For simply the second time in fashionable NCAA Match historical past, the Closing 4 options all No. 1 seeds. The convergence of Auburn, Duke, Florida and Houston in San Antonio marks a becoming finale to one of many chalkiest postseasons in latest reminiscence.
As predictable because the 2025 version of March Insanity has been, the collective energy of the semifinals in South Texas ought to make this one of many tougher Closing Fours to mission.
All 4 No. 1 seeds deliver totally different qualities to the Alamodome. Evaluating the attributes that make every run, Saturday’s Closing 4 contests might shake out as follows:
Auburn vs. Florida
Clatter because the 2024–25 season unfolded that the SEC might match or finest the Large East’s 1985 report of three representatives within the Closing 4 didn’t come by means of. Nonetheless, having half of the semifinal subject charges as spectacular.
An indication of simply how a lot convention bloat has modified school basketball: When Georgetown and St. John’s met as No. 1 seeds within the Closing 4 40 years in the past, it was their fourth matchup of the marketing campaign.
Almost two months after their lone assembly, Florida seems to be to duplicate its 90–81 win at Auburn. One other excellent 3-point taking pictures effort from Walter Clayton Jr., who went 4-of-8 the final outing vs. the Tigers, is important.
Clayton’s vary has been the catalyst of the Gators’ Closing 4 run generally, starting along with his 5 triples within the regular-season finale vs. Ole Miss. Since then, Clayton has hit 13 mixed over three video games within the SEC Match and 14 within the Gators’ 4 NCAA Match contests.
Past the sheer quantity Clayton has delivered from deep, his presence within the clutch has been unmatched on this postseason. Going through an Auburn protection that offers up solely six made 3-pointers per recreation, Clayton’s sizzling streak is an X-factor.
So, too, is the well being of Tigers All-America huge man Johni Broome. The harm Broome sustained late in his 25-point, 14-rebound masterclass to beat Michigan State within the Elite Eight appeared a lot worse than it turned out.
Broome stated Thursday he is able to go vs. Florida. Auburn performed with out the large man for a pair of SEC video games in January and received each, however the Tigers change into a way more perimeter-oriented staff offensively with out Broome.
If he’s not at 100%, Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh may very well be poised to take advantage of the paint and unlock Clayton as the sport progresses.
Winner: Florida claims one other high-scoring shootout.
Duke vs. Houston
Mar 30, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston Cougars ahead J’Wan Roberts (13) reacts with guard Milos Uzan (7) after the sport towards the Tennessee Volunteers within the Midwest Regional ultimate of the 2025 NCAA event at Lucas Oil Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Photographs Saturday’s second semifinal gives some outstanding contrasts. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson is likely one of the recreation’s elder statesmen, a longtime fixture in school basketball who reached his first Closing 4 in 2002 — a 12 months earlier than Duke coach Jon Scheyer debuted as a highschool standout for Glenbrook North Excessive Faculty.
The theme of old skool vs. new additionally manifests in Sampson’s Houston staff enjoying a methodical type predicated on suffocating protection to set the tone, whereas Scheyer’s Blue Devils stand up and down the court docket to the tune of 83.7 factors per recreation.
Now, depicting the comparative expertise ranges between the groups as one other distinction could be flat-out incorrect — even when some have made that comparability within the lead-up to the Closing 4. Houston has quite a lot of former top-100 recruits, together with star veteran LJ Cryer.
Not one of the Cougars got here to varsity with the extent of prep stardom that Cooper Flagg had earlier than arriving at Duke, nonetheless. Flagg is arguably probably the most high-profile freshman since Duke predecessor Zion Williamson and is 2 wins away from doubtlessly matching Anthony Davis as a first-year nationwide champion and nationwide participant of the 12 months.
Together with the hype coming in — which Flagg has met, if not exceeded, in an 18.9-point, 7.5-rebound, 4.2-assist marketing campaign — Flagg additionally offers Duke its most tough high quality to beat: its dimension.
The 6-foot-9 Flagg can go inside however features at occasions like a combo guard. That by itself creates complications for opponents defensively and is in contrast to something Houston’s nation-leading 58.3-points-per-game protection has confronted.
However because the nation’s longest staff in all of school basketball this 12 months, per KenPom.com, Duke creates as many defensive mismatches as offensive. With 6-foot-7 fellow freshman phenom Kon Knueppel on the wing and 7-foot-2 Khaman Maluach down low, Duke has held opponents to 62.6 factors per recreation.
Houston’s uniquely adept protection forces even probably the most prolific offenses right into a rock struggle behind Joseph Tugler, Mylik Wilson and Emanuel Sharp. However can the Cougars discover the offense to outscore Duke, even in a low-scoring recreation?
Cryer may have to summon a person efficiency akin to Caleb Love’s for Arizona towards Duke within the Candy 16.
Winner: Duke will get simply sufficient offense to flee Houston’s defensive clamps.