The Final Four Introduces Two Exciting Matchups

For the first time since 2008, all four number-one seeds have made the Final Four. Two highly anticipated matchups will take place this Saturday. The number one overall seed, Auburn Tigers, will go up against SEC foe Florida Gators. Florida had a hard-fought, come-from-behind win in the Elite Eight against Texas Tech.

Down by as much as eight points with only three minutes left in the game, star guard Walter Clayton scored 30 points and added four assists, including a clutch three-pointer to take the lead with just under a minute left on the clock. Florida is a team with two seven-footers and the depth to win it all.

The Auburn Tigers went through a rough stretch this season but got back on course as the tournament progressed. They led Michigan State virtually the entire game in the regional final yesterday. Bruce Pearl’s second appearance in the Final Four was fueled by his dominant forward Johni Broome, who suffered a wrist injury during the game but returned to play.

The Gators beat Auburn on the road back in February when the Tigers were ranked number one in the country, 90-81. Broome’s 18 points and 11 rebounds weren’t enough to overcome Florida’s bigs, and Walter Clayton came close to a double-double himself with 19 points and nine rebounds.

This will be an exciting matchup where adjustments will need to be made, and it’ll be interesting to see which coach comes out with the more effective game plan.

The Houston Cougars enter as the best defensive team remaining and showed why they are the last Big 12 team standing by holding the Tennessee Volunteers to just 15 points in the first half of their Elite Eight matchup. Head coach Kelvin Sampson has now led Houston to its seventh Final Four appearance in school history, and this may be the best team of the Sampson era.

They will face a star-powered Duke team that has been dominant throughout the NCAA season. Led by consensus number one overall NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg and experienced guard Tyrese Proctor, the Blue Devils are considered by many as the favorite to win it all. Duke’s explosive offense is about to face a defensive juggernaut, and while offense doesn’t often triumph over elite defense, with Cooper Flagg, anything is possible.

Florida vs. Auburn tips off Saturday at 6:09 p.m., followed by Duke vs. Houston at 8:49 p.m. It’s an exciting and well-balanced Final Four. The four teams that have dominated throughout the year have now reached their destination, each with one goal in mind. This should be one of the most-watched Final Fours in the last decade.