No. 1 Auburn vs No. 1 Florida
The first matchup of the Final 4 was headlined by two star-studded SEC programs who had already seen each other this season, but this time with a season on the line. Auburn’s starting lineup was: #2 Denver Jones, #13 Miles Kelly, #10 Chad Baker-Mazara, #44 Dylan Cardwell, and the star of the team #4 Johni Broome. The Florida Gators starting five was: #15 Alijah Martin, #5 Will Richard, #21 Alex Condon, #9 Rueben Chinyelu and the one of a kind shooter, #1 Walter Clayton Jr.
Right off the bat, both teams went to their star player and it resulted in points, as Auburn went to their bread and butter, Johni Broome, lefty jumper from the paint. And for Florida, Walter Calyton Jr. off a hand-off into a left wing 3-point shot. Both teams traded shots in that stretch, but Chad Baker-Mazara was already in double figures with 10 after nailing two threes. Florida stayed right with them until Miles Kelly knocked down a top of the key three and the run started for Auburn. They stretched the lead to 7 after Denver Jones got fancy with a finger roll finish at the rim and drawing the foul. The Tigers went back to Broome two possessions in a row, and it resulted in 4 points and Auburn was looking dominant. It was 46-38 at the break and Auburn was showing why they are the better team. They had to fend off the Gators for another half and they would be going to the championship.
It did not take Florida long to punch right back. Getting an offensive rebound was Alijah Martin and putting it up and in with the harm. Shortly, Walter Clayton and Alijah Martin drilled back-to-back triples to knot the game at 49. Toward the 11 minute mark Walter Clayton Jr. nailed an off-balance triple from the corner and it was almost like watching Stephen Curry out there, and he was taking over for Florida.
When the score was 57-57, Alijah Martin chased down a loose ball and took off from a step inside the free throw line to hammer it down, giving the Gators a 2-point lead. Auburn was looking to shift momentum back their way when Johni Broome tossed up the ball awkwardly, but it was intentional, as Dylan Cardwell threw it down with two hands. Now the Auburn Jungle (Crowd) was on their feet as they took the advantage. That momentum would not stick with them.
Alijah Martin hustled for the loose ball with Auburn defenders chasing; Martin threw it down over top of Chad Baker-Mazara and Tahaad Pettiford creating an eruption from in-person fans and ones behind the screen. It was good enough to be the dunk of the year. It made an iconic photo as a result and gave Florida the 3-point lead. The two traded one three point shot each and the clock approached two and a half minutes of play left. Clayton had a mismatch on the three point line with Dylan Cardwell on him as Clayton sized him up and drove to rim and layed it in easily. Crucial mistake by Auburn to let their big man try to go mano a mano with Florida’s star guard who is much quicker than Cardwell.
Clayton had his eyes on the prize and the next possession he drove to the rim with a foul called and the shot dropped through the iron, and he also added the free throw. With 40 seconds on the clock, Florida had it again up six. They inbounded on the baseline to Thomas Haugh, who drew a foul and got his shot to go as well and Florida players and fans erupted in excitement at the scene. He missed his free throw but it proved to not matter as Chad Baker-Mazara’s three was too little too late for Auburn. Florida had beaten Auburn to go to the title game. Auburn players’ heads dropped as they realized it was over. The final score was 79-73, and for Auburn’s Johni Broome it was his last collegiate game and the end to a tremendous career.
Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. was unconscious with his 34 points and 5 threes. Alijah Martin added 17 and a posterizing dunk for show, while Thomas Haugh off the bench was the third Gator in double digits with 12. Defensively, Will Richard ripped away 3 steals and Haugh had 2 blocks.
The defeated Tigers historic season was over, but they had nothing to be ashamed of. Broome had 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Chad Baker-Mazara accumulated 18 points and 4 steals and also dropped in 4 threes. Denver Jones, Miles Kelly and Tahaad Pettiford were lackluster for Auburn. Denver Jones especially was left exposed by Walter Clayton Jr. Jones, known for his lockdown defense against star guards, let up a huge point total for his defensive assignment, Clayton. Although it’s tough to defend the closest thing to Stephen Curry.
No. 1 Duke vs No. 1 Houston
This game was going to be gritty, rough, and hard-nosed as both of these #1 seeds play a tough style of ball. The Blue Devils of Duke had a starting 5 of: #14 Sion James, #5 Tyrese Proctor, #9 Khaman Maluach, #7 Kon Knueppel, and the National Player of the Year #2 Cooper Flagg. A team with 4 out of their 5 starters being 5 star recruits out of high school and three of them are freshman currently. The Houston Cougars had a 5 of: #11 Joseph Tugler, #13 J’Wan Roberts, #7 Milos Uzan, #21 Emanuel Sharp and leading scorer #4 L.J. Cryer.
Right from the jump, it was physical, as bodies hit the floor and shots were altered by both team’s stifling defense. In the first two minutes, Joseph Tugler turned his ankle for Houston and went to the bench. He would end up being okay, but was replaced by #5 Ja’Vier Francis for the next few minutes. Things got ugly for Houston early as they were overplaying so much that they were leaving wide-open cutters and shooters, ultimately leading them to go down 11 with 3:50 left in the first half of basketball. Houston got clicking as Cryer made two threes and Uzan made one in a short span to draw a little closer. It was 34-28 at the break in favor of the Duke Blue Devils. Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel were showing out for them as the freshman duo looked to draw more blood in the second half. For Houston they had exposed holes in their own defense and the opposition took advantage.
Out of the half, Cryer knocked down another three from the right wing to try and propel the Cougars. Duke responded by swatting Joseph Tugler’s dunk attempt at the rim, bringing energy to the team. L.J. Cryer, who was cool and collected, canned another 3 giving him a total of 5 for the game so far. Houston was answering everything Duke had for them, until they weren’t.
Cooper Flagg’s and-1 layup and 3-pointer sparked a quick Duke run which was added onto by Knueppel with a triple. With eight minutes to go, Houston looked like they took a knockout punch, being down 59-45. Houston never quit, though: Cryer made his sixth three at the top of key and seconds later isolated Knueppel and scored over him to cut the lead down to 8. With 5:03 left, Houston trimmed the Duke lead down to 4 thanks to relentless rebounding and the never-quit attitude Coach Kelvin Sampson incorporated in his players.
Next thing you know, Duke had their lead rise to 9 after a Flagg corner three and the very next possession he proceeded to swat Tugler’s layup attempt toward the stands. Duke was starting to sense it, feeling all the energy. The lead went down to 6 after a couple of possessions and Duke had the ball. Kon Knueppel drove on Tugler and tried to shoot over him. Tugler rejected the shot and Houston was off and running. Milos Uzan pushed the pace and found elite shooter Emanuel Sharp, who knocked down the shot, shaving the Duke lead to 3.
Duke had an inbound incoming against a hungry and pressing Houston defense. Sion James threw the ball right into trouble as Mylik Wilson got his paws on the ball. He then sprinted out to the three point to try and tie and it was off, but Tugler flushed it back home with the dunk off the miss to cut it to 1 point. Duke got the ball in the next play and broke Houston’s press, leading to Tyrese Proctor being fouled with 20 seconds remaining. Proctor is very reliable at the foul line, but he clanked his free throw off the back of the rim and the battle for the rebound was on.
Roberts and Flagg both swiped at the ball before a foul was called on Flagg for going over the back on Roberts. J’Wan Roberts, who is usually pretty rocky at the foul line, stepped up and made both shots to give Houston the lead by one, 68-67. Duke had a chance though and they went to the Player of the Year, Cooper Flagg. He was one on one with Roberts and backed him into the paint to only result in a fadeaway shot that was off the mark. Mylik Wilson snatched the rebound and eventually after a few seconds of scurrying the ball found the best foul shooter, L.J. Cryer. Cryer heroically buried both foul shots, giving Houston the 70-67 lead. Duke heaved the inbound pass down to Proctor to get the shot up before the buzzer, but it was way off and Houston had pulled off the miraculous comeback. The final score was 70-67, and Duke had an all-time collapse. Many assume this is also Cooper Flagg’s last collegiate game as he is the projected number one NBA draft pick. He has the option to come back as he is only a Freshman, but it is highly unlikely.
The victorious Houston Cougars stat sheet was filled up, led by L.J. Cryer with 26 points and 6 three’s. Emanuel Sharp had some crucial late baskets, giving him a total of 16 points and 3 three’s. J’Wan Roberts had 11 points with 12 rebounds. Defensively, Joseph Tugler had an immaculate 4 blocked shots.
On the losing side is the Blue Devils with their star Cooper Flagg netting 27 points and having 3 blocks and 2 steals on defense. Kon Knueppel was the only other Duke player in double digits with 16. Some Duke fans were upset with the play 7’2” big man Khaman Maluach, who only had 6 points and 0 rebounds. Zero rebounds at 7’2” is almost unthinkable and he played 21 minutes.
When’s the National Championship?
This sets the stage for the National Championship between Florida and Houston tonight at 8:50 P.M. What an incredible set of Final 4 games and what a game the championship will be. Everything both of these teams worked for is on the line tonight.
