiate your offense. They’re especially lethal in the final minutes if the game’s close, as Duke realized. If Houston can hold Florida under, say, 70 points, there’s a great chance they’ll hoist that trophy.

Physicality and Relentless Toughness

Houston never seems rattled. Even when they were down double digits to Duke, they stuck to their style. For Florida, which thrives off rhythm and confidence, a physical defense could be a major disruption. Expect Houston to body up the Gator ball-handlers and challenge them to grind out possessions.

Dominating the Boards

One of the biggest reasons Houston made that comeback against Duke was offensive rebounding. Every time a shot went up, they had guys fighting for position and tapping the ball out. 

Florida’s frontcourt has to box out effectively. If Houston wins the offensive glass battle by a wide margin, second-chance points could be the difference.

Clutch Shot-Making from Guards

Walter Clayton Jr. might steal the headlines, but L.J. Cryer and Emanuel Sharp aren’t slouches. Cryer dropped 26 against Duke, including six treys. 

If both or even one of them replicates that performance, Florida’s defense could find itself in scramble mode.

Minimizing Turnovers and Capitalizing on Mistakes

Houston’s late-game surge versus Duke was fueled by forced turnovers. If they can replicate that pressure on Florida — particularly in key moments — it might swing the momentum. 

On the flip side, they have to take care of the ball themselves. Florida’s offense is potent enough that a rash of bad passes or rushed possessions might put the Cougars in a hole they can’t crawl out of.

Conclusion

After all the shockers and sensations of the Final Four, we’ve arrived at this final clash: Florida’s high-octane offense meets Houston’s defensive fortress. We’ve seen just how quickly leads can vanish in this tournament, so don’t be surprised if there’s a run or two that leaves you breathless.

Will Walter Clayton Jr. add another exclamation point to his scorching March run and deliver Florida’s third national title? Or will Kelvin Sampson’s relentless Cougars grind the Gators down and capture Houston’s first championship banner? One thing’s for sure: the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the basketball world will be watching every dribble.

Enjoy the game, folks. Because when you reach this level, sometimes all it takes is one burst of momentum — or one call, for that matter — to decide who cuts down the nets. And if the Final Four taught us anything, it’s that we should expect the unexpected.