San Antonio (AP) — The Florida Gators have made a remarkable journey this season, transforming from a team projected to finish sixth in the competitive Southeastern Conference to reaching the pinnacle of college basketball—the national championship game. Their opponent, the Houston Cougars, known for their relentless and suffocating defense, promises to present a formidable challenge. The championship showdown will take place at the famed Alamodome, marking only the second time in NCAA history that all No. 1 seeds have made it to the Final Four.
This unexpected title game features two teams that have not experienced such success in recent years. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Florida enters the matchup as a 1.5-point favorite. The Cougars, boasting an impressive record of 35-4, secured their spot in the finals with a dramatic 70-67 victory over Duke, overcoming a 14-point deficit in the final minutes. This remarkable comeback was led by freshman sensation Cooper Flagg, the AP national player of the year.
Meanwhile, Florida also showcased their resilience, as they rallied from an eight-point deficit in the second half to defeat SEC rival Auburn 79-73. Star guard Walter Clayton Jr. delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 34 points and solidifying his status as a key player for the Gators. Both teams share identical records of 35-4, making this championship game a highly competitive affair.
For Houston, this marks their first appearance in a national championship game since the iconic Phi Slama Jama era, when they competed in back-to-back finals in 1983 and 1984. The Cougars are riding an impressive 18-game winning streak and have only lost twice since a tournament in Las Vegas at the end of November. Their only other defeat this season was a narrow 82-81 overtime loss to Texas Tech, an Elite Eight team. Coach Kelvin Sampson previously led Houston to the Final Four four years ago, where they fell short against the eventual champions, Baylor.
“This whole year, I’ve been trying to stay off social media,” said L.J. Cryer, Houston’s leading scorer. “I really don’t see those types of things. I try just to listen to coach Sampson, and he believed we were the best team in the tournament, so that’s the only person I listened to.”
On the offensive front, Florida has excelled, entering the semifinals ranked No. 2 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency, averaging 129.1 points per 100 possessions. Walter Clayton Jr. has emerged as a standout player, leading the NCAA tournament with a total of 123 points, averaging 24.6 points per game, and displaying remarkable shooting accuracy.
In contrast, Houston has established their dominance on defense, ranking first in adjusted defensive efficiency at 87.4 points per 100 possessions. Notably, both Florida and Houston are among the four schools that rank within the top 10 for both offense and defense on KenPom.com, with Houston also standing out with a 123.9 points offensive rating, placing them 10th overall.
The upcoming championship game promises to be a thrilling encounter, showcasing the contrasting styles of both teams—Florida's explosive offense against Houston's tenacious defense. As fans gear up for this exciting finale, all eyes will be on the Alamodome as these two powerhouse programs vie for the coveted NCAA championship title.
