It has been 17 years since the NCAA had not seen that! It is indeed necessary to go back to the 2008 edition of the national tournament so that the Final Four was made up only of the four heads of the number one series of the March Madness. Opus 2025 was not that of thunderous surprises and “Upset”. But this last square of Cadors promises a fierce struggle for the title between the best this university season.
The wink is almost perfect. The 2008 Final Four, which was until then the only one when the four heads of the number one had qualified, had taken place at the Alamodome of San Antonio, the old Spurs room which is again the Théâtre des Trois Mats for the title this year. The decor is the same, the casting is entirely renewed. Auburn,, Florida,, Duke And Houston The trophy will be played at the end of a remarkable year, which saw the four teams appear both in the top 10 offensive and defensive ratings. The promise of a weekend of fire, which could devote the future number one of the Draft, Cooper Flagg (Duke).
Auburn (#1) – Florida (#1) | 0h09 (on beIN SPORTS 1)
Before taking care of the Blue Devils case, the first semi-final will take two teams with very distinct experiences. On the one hand, Auburn and its second participation in a Final Four after 2019. On the other, Florida, present for the sixth time in the Final Four and already titled twice in 2006 and 2007 thanks to the formidable generation Joakim Noah – Al Horford – Corey Brewer. The Gators do not have the brilliant past of UCLA or North Carolina, but they are regulars at the heights in the 21st century. A status that the tigers cannot be boiled, before arriving in this March Madness 2025 with the status of seeded number one of the whole table.
While their season seemed in a descending phase with three defeats in March just before the tournament, the coach Bruce Pearl managed to put his team completely in place.
Auburn was only led 22 seconds against Michigan State during the Elite Eight, in a dominated match of the head and shoulders by their leader Johni Broome. It's up to him to be just as dominant in the face of the one who punctured the screen by his talent during this March Madness, Walter Clayton JR. The rear turns to 22.3 points on average in the tournament and has already shot Florida from perilous matches by its ultra decisive shots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Kufpkov5e
The duel: Johni Broome – Alex Condon
In a world where Cooper Flagg would not exist, Johni Broome would likely be the best unanimous player of the season. The interior does not have for him the flashy side of Duke's “Freshman”. But he is nonetheless a formidable player, who has continued to spend caps over his past university career between Morehead State and Auburn. Strong in one-of-one, a remarkable defender, the 22-year-old knows how to do almost everything (18.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.1 against). His return to the prosecution after a big fright at the elbow against Michigan State – ” I feel better day by day and I will be 100% by Saturday »» He assured ESPN – says a lot about its impact in the success of tigers.
The task ofAlex Condon The one promises to be clear: try to limit Johni Broome as well as possible when he is his direct opponent, and protect the circle of the Gators on the cover when the Auburn star goes to look for easy points. He will have to do much better in this register than during the Elite Eight, where he was dominated by Darrion Williams (Texas Tech). Condon will be just as precious to maintain Florida as the best college in the country with an offensive rebound (39 % of their failed shots), where the 2m11m player dominates … Like Broome, tenth best NCAA player on average this season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
COURSE
Auburn
1st round: 83-63 against Alabama State (#16)
2nd round: 82-70 against Creighton (#9)
Sweet 16: 78-65 against Michigan (#5)
Elite Eight: 70-64 against Michigan State (#2)
Florida
1st round: 95-69 against Norfolk State (#16)
2nd round: 77-75 against Uconn (#8)
Sweet 16: 87-71 against Maryland (#4)
Elite Eight: 84-79 against Texas Tech (#3)
The number: +21
Florida and Auburn have already met this season before the Final Four, for what was then the second defeat of the season only for the Tigers, after 14 successes in a row. The Gators had been able to erase a failed start to the match to spend a scathing 63-32 to their opponents in 20 minutes and lead from 21 points in the second period (47-68, 81-90 final score). The biggest disbursement known by Auburn of the whole season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
DUKE (#1) – Houston (#1) | 2h49 (on beIN SPORTS 1)
Being a superstar ncaa is rarely a guarantee of long journey during the March Madness. You have to go back to Anthony Davis with Kentucky (in 2012) or Carmelo Anthony With Syracuse (in 2003) to find a trace of a season concluded by a title from a very big name in university basketball.
With this Final Four, Cooper Flagg has the opportunity to prove – once again – that it is separately. The number one attraction of the season met all expectations, or even surpassed them as he has shown talent and maturity. The future number one of the draft (except disaster) can add one more line to his profile, that of a player capable of bringing his team at the end in the big moments.
Erasing Houston will be a first. Cougars are in constant progress under the coach orders Kelvin Sampson Who made his team an impressive defensive fortress: 50 points collected only against Tennessee during the Elite Eight, the 22nd opponent left under the 60 units in 38 games this season!
The style opposition between the two teams is almost total between NCAA's best defense, and the best attack, Duke. The Blue Devils run 56.2 % to the shooting during this tournament, including 47.3 % at 3-point. Difficult to imagine their whole bottle with Flagg but also Kon KNUPPEL And Khaman Maluach Being able to do the same against much more experienced cougars, and moreover revenge. Houston had fallen last year at Sweet 16, beaten by … Duke, who had only conceded 51 points.
The duel: Cooper Flagg – Jewan Roberts
His ankle injury just before the March Madness seems to be ancient history for Cooper Flagg. With 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.8 against in the tournament, the winger displays figures all up compared to his average in the regular season.
Its XXL performance against Arizona during the Sweet 16 (30 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 against) and some actions of brilliance in a tight match leaves no doubt about its ability to transcend with the stake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c35fouzvbda
“” How do you stop Cooper Flagg? Well, it's a bit stupid question, you can't »Assured the coach of cougars Kelvin Sampson to The show The Herd of Fox Sports Monday. However, his squad seems to be the best armed in all of NCAA to limit it. Houston collects less than 22 points per match in the racket, where Cooper Flagg remains the most threatening, in penetration.
I Wan Roberts, a strong “trade” winger should be the first blade on the Duke leader to offer him a physical challenge (2m03, 107 kilos and a place in the best defensive team of the Big 12 conference). The native of the virgin islands will notably have to monitor his faults, while he was limited to 16 minutes during the previous round.
Houston would probably not be against Roberts' offensive contribution, as he had been able to show at the start of the year with a series of eight games at 16.9 points and 6.5 rebounds in January and February.
COURSE
Duke
1st round: 93-49 against Mount St. Mary's (#16)
2nd round: 89-66 against Baylor (#9)
Sweet 16: 100-93 against Arizona (#4)
Elite Eight: 85-65 against Alabama (#2)
Houston
1st round: 78-40 against Siu Edwardsville (#16)
2nd round: 81-76 against Gonzaga (#8)
Sweet 16: 62-60 against Purdue (#4)
Elite Eight: 69-50 against Tennessee (#2)
The number: 60-2
Sixty victories for two defeats, it is the cumulative assessment of the two teams since December. Duke and Houston arrive at the best time. And even if the cougars had to work to spread Purdue at Sweet 16, the two teams surf on a superb dynamic when arriving in San Antonio, with large victories during the Elite Eight.
