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Jeff Borzello
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Jeff Borzello
ESPN Workers Author
- Basketball recruiting insider.
- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Graduate of College of Delaware.
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Myron Medcalf
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Myron Medcalf
ESPN Workers Author
- Covers school basketball
- Joined ESPN.com in 2011
- Graduate of Minnesota State College, Mankato
A showdown of the highest two groups from one of the best convention in males’s school basketball. And a battle between the nation’s greatest protection and a traditionally environment friendly offense.
There is a cause it is all chalk on the San Antonio River Stroll for the March Insanity finale — and our specialists are right here to interrupt down how every group can win its Closing 4 matchup.
Learn their evaluation for Florida vs. Auburn and Duke vs. Houston, together with deadly flaws and gamers every semifinalist might want to step up within the ultimate phases of the 2025 NCAA event.
Soar to:
Auburn-Florida | Houston-Duke
Saturday, 6:09 p.m. ET, CBS
How Florida reached the Closing 4:
What we have realized about Florida in March: Florida’s run over the second half tells the story of this group’s season. Since Feb. 1, the Gators have misplaced solely as soon as: 88-83 at Georgia on Feb. 25. They’ve encountered extra hassle than anticipated in latest weeks, however we have realized you’ll be able to by no means assume they’re out of a sport earlier than it is over.
Down late in opposition to back-to-back nationwide champion UConn? They figured it out in opposition to the Huskies. Alex Condon sustaining an ankle harm in opposition to Maryland within the Candy 16? They held on till the 6-foot-11 standout returned to shut out the double-digit victory. And all of us watched the livid comeback from a 10-point deficit within the ultimate minutes in opposition to Texas Tech within the Elite Eight. The Gators have 5 wins in opposition to top-20 KenPom groups by 14 or extra factors in March and refuse to stop in opposition to excessive adversity. What we have realized about them in March? They’re extremely troublesome to beat.
The participant who must step up: Alex Condon.
After his shaky defensive effort in opposition to Texas Tech star Darrion Williams, Condon needs to be a greater defensive participant in house in opposition to Auburn. The Tigers are stacked with versatile skills at 6-7 or taller who’re comfy on the perimeter and within the publish. Like Texas Tech, they may attempt to attract Condon outdoors then try to assault him off the dribble to get to the rim and rating. Williams was glorious every time Condon ended up in these eventualities, and Florida has a fleet of offensive choices. The Gators do not want each participant on their roster to attain 15 factors, however they may want 6-11 Condon to play glorious protection to advance to the title sport.
Potential deadly flaw: A energy is also Florida’s potential flaw: its consolation degree in adversity.
The Gators typically execute when down — they overcame a four-minute scoring drought within the second half of their second-round win over UConn and a 10-point deficit within the ultimate six minutes in opposition to Texas Tech within the Elite Eight — however these eventualities are dicier within the Closing 4. They know they will catch any opponent, which is riskier at this stage than in December in opposition to North Carolina (allowed the Tar Heels to take the lead after being up 17 factors) or in January in opposition to South Carolina (overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to win by one level).
Does Florida have a solution to Johni Broome? I do not assume any group in America has a solution for Broome — a high contender for each nationwide participant of the 12 months award — however Florida is supplied to be assertive in opposition to him, which is one of the best opponents can do in opposition to a participant of his caliber. The Gators have a number of gamers they will ship to aggressively defend 6-10 Broome with out concern that one participant’s foul hassle will spoil their shot at victory: Condon (6-11), Thomas Haugh (6-9), Rueben Chinyelu (6-10) and Micah Handlogten (7-1) are all choices. Even when Auburn forces Florida to modify loads of matchups and a Gators guard finally ends up on Broome, it will not be a horrible mismatch.
Florida will win if: The Gators play the best way they’ve for the previous month.
They’ve made 58% of their photographs contained in the arc and 38% of their 3-point makes an attempt since March. They’ve additionally had one of the best offense in America over that stretch. They know tips on how to pummel opponents and may do it from each spot on the ground. They usually have a novel mixture of expertise and expertise.
Walter Clayton Jr. is an AP first-team All-American. Alijah Martin is taking part in his second Closing 4 in three years. Will Richard is certainly one of six upperclassmen on the group. Plus, they’ve size that few groups can match and are tenth in adjusted defensive effectivity. — Myron Medcalf
How Auburn reached the Closing 4:
What we have realized about Auburn in March: A 1-3 stretch coming into the NCAA event referred to as Auburn’s ceiling into query, however these three losses got here in opposition to Tennessee, Alabama and Texas A&M — and we’ve since realized that that is nonetheless the identical group that misplaced one sport between Dec. 4 and March 4 behind the management of Johni Broome.
Sure, Alabama State had a quick lead over the Tigers within the first spherical, however the Tigers finally gained by 20. They went on to beat a superb Creighton group by 12 within the second spherical and maintain Michigan standout Danny Wolf scoreless for the ultimate 13 minutes of their Candy 16 win. Then they overcame Broome’s midgame harm at hand Michigan State its first NCAA event loss to an SEC group underneath Tom Izzo.
The participant who must step up: Chad Baker-Mazara.
The 6-7 standout has battled by way of hip and shoulder accidents in latest weeks, however the Tigers will want one of the best model of the All-SEC third-team choice to supply within the ultimate stage of the season. He is a vital participant on each ends of the ground for the Tigers, who’ve gained with star energy (see: Broome) and depth. Baker-Mazara has registered double figures simply as soon as since March 4 and would not appear like he is 100%, however Auburn will want every thing he can provide to avenge the February loss to one of many hottest groups within the nation.
Potential deadly flaw: Pictures from 3 haven’t been falling.
The Tigers have certainly one of America’s greatest gamers in Broome to go together with standouts resembling Baker-Mazara, Tahaad Pettiford, Miles Kelly and Denver Jones. They’re proficient at each place on the ground, which has been enough all season, however they’ve gone chilly from past the arc. They’ve made simply 31% of their 3-point makes an attempt in 4 NCAA event video games, which hasn’t price them up to now, however now they may face a Florida group that went 13-for-33 (39.4%) from 3 in opposition to them in February, when the Tigers have been simply 7-for-22 (31.8%). One other chilly night time might result in Auburn’s elimination.
How can Auburn restrict Florida from happening runs? Florida’s first-round sport in opposition to Norfolk State showcased the extremes of its offense, America’s greatest since March 1, which scored 53 factors within the ultimate 16:45 of regulation. (Had that been a 48-minute NBA sport, Florida would have been on tempo to attain 151 factors.) Auburn witnessed that burst potential firsthand in its 90-81 loss to Florida in February — the Tigers had a nine-point lead within the first half earlier than the Gators ended it on a 37-18 run within the ultimate 12 minutes to hold a 10-point lead into the locker room. Auburn should first give attention to Walter Clayton Jr., typically the catalyst of these runs, and never enable him to hit the large photographs that shift the momentum. The Tigers additionally cannot be afraid to sluggish the sport down or name an early timeout to restrict the Gators’ alternatives to get their offense rolling.
0:54
How Bruce Pearl is motivating Auburn forward of Closing 4
Bruce Pearl breaks down his mindset going into the Closing 4 and previews Auburn’s matchup in opposition to Florida.
Auburn will win if: The Tigers restrict Clayton’s impression on the result.
Auburn has a number of defenders it will probably use to corral the Florida star — and can want all of them Saturday. The NCAA event has been a showcase for the All-America guard, however the Gators are a considerably completely different group when he has a troublesome night time. If the Tigers could make it troublesome for him, they may have an opportunity in opposition to a group that scored 90 factors in opposition to them in February.
Coach Bruce Pearl wants a sport plan that does not enable Clayton to do no matter he needs on the court docket. — Myron Medcalf
Florida vs. Auburn predictions
Jeff Borzello: Florida wins, 82-79
Myron Medcalf: Florida wins, 88-84
Joe Lunardi: Florida wins, 85-80
Neil Paine: Auburn wins, 80-78
Saturday, 8:49 p.m. ET, CBS
How Duke reached the Closing 4:
What we have realized about Duke in March: There wasn’t a lot we did not learn about Duke going into the NCAA event, however the Blue Devils have lived as much as each expectation we had of them on Choice Sunday.
When you have been involved they inflated their numbers as a result of mediocre ACC competitors, they’ve answered each query. They put forth staggeringly environment friendly offensive performances within the second spherical in opposition to Baylor and within the Candy 16 in opposition to Arizona, then held Alabama — the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense — to 65 factors and under 0.90 factors per possession within the Elite Eight. That was solely the second time in two seasons the Crimson Tide failed to achieve that per-possession threshold.
One factor we did be taught was that the second hasn’t been too large for Kon Knueppel, who averaged 20.5 factors and 4.0 assists with terrific performances within the Candy 16 and Elite Eight.
The participant who must step up: Tyrese Proctor.
It must be a giant night time for Proctor. One would surmise Houston’s protection will give attention to limiting Cooper Flagg and Knueppel, which might give Proctor some shotmaking alternatives. He has been in terrific kind over the previous few weeks, making 20 3s in a three-game stretch in opposition to Louisville, Mount St. Mary’s and Baylor. Then after an off night time in opposition to Arizona, he went for 17 factors on 10 photographs in opposition to Alabama. He shoots higher than 41% from 3-point vary and has been enjoying with confidence. His perimeter capturing could possibly be wanted to loosen up the Houston protection.
Potential deadly flaw: Relative youth.
From a personnel perspective, there’s not a lot. Duke has dimension, capturing, ball handlers, shot creators and shotmakers. From a steadiness perspective, there’s nonetheless not a lot. The Blue Devils are elite at each ends of the ground, possessing essentially the most environment friendly offense within the historical past of the KenPom database and a top-five protection to go together with it.
If there’s something, it might be whether or not a group that begins three freshmen can win a nationwide championship in such a transfer-heavy panorama, the place groups are routinely averaging beginning lineups with gamers who’re 22 or 23 years outdated. The Blue Devils have appeared unfazed by something thrown at them up to now this season, although. Flagg and Knueppel play with such poise and confidence, and, as one ACC coach identified to me earlier than the event, Khaman Maluach would not do rather more than dunk, rebound and block photographs (all at an elite degree, in fact) — can a second actually be too large for him?
What will likely be key for Duke’s offense if Houston can restrict the Blue Devils’ dribble penetration? Houston has the nation’s greatest protection, and the Cougars excel at stopping opponents from attacking the rim off the bounce. Duke, in the meantime, has 4 gamers on the ground always who can put strain on the protection, forcing them into rotations and to break down within the paint — earlier than both ending on the rim, kicking it out to a shooter or throwing a lob to Maluach.
Can the Blue Devils proceed to try this in opposition to Houston’s protection? It is a legitimate query.
One space the place Houston’s protection is probably weak, nevertheless, is behind the arc: The Cougars enable groups to shoot 3s, rating twelfth within the Large 12 in 3-point try fee defensively. And the Blue Devils are able to profiting from that. They took practically 45% of their subject purpose makes an attempt from 3-point vary in ACC play and made practically 40% of these makes an attempt.
1:57
Bilas explains how Duke shut down Alabama’s offense
Jay Bilas and Jay Williams break down Duke’s emphatic win over Alabama within the Elite Eight.
Duke will win if: The Blue Devils keep the course.
In the event that they play their greatest sport (and even 90%), there’s not a group within the nation that may beat them. After all, they should proceed to do what bought them so far. Will probably be arduous to beat Houston constantly with dribble penetration, however they must make photographs from the perimeter. Maluach is such a presence inside, however their rim safety takes a success when he is on the bench, so that they might want to keep out of foul hassle. And in opposition to Houston’s elite offensive rebounding, additionally they have to crash the defensive glass, particularly after exhibiting some potential vulnerabilities in opposition to Baylor and Arizona.
Duke, with its mixture of dimension, capturing and Flagg, ought to have all of the solutions, although. — Jeff Borzello
How Houston reached the Closing 4:
What we have realized about Houston in March: The offensive enchancment is actual.
Previously few NCAA tournaments, Houston’s offense had fallen flat in large moments. In 2022, it got here in opposition to Villanova within the Elite Eight, when the Cougars scored simply 44 factors. In 2023, they struggled in two of three video games. And final season, they scored solely 51 factors in a Candy 16 loss to Duke. That did not occur this 12 months. Houston scored at the least 1.17 factors per possession in three of 4 video games, nonetheless scoring 1.08 in its worst offensive efficiency of the Dance whereas making a mean of 9 3s per sport.
We have been saying all season that that is one of the best offensive group Kelvin Sampson has had in Houston, and the Cougars are proving us proper up to now.
The participant who must step up: J’Wan Roberts.
Roberts was enjoying like a official All-American on the halfway level of the season. Over an eight-game stretch between mid-January and early February, Roberts averaged 16.9 factors and 6.5 rebounds whereas enjoying greater than 35 minutes per sport. He hasn’t been the identical since, averaging 8.8 factors and 5.8 rebounds over the previous 13 video games. (He missed two video games within the Large 12 event with an ankle harm.) He must be at his greatest at each ends of the ground Saturday.
Roberts has additionally picked up 4 fouls in two of his previous three video games, enjoying simply 16 minutes in opposition to Tennessee as a result of foul hassle. He has to remain on the ground. It could be an enormous raise for Houston if he may cause Khaman Maluach some points early.
Potential deadly flaw: It isn’t as simple to pinpoint because it was the previous few years.
Houston is without doubt one of the greatest 3-point capturing groups within the nation, making practically 40% of its 3-point makes an attempt, after not rating within the high 110 nationally in that class since 2018. And as we talked about earlier, it is the Cougars’ greatest offense (by far) since Sampson took over in 2014.
In the event that they do lose Saturday, although, there are a few issues to look at. First is the foul disparity: Houston ranks No. 322 nationally in free throw makes an attempt per sport whereas rating within the 200s in defensive free throw fee. Purdue and Tennessee shot extra free throws than Houston. The second is Houston’s propensity to permit 3-point makes an attempt: The Cougars contest 3s, however they permit groups to shoot them. All 4 opponents within the NCAA event have tried at the least 20 3s. If Duke, the most effective 3-point capturing groups within the nation, makes an attempt 25 3s, look out.
How can the nation’s greatest protection sluggish essentially the most environment friendly offense within the KenPom period (i.e., since 1996-97)? Houston goes to have to make use of its physicality and ball strain to take Duke out of its rhythm.
When the Blue Devils are swinging the ball round and attacking the rim off the bounce, kicking it out to their quartet of perimeter shooters, they’re unattainable to cease. However the Cougars are elite at protecting groups away from the rim, permitting simply 21.8 factors within the paint per sport whereas additionally rating within the high 5 nationally in block share. Duke additionally hasn’t confronted a group within the NCAA event that may flip groups over like Houston is able to doing. The Blue Devils had some points with transition protection in opposition to Arizona and Alabama — though that hasn’t been a seasonlong drawback — and the Cougars might discover success going that route.
Houston makes offenses uncomfortable like no different group within the nation can. Issues will not be simple for Duke.
0:35
Houston takes down Tennessee to achieve seventh Closing 4
Tennessee lets the clock run down as Houston celebrates reaching its seventh Closing 4 in program historical past.
Houston will win if: The Cougars’ physicality and expertise win out.
They may look to throw Duke off its sport from the opening tip. They’re bodily defensively, they’re bodily offensively, they strain the ball they usually assault the offensive glass. The whole lot is designed to make opponents uncomfortable. Duke hasn’t seen something prefer it within the NCAA event — or all season. The Blue Devils have been in a position to play with a lot freedom on the offensive finish of their previous few video games; can Houston rattle them early?
There’s additionally the expertise issue: Houston is without doubt one of the oldest groups within the nation, stuffed with gamers who’ve performed loads of NCAA event video games. L.J. Cryer gained a nationwide championship, and Roberts has been to a Closing 4. Sampson has coached within the semifinals earlier than. Might that make a distinction sooner or later Saturday? — Jeff Borzello
Duke vs. Houston predictions
Jeff Borzello: Duke wins, 70-68
Myron Medcalf: Duke wins, 74-70
Joe Lunardi: Houston wins, 75-70
Neil Paine: Duke wins, 65-64
