theScore runs down the top storylines from Monday's epic national title game between Florida and ...

theScore runs down the top storylines from Monday's epic national title game between Florida and Houston.<h3>Clayton not Florida's only closer</h3>Few things in sports are more exciting than a massive comeback, and Florida produced no shortage of them throughout the NCAA Tournament. The Gators overturned deficits in almost every single game and fittingly rode another epic comeback Monday to win the 2025 national championship.UConn and Texas Tech fell victim to the Walter Clayton Jr. show earlier in the bracket, but this time around it was a team effort that delivered the Gators the biggest prize in the sport.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The deficit was 11 when Clayton subbed out at the 14-minute mark of the second half, and Denzel Aberdeen, Alijah Martin, and Thomas Haugh went to work immediately, cutting that deficit to three. The teams went back and forth the rest of the way, and Houston was clinging to a one-point lead in the final two minutes.The supporting cast then delivered once again. Will Richard's swarming defense produced a steal and a block, Alex Condon registered three steals in the final two minutes, and Martin and Aberdeen supplied the free throws that secured the the Gators' third title.Clayton was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and etched himself into tournament lore with his performances throughout March Madness. However, it was the rest of the Gators that did the heavy lifting Monday when the team needed it most.<h3>Deja vu for Houston</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/cropped_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779434/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209101194.jpg?ts=1744085463 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It was a familiar story for Houston, who came into the final boasting its best offensive unit of the Kelvin Sampson era. The Cougars' third championship game defeat was reminiscent of their futile showing in their first title matchup 42 years ago.Sampson's squad shot a season-low 34.8% from the field. Houston's strength all season had been its top-ranked 3-point accuracy, but it made only 6-of-25 attempts from deep. Starters LJ Cryer, Emanuel Sharp, and Milos Uzan were all 40% 3-point shooters entering play. However, the trio went a combined 5-of-22 from beyond the arc, with only Cryer making multiple threes.The Cougars had an opportunity to shut the door on the Gators but hit a dry spell down the stretch - just like Duke did two nights earlier. Houston didn't make a single field goal during a key five-minute stretch between the 11:29 mark of the second half and the 6:24 mark. During that span, the Cougars' six-point lead was cut to two. That slight opening was all Florida needed to complete another comeback victory.<h3>Defense wins championships, even for Florida</h3>Todd Golden came to Florida as an offensive wizard, and that part of the game has been as good as advertised for the Gators. Led by Clayton, the offense ranks second in the country, according to <a href="https://kenpom.com/index.php?s=RankAdjOE">KenPom</a>'s ratings, and lit up scoreboards in both the regular season and NCAA Tournament.However, Houston showed throughout the season that it will drag just about anybody down to its pace and style of play, and that was the case for a large part of the game Monday. Nine turnovers in the opening half - an unfortunate trend in the tournament for the Gators - saw them trail at the break, with the Cougars very much playing on their terms.That changed drastically in the second half, but it wasn't the offense that was the catalyst for the comeback. Instead, it was the defensive unit that really turned the tables. Florida was whistled for five straight fouls to open the half, and while that helped balloon Houston's lead to 11, it showed the Gators were not going to be pushed around. It also put pressure on the officials to even things out - something that happened in short order with a slew of Houston fouls.Once the Gators made their charge to get things tight in the final two minutes, their defense came through. Florida forced four turnovers in the final 2:05 and didn't even allow the Cougars to attempt a tying or game-winning shot in the final 30 seconds.The defense was a very strong aspect of Florida's team this year, ranking as KenPom's sixth-best unit in the country. However, it entered Monday's game a distant second to Houston's outstanding defense, a perennial powerhouse under Sampson's watch. That matchup tilted down the stretch, and it's one of the main reasons the trophy is heading to Gainesville instead of Houston.<h3>Houston's uncharacteristic errors</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/cropped_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w220xh124_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w320xh180_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w640xh360_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w768xh432_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779439/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2209098926.jpg?ts=1744087456 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Alex Slitz / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>It's rare to see a disciplined Houston squad beat itself. It entered the national championship game with the 10th-best turnover margin and averaged just nine per contest. The Cougars did a great job taking care of the rock for the majority of Monday's contest, posting only four turnovers through the first 36:35. But the only thing that will be remembered are the five turnovers over the final 3:24, which led to six crucial points for Florida in what ended up being a one-possession game.The Gators immediately capitalized on the first miscue, as Clayton buried a game-tying three immediately after Cryer stepped out of bounds. Houston then coughed up the ball three more times over the final minute of regulation. Cryer got blocked from behind on a drive to the basket, while the last pair of errors were made by Sharp.With the Cougars down one with 26 seconds left, the junior guard got the ball knocked off his knee as he dribbled into a crowd of Florida players. Sharp had a chance to redeem himself on the game's final possession but stopped in the middle of his shooting motion when Clayton closed out his potential game-winning 3-point attempt.Houston went scoreless for the last 2:05 as a series of miscues prevented it from getting off a single shot. It's a bitter pill to swallow for the Cougars, who exhibited so much mental toughness throughout the campaign but were ultimately undone by themselves.

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Title game takeaways: Florida always be closing

Walter Clayton Jr. was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 Final Four after leading Flo...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/96362" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/96362">Walter Clayton Jr.</a> was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2025 Final Four after leading Florida to its third national championship with a thrilling <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3261361" href="https://thescore.com/news/3261361">win over Houston</a> on Monday night.The electric guard poured in 34 points in the semifinal against Auburn before netting 11 points with seven assists and five rebounds in the title game versus the Cougars.The honor capped an incredible tournament for Clayton, who became the first player since Larry Bird in 1979 to score at least 30 points in the Elite Eight and Final Four.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>According to <a href="https://x.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1909445159395221623">Josh Dubow of the Associated Press</a>, Clayton's 134 total points in the tournament were the most for a national champion since Kemba Walker scored 141 for UConn in 2011.With Houston focused on locking down Clayton in the title game, the Iona transfer turned facilitator with seven assists on the night. That helped keep the offense rolling despite his lack of scoring for the first time this tournament.Clayton joins Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer as the other Florida players to win the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - APRIL 07: Walter Clayton Jr. #1 of the Florida Gators celebrates after defeating the Houston Cougars in the National Championship of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Alamodome on April 07, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

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Florida's Clayton wins Final Four Most Outstanding Player

Only 89 players teed it up in last year's Masters, but the field has sharply grown to 96 for this...

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Ranking the Masters field: 1 sentence for all 96 players

Duke was on the wrong end of one of the most stunning finishes in NCAA Tournament history Saturda...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/329" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/329">Duke</a> was on the wrong end of one of the most stunning finishes in NCAA Tournament history Saturday, blowing a six-point lead in the final 33 seconds to lose by three to Houston in the Final Four.The Blue Devils struggled to inbound the ball after multiple Houston baskets, leading to key turnovers that allowed the Cougars to close the game on a 9-0 run.Duke had rolled through the season and tournament, with the loss to Houston being its fourth game out of 39 decided by five points or fewer. Coach Jon Scheyer said the lack of in-game reps in tight closing situations may have affected Saturday's setback.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I didn't help them enough," Scheyer said on the postgame show. "We haven't been in a lot of those games. We've watched a lot of game situations and practiced, and that's where I wish I could have helped them more."The collapse will certainly sting Duke for a long time, as multiple errors down the stretch helped Houston. Tyrese Proctor, a 69% free-throw shooter on the season, missed the front end of a one-and-one with 20 seconds left. While the miss was costly, Cooper Flagg's questionable foul on the rebound really stung the Blue Devils, with the call sending J'Wan Roberts to the line for a pair of free throws at the other end.Roberts, who shoots just 62% from the free-throw line this season, made both attempts, lifting the Cougars from a one-point deficit to a slim lead they wouldn't relinquish.With Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach expected to enter the NBA draft, Duke's team will be significantly different when it attempts to avenge the loss next season.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - APRIL 05: Head Coach Jon Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils reacts during the second half of the Final Four game of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Houston Cougars at the Alamodome on April 05, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.

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Duke's Scheyer owns loss: 'I didn't help them enough'

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Saturday's Final Four games and what ...

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Saturday's Final Four games and what it all could mean moving forward to Monday's title contest.<h3>Houston drags Duke into the mud</h3><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/471" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/471">Houston</a>'s best shot at taking down <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/329" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/329">Duke</a> was mucking the game up and dragging the Blue Devils in the mud. The Cougars needed the contest to be played at a slower pace and with fewer possessions. There was no way they could keep up in a track meet against the most efficient offense in the KenPom era. Kelvin Sampson's squad executed its game plan perfectly, holding Duke to 58 possessions - 11 less than the previous round - and no fast-break points.It's not the prettiest brand of basketball, but it allowed Houston to hang around and set the stage for a furious 15-3 scoring run in the final 3:03. The Cougars kicked off their comeback bid with three offensive rebounds that eventually culminated in an <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/103134" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/103134">Emanuel Sharp</a> layup. On the ensuing possession, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/110355" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/110355">Joseph Tugler</a> forced a Blue Devils turnover by poking the ball off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/103281" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/103281">Tyrese Proctor</a>'s leg. Tugler, a second-year forward, later came through with a swat on Duke freshman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/162168" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/162168">Kon Knueppel</a> to keep the score at 67-61 in favor of the Blue Devils with 1:14 to play.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Houston subsequently scored nine unanswered points, including a putback jam by Tugler off a Blue Devils turnover in the backcourt. The Cougars' identity under Sampson over the last 11 years has been its hard-nosed defense and offensive rebounding. It's only fitting that those two components are the primary reasons Houston's playing for its first national championship in program history.<h3>Duke ... what happened?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779127/cropped_GettyImages-2208751347.jpg?ts=1743915036" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779127/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208751347.jpg?ts=1743915036 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779127/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208751347.jpg?ts=1743915036 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779127/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208751347.jpg?ts=1743915036 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779127/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208751347.jpg?ts=1743915036 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779127/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208751347.jpg?ts=1743915036 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brett Wilhelm / NCAA Photos / Getty</figcaption></figure>Houston undoubtedly made great plays down the stretch. But make no mistake, this was a collapse of epic proportions by Duke.The Blue Devils led by as many as 14 points with 8:17 to go. The most efficient offense in the KenPom era suddenly went ice-cold in the season's biggest game. Duke managed just two field goals in the final 13 minutes and none over the last three minutes. The Blue Devils' only shots made during that stretch came from freshman standout <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/162169" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/162169">Cooper Flagg</a>, who missed four of his final five attempts.Duke had done a great job taking care of the ball all season, ranking 354th in the NCAA with 9.4 turnovers per contest. However, they coughed up the rock five times over the final 13 minutes. It's not as if Flagg was responsible for the miscues either, as those turnovers were made by upperclassmen Proctor, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/89009" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/89009">Sion James</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/76567" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/76567">Mason Gillis</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/103336" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/103336">Maliq Brown</a>. Those mistakes proved costly in a one-possession game as Houston tallied seven more points due to their errors.<h3>Walter Clayton Jr. is that dude</h3>Oh, you thought <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/96362" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/96362">Walter Clayton Jr.</a> had peaked? Turns out the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/380" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/380">Florida</a> guard hadn't even given us his best until Saturday's contest against Auburn.Let's call his incredible closing stretch versus UConn a delicious pre-dinner cocktail. That makes the 30-piece on Texas Tech a mouthwatering appetizer to set the stage for the main course - a five-star Michelin dinner at the expense of the Tigers.By the time the horn rang in San Antonio, Clayton had 34 points - including 20 in the second half - to lead the Gators from an eight-point deficit to a six-point win and their first national title shot since 2007. Whenever Florida needed an answer against its SEC rival, Clayton was there.Need two triples in the game's opening four minutes to quell an early Auburn onslaught? Clayton was there. Trailing by eight at the half and needing to start the second with an 11-0 charge to flip the scoreboard? Clayton contributed five points to the cause. How about 10 points in the final five minutes to squash any comeback attempt? Yep, Clayton was more than happy to deliver.While Cooper Flagg claimed the Wooden Award as the nation's best player earlier Saturday, there's no question that Clayton has been 1-of-1 in this year's Big Dance. He became the first player since Larry Bird in 1979 to have at least 30 points in the Elite Eight and Final Four, and he's now Florida's all-time leading scorer in a single NCAA Tournament.The beauty of Clayton's game is the various ways he scores. He's just as likely to can an outrageous step-back contested triple as he is to blow by the defense for an easy layup. The Steph Curry comparisons Clayton has garnered throughout the tournament seem less and less ridiculous each game.<h3>Auburn ran out of gas</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779082/cropped_GettyImages-2208728907.jpg?ts=1743902458" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779082/w220xh124_GettyImages-2208728907.jpg?ts=1743902458 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779082/w320xh180_GettyImages-2208728907.jpg?ts=1743902458 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779082/w640xh360_GettyImages-2208728907.jpg?ts=1743902458 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779082/w768xh432_GettyImages-2208728907.jpg?ts=1743902458 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779082/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2208728907.jpg?ts=1743902458 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The first 20 minutes of Saturday's contest painted the picture that injuries to Johni Broome and Chad Baker-Mazara wouldn't hold <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/86" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/86">Auburn</a> down. The senior duo combined for 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting in the opening frame to boost the Tigers to an eight-point edge at the break.Broome's status was a question mark all week, but he seemed to put any doubts to rest early by dominating the first half. He finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and two blocks in a performance that'll likely haunt Alex Condon, who struggled to contain the bruising big. The Gators continuously opted to leave Condon in one-on-one situations with Broome, a matchup the senior exploited virtually every time.However, Florida sent numerous players at Broome in the second, with Rueben Chinyelu and Mitch Handlogten experiencing some success. Even Condon got in the act as Broome tired significantly - an understandable display given his injuries. Broome attempted only four shots in the second half, making just one to post 15 points on the night.Baker-Mazara finished as the leading scorer with 18 points, but the Tigers didn't have a third option to pick up the slack in the second half. Florida's defense on electric freshman Tahaad Pettiford was particularly intense, with the Gators holding the point guard to seven points."We got down to seven guys. That's not enough. We just did not have enough help off the bench," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said postgame, <a href="https://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=206652">according to ASAP Sports</a>. "I think to take a little heat off of Johni, we scored great in the first half with our two-point baskets. We went through him, and he did great. I don't know whether we got away from it a little bit, but we only had a handful of two-point baskets in the second half."The loss ends Auburn's season and perfect 25-0 record when leading by at least five points at half this campaign. One can't help but wonder how things might have played out if Broome had been fully healthy. But Florida's 2-0 record against Auburn this season proves the better team is heading to the title game.

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Final Four takeaways: Duke suffers historic collapse

Nobody out there is going to tell you college basketball is in a perfect place.  From unregulated...

Nobody out there is going to tell you college basketball is in a perfect place.From unregulated NIL that strays far from what it was supposed to be, to a transfer portal that's currently filled with over 1,000 players, there are a number of issues facing the sport. We even saw multiple coaches going into tournament games with everyone knowing that they were leaving for a different job the minute their team was eliminated.But we can all agree that this Final Four is still really cool.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It's fitting that a year in which one double-digit seed made it through the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament ends with just the second Final Four ever to feature all four No. 1 seeds.It's a very stark contrast to just two years ago, when the Final Four somehow featured No. 4 UConn as the top seed in the semis. The eventual-champion Huskies were joined by two No. 5 seeds in Miami and San Diego State, along with a major underdog in No. 9 Florida Atlantic. UConn always seemed like the only team that could actually win the title, and that rang true with blowouts in both the semifinal and title game.In a world where not all top seeds are created equal, this year's crop stands out as unusually even-matched and a level above the rest of the country. That's the opposite of last year, when defending champion UConn was clearly more polished than the rest of the field and even beat fellow No. 1 seed Purdue by double-digits in the title game.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777679/cropped_GettyImages-2206598031.jpg?ts=1743706755" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777679/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206598031.jpg?ts=1743706755 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777679/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206598031.jpg?ts=1743706755 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777679/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206598031.jpg?ts=1743706755 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777679/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206598031.jpg?ts=1743706755 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777679/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206598031.jpg?ts=1743706755 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> C. Morgan Engel / NCAA Photos / Getty</figcaption></figure>This year's quartet isn't just better than the other 360 teams at the Division I level but ranks higher than almost all other college basketball teams from the last 28 years, according to the vaunted KenPom efficiency ratings. Pomeroy has all four squads from this Final Four inside his all-time top 10, with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/329" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/329">Duke</a> at No. 2, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/471" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/471">Houston</a> at No. 6, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/380" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/380">Florida</a> at No. 8, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/86" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/86">Auburn</a> at No. 10. Again, this is a man who has been ranking teams since 1997.In fact, this is the first time the Final Four has ever featured the top four teams in <a href="https://kenpom.com/index.php">KenPom</a>'s rankings for a season.<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Offensive rating </th>
<th>Defensive rating</th>
<th>Overall rank</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Duke</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>4th</td>
<td>1st</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Houston</td>
<td>10th</td>
<td>1st</td>
<td>2nd</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Florida</td>
<td>2nd</td>
<td>10th</td>
<td>3rd</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Auburn</td>
<td>3rd</td>
<td>8th</td>
<td>4th</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>That represents quite a significant change from those who made up the Final Four recently. Last year, Alabama ranked 14th overall in KenPom's list while Cinderella team NC State was way back in 45th spot. The 2023 version saw only UConn fall inside the top 12 teams in the country. Weird things can always happen in a one-game elimination format, but the longer the underdog sticks around, the more chance there is of an eventual stinker in a big spot.The first thing that stands out from this year's chart is just how balanced all four teams are in both offense and defense. Houston's offense is 10th out of 364 teams - an incredible ranking until you look at the other three teams still in play. However, to balance out the slight inferiority of their offense, the Cougars lean on the best defense in the sport. Their blockbuster head-to-head battle with Duke in the semis will be a best-on-best matchup of offense versus defense.The two teams met in the tournament last season, and while Duke advanced narrowly, it's safe to say defense was the big winner with a final score of just 54-51. Both teams have drastically improved on offense since then, so it's hard to see a repeat affair occurring Saturday.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778722/cropped_GettyImages-2197866930.jpg?ts=1743706836" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778722/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197866930.jpg?ts=1743706836 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778722/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197866930.jpg?ts=1743706836 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778722/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197866930.jpg?ts=1743706836 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778722/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197866930.jpg?ts=1743706836 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778722/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197866930.jpg?ts=1743706836 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Todd Kirkland / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The other semifinal is the SEC showdown of Auburn versus Florida - a fitting matchup given the conference had a record seven teams in the Sweet 16 this year.Florida's two close calls in the tournament may worry some, but we choose to look at them as opportunities for the nation to get comfortable with Walter Clayton Jr. as he does his best Steph Curry impression. The senior guard has seemingly been unconscious down the stretch, going 6-for-8 with five 3-pointers in the final five minutes of his team's wins over UConn and Texas Tech. He's also very familiar with Auburn after a 19-point, nine-assist showing in a road win versus the Tigers earlier in the year.Auburn's star situation is much less clear heading into Saturday. Johni Broome is undoubtedly the man for the Tigers, but his status remains unclear after the awkward fall he took in the Elite Eight. When healthy, there's no player more dominant in the sport than the bruising forward.With four elite teams, the senior stardom of Clayton and Broome, the tenacious Houston defense, and the electric Duke freshman trio of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, it's must-see television this weekend.And the problems facing college basketball will still be there begging for a fix on Tuesday.

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All chalk, no problem: 2025 might be best Final Four ever

The 2025 Final Four is a reflection of an excellent seeding job by the NCAA Tournament selection ...

The 2025 Final Four is a reflection of an excellent seeding job by the NCAA Tournament selection committee.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/86" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/86">Auburn</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/329" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/329">Duke</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/471" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/471">Houston</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/380" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/380">Florida</a> were the top-4 teams in the committee's bracket, and those are the last four remaining as the action heads to San Antonio this weekend. It marks just the second time in NCAA Tournament history that the Final Four is composed of all four No. 1 seeds.While the four teams are clearly the most successful in the sport this year, they built their rosters in different ways to chart their paths to the national semifinals.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Here's how each went about it in the era of the transfer portal, immediate eligibility and NIL.<h3>Florida</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778314/cropped_GettyImages-2206995793.jpg?ts=1743476914" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778314/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206995793.jpg?ts=1743476914 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778314/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206995793.jpg?ts=1743476914 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778314/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206995793.jpg?ts=1743476914 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778314/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206995793.jpg?ts=1743476914 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778314/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206995793.jpg?ts=1743476914 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brett Wilhelm / NCAA Photos / Getty</figcaption></figure>Walter Clayton Jr.: Transfer from Iona (2023) Will Richard: Transfer from Belmont (2022) Alijah Martin: Transfer from FAU (2024) Alex Condon: No. 32 center in class of 2023 Thomas Haugh: No. 37 power forward in class of 2023 Denzel Aberdeen: No. 41 shooting guard in class of 2022 Rueben Chinyelu: Transfer from Washington State (2024) Micah Handlogten: Transfer from Marshall (2023)Florida's recipe for success is an exceptional mix of transfer portal recruitment and outstanding player development. The perimeter is littered with transfers from mid-major programs who have taken their games to the next level in the SEC.Clayton joined from Iona two years ago and seemingly can't go a game without a Steph Curry comparison. Richard's been with the Gators for three years after a freshman campaign at Belmont, and Martin came north from Florida Atlantic prior to this season after playing a huge role in its Cinderella run to the Final Four two years ago. Add the towering combo of Chinyelu and Handlogten to the mix, and five transfers are playing huge roles for the Gators.The three key contributors from the high school ranks are all stories of great development in Gainesville. Condon, Haugh, and Aberdeen all ranked outside the top-30 for their positions coming out of high school but have blossomed into major players for the Gators. Haugh has been a breakout name in the NCAA Tournament, especially with his brilliant 20-point, 11-rebound performance off the bench in the Elite Eight.Head coach: Todd GoldenGolden took the Florida job after his first three years as a head coach in San Francisco. Following a 16-17 record in his opening season, he got the Gators back to the NCAA Tournament last year. However, this campaign has been a completely different animal with Florida winning 34 games and claiming the SEC Tournament title in arguably the best conference we've ever seen.<h3>Auburn</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778315/cropped_GettyImages-2207245293.jpg?ts=1743476988" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778315/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207245293.jpg?ts=1743476988 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778315/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207245293.jpg?ts=1743476988 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778315/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207245293.jpg?ts=1743476988 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778315/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207245293.jpg?ts=1743476988 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778315/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207245293.jpg?ts=1743476988 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Grant Halverson / NCAA Photos / Getty</figcaption></figure>Johni Broome: Transfer from Morehead State (2022) Chad Baker-Mazara: Transfer from Northwest Florida State College (2023) Tahaad Pettiford: No. 7 point guard in class of 2024 Miles Kelly: Transfer from Georgia Tech (2024) Denver Jones: Transfer from FIU (2023) Chaney Johnson: Transfer from D-II Alabama Huntsville (2023) Dylan Cardwell: No. 38 center in class of 2020If you've watched any Auburn games this NCAA Tournament, you are well aware the average age of the Tigers' starting five is older than the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. There's no way around it, Auburn features an incredibly old roster for a college team - a result of a boatload of transfers and the extra COVID year of eligibility.Broome started his career with two seasons at Morehead State before making the leap and dominating the SEC. He's joined by 25-year-old Baker-Mazara who is on the Van Wilder plan at his fourth collegiate stop. Johnson and Jones transferred in prior to the 2023-24 season with Kelly making the short trip from Georgia Tech for his final collegiate campaign.The most electric player among the key contributors is also the youngest, with Pettiford a highly coveted high school recruit who opted to join the Tigers as the seventh-best point guard in the class of 2024. Cardwell represents the only other player getting significant minutes who joined Auburn out of high school.Head coach: Bruce PearlPearl now in his 11th year at Auburn is today's bit of news that makes us all feel old. It doesn't seem that long ago he was taking upstart Milwaukee on a Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. Pearl has compiled the fifth-most wins of any SEC coach when you combine his time with the Tigers and at Tennessee.<h3>Duke</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778316/cropped_GettyImages-2207150286.jpg?ts=1743477201" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778316/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207150286.jpg?ts=1743477201 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778316/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207150286.jpg?ts=1743477201 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778316/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207150286.jpg?ts=1743477201 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778316/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207150286.jpg?ts=1743477201 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778316/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207150286.jpg?ts=1743477201 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Cooper Flagg: No. 1 national prospect in class of 2024 Kon Knueppel: No. 19 national prospect in class of 2024 Tyrese Proctor: No. 3 point guard in class of 2022 Sion James: Transfer from Tulane (2024) Khaman Maluach: No. 4 national prospect in class of 2024 Isaiah Evans: No. 15 national prospect in class of 2024 Caleb Foster: No. 24 national prospect in class of 2023 Mason Gillis: Transfer from Purdue (2024) Maliq Brown: Transfer from Syracuse (2024) Patrick Ngongba II: No. 24 national prospect in class of 2024Duke wasn't just built by high school recruiting, it stockpiled this elite roster with four players who weren't even in college last year. Flagg, Maluach, Knueppel and Evans were all top-20 national recruits last year with the electric Flagg ranked first overall.Flagg, Maluach and Knueppel especially have shone lately, combining for an absurd 51 points, 23 rebounds and nine assists in the Elite Eight versus Alabama. Proctor has been on campus for three years as a highly touted recruit from Australia and has made an eye-popping 64% of his 27 triples in the NCAA Tournament.The Blue Devils dipped into the portal for some depth pieces, grabbing James, Gillis, and Brown to add some experience to the young roster.Head coach: Jon ScheyerCoach K who? OK, we aren't at that level, but Scheyer has barely missed a beat as the program's new frontman after Mike Krzyzewski retired. The former star guard has now won at least 27 games in each of his first three years as coach and sports an incredible 48-12 mark in ACC play. Coming off an Elite Eight appearance last year, a title in Scheyer's third season would beat Krzyzewski by a wide margin as the legendary coach didn't win his first national championship until Year 11.<h3>Houston</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778317/cropped_GettyImages-2207249275.jpg?ts=1743477270" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778317/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207249275.jpg?ts=1743477270 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778317/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207249275.jpg?ts=1743477270 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778317/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207249275.jpg?ts=1743477270 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778317/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207249275.jpg?ts=1743477270 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778317/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207249275.jpg?ts=1743477270 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Joe Robbins/NCAA Photos / NCAA Photos / Getty</figcaption></figure>L.J. Cryer: Transfer from Baylor (2023) Emanuel Sharp: No. 35 shooting guard in class of 2022 Milos Uzan: Transfer from Oklahoma (2024) J'Wan Roberts: No. 42 power forward in class of 2019 Ja'Vier Francis: No. 32 center in class of 2021 Terrance Arceneaux: No. 18 small forward in class of 2022 Mylik Wilson: Transfer from Texas Tech (2023)Houston has built largely through high school recruiting along with key transfer portal additions during Kelvin Sampson's time with the program, and that's no different this time around. After bringing in Cryer from Baylor prior to last season, the Cougars poached Uzan from Oklahoma to add another lethal offensive option to this year's roster. Either part of that duo has led Houston in scoring in each of the four NCAA Tournament games thus far with Uzan providing the epic game-winner versus Purdue in the Sweet 16.The Cougars are also a vastly experienced roster with Roberts, Sharp, and Francis having been with the program for a combined 12 seasons. Houston leans heavily on the forward tandem of Roberts and Francis to provide crucial rim protection and rebounding.The other key contributors for this year's roster include another from the class of 2022 in Arceneaux and 2023 transfer Wilson.Head coach: Kelvin SampsonSampson's first college head coaching job came in 1981 before Golden and Scheyer were even born. Houston represents his fourth Division I head coaching stop - a position he's held since 2014. After the Phi Slama Jama era produced three consecutive Final Four appearances in the early 1980s, the program had fallen on hard times prior to Sampson's hire. The Cougars made just one NCAA Tournament in the 22 years before he arrived, but they have risen to national prominence once again under his watch.

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How the Final Four teams were built

The Final Four is officially set, and for just the second time in NCAA Tournament history, the fi...

The Final Four is officially set, and for just the second time in NCAA Tournament history, the field is comprised of a quartet of No. 1 seeds.The SEC showdown between <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/86" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/86">Auburn </a>and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/380" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/380">Florida</a> will kick things off Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET in San Antonio, while <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/329" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/329">Duke</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/471" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/471">Houston</a> are slated for the nightcap at 8:49 p.m. ET.The Tigers own the unique distinction of having played each of the remaining teams. They met Duke and Houston early in the season and the Gators during conference play. Auburn beat the Cougars 74-69 but lost to the other two opponents by single digits.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Bruce Pearl's outfit will get its chance at revenge against a Florida team that needed an 18-4 run to pull off an epic comeback versus Texas Tech in the Elite Eight.The late Final Four contest features <a href="https://kenpom.com/index.php?s=RankAdjOE">KenPom</a>'s No. 1 offense in Duke and Houston's top-ranked defense. However, neither team is a one-trick pony: The Blue Devils have the fourth-best defense and the Cougars sport a 10th-ranked offensive attack.

AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 8: Walter Clayton Jr. #1 of the Florida Gators drives to the basket against Tahaad Pettiford #0 of the Auburn Tigers during the first half at Neville Arena on February 8, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama.

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All-SEC showdown to begin Final Four, Duke-Houston gets late slot

A Houston sharpshooter and Auburn's contender for player of the year nabbed Most Outstanding Play...

A <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/471" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/471">Houston</a> sharpshooter and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/86" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/86">Auburn</a>'s contender for player of the year nabbed Most Outstanding Player honors in the Midwest and South Regions on Sunday.The Cougars' <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/103134" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/103134">Emanuel Sharp</a> claimed the award for the Midwest, with his blend of 3-point shooting and lockdown defense pushing the team to the Final Four. It's no surprise <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/87250" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/87250">Johni Broome</a> won in the South Region, as the senior forward may have a haul of awards by the end of the season.Sharp averaged 16.5 points in his last two games - wins over Purdue and Tennessee - while rising to the occasion on the defensive end. He made six triples over that stretch, including two clutch shots in Sunday's second half to stop any momentum for the Volunteers.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Broome posted three double-doubles in four NCAA Tournament games, capped by a brilliant 25-point, 14-rebound showing in a win over Michigan State. He's averaging 17.2 points and 13.2 rebounds heading into the Final Four.The pair <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3253692" href="https://thescore.com/news/3253692">joins</a> Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. and Duke's Cooper Flagg as the Most Outstanding Players from the four regions this year.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Emanuel Sharp #21 of the Houston Cougarscuts the net down following his team's 69-50 victory against the Tennessee Volunteers in the Midwest Regional Elite Eight round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Sharp, Broome win regional MOP awards

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Sunday's Elite Eight games and what i...

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Sunday's Elite Eight games and what it all could mean moving forward.<h3>Broome has master's in college hoops</h3>Many students stick around for five years of college to add a master's degree to their undergrad. Johni Broome may be enrolled in liberal arts at <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/86" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/86">Auburn</a>, but we can safely say he obtained a master's in the sport of college basketball. The Tigers star proved again Sunday that he's without peer this season, ripping off a brilliant showing against Michigan State in the Elite Eight that included an improbable comeback from injury.While a double-double is a significant achievement in a 40-minute college game, Broome has made a habit of upping the difficulty by achieving it in the first half. That was the case versus the Spartans, with Broome piling up 17 points and 11 rebounds in the opening half. That marks the fifth time he's posted a double-double in just 20 minutes.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He had 22 points and 12 rebounds midway through the second when disaster appeared to strike the standout forward and his team. Broome fell awkwardly while defending his basket, with his arm and leg stretching scarily. He headed to the locker room but returned minutes later to the roar of the largely Auburn crowd.Broome immediately showed he was OK to continue, stepping right into the offense and canning a clutch triple. His eventual stat line of 25 points and 14 rebounds gives him 47 points and 30 boards across the past two games. Broome also became the fourth player in NCAA history to have 2,500 points and 1,500 rebounds in a career.Michigan State is one of the best perimeter defensive teams in the nation but had no answer for the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Broome. You know you've achieved a certain status level in the sport when Tom Izzo - one of the greatest coaches of all time - tries various things to stop you, and he can't.With the job done in the region, Bruce Pearl and Auburn's main question this week will be Broome's status for the Final Four. The Tigers could easily win the first national title in program history if he's healthy. If he's not, it's tough to see them hanging with Florida.<h3>Houston puts on defensive master class</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778125/cropped_GettyImages-2207232592.jpg?ts=1743377694" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778125/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207232592.jpg?ts=1743377694 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778125/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207232592.jpg?ts=1743377694 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778125/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207232592.jpg?ts=1743377694 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778125/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207232592.jpg?ts=1743377694 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778125/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207232592.jpg?ts=1743377694 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos / NCAA Photos / Getty</figcaption></figure>Kelvin Sampson has never had a better offensive unit at his disposal during his 11 years with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/471" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/471">Houston</a>. The Cougars are the nation's top 3-point shooting (39.8%) team and rank 12th on <a href="https://kenpom.com/index.php?s=RankAdjOE">KenPom</a>'s rankings for adjusted offensive efficiency. However, their DNA remains in their relentless, hard-nosed defensive approach.Houston took an already stout defense to another level in the Elite Eight, limiting Tennessee to 29% shooting, including a 5-of-29 clip from deep. The Vols missed their first 14 triples until Zakai Zeigler broke the dry spell with 39 seconds remaining in the first half. Rick Barnes' squad managed just 15 points in the opening half, which is the fewest in an Elite Eight matchup since seeding began in 1979, according to <a href="https://x.com/jeffborzello/status/1906424090782568457">ESPN Stats &amp; Info</a>. Tennessee's 15 points were also the lowest by a top-two seed in the first half in any NCAA Tournament game and the second-fewest in any half, trailing only Kentucky in the 1984 Final Four versus Georgetown (11), per <a href="https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/1906427433978405036">ESPN Stats &amp; Info</a>.The Cougars did an excellent job taking Vols star Chaz Lanier out of the game. They smothered him on all the off-ball screening actions that Barnes uses to free him up. When Lanier occasionally got open, his jumpers often fell short. You can partially attribute that to the energy Lanier needed to exert to evade Houston's hounding defenders. Lanier missed 10 of his first 11 shots - including all seven long-range attempts - en route to a 4-of-18 shooting performance.Lanier's struggles had a cascading effect on the rest of his teammates. Milos Uzan's length disrupted Tennessee on the perimeter, while Houston's LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp were solid at the point of attack. There were no easy baskets at the rim either, as the Cougars always met the Volunteers with a defender or two in the paint. Houston frequently stayed vertical on the Vols' point-blank shots and was prepared to break up any lob attempts. It'll take a similar defensive effort to slow Duke's high-octane offense.<h3>Ugly offense cooks Michigan State</h3>"It ain't pretty, but it's effective" is an accurate description of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/660" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/660">Michigan State</a>'s offense this year. Unfortunately for the Spartans, it ceased to be effective Sunday and looked downright ugly. The one thing saving them from having the worst offensive performance of the day was Tennessee scoring just 15 points in its opening half against Houston hours earlier. (Keep reading for more on that debacle.)Michigan State didn't do much better, though, with only 24 points to show for the game's first 20 minutes. If you look at the Spartans' season stats, it's easy to see Auburn's recipe for cooking them:<ul>
<li>31% shooting on 3-pointers (318th nationally)</li>
<li>19.5 fouls drawn per game (14th nationally)</li>
<li>22.5% of points come from free throws (28th nationally)</li>
<li>15.7 fast-break points per game (fifth nationally)</li>
</ul>The Big Ten program made 3-of-13 triples in the opening half despite having many wide-open looks. The Spartans also shot just six free throws and scored only two fast-break points in that span.Michigan State is a team built for many things, but coming back from a nine-point halftime deficit against one of the nation's top teams is not one of them. The Spartans' final tally of 64 points is actually quite flattering, as they decreased the deficit late with the game essentially out of hand.Izzo absolutely maximized this team's potential to reach the Elite Eight. However, much like Tennessee against Houston, the offense simply wasn't versatile enough to keep up in a game that forced the Spartans out of their comfort zone.<h3>Barnes' roster-building flaw</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778114/cropped_GettyImages-2207673003.jpg?ts=1743375232" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778114/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207673003.jpg?ts=1743375232 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778114/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207673003.jpg?ts=1743375232 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778114/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207673003.jpg?ts=1743375232 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778114/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207673003.jpg?ts=1743375232 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778114/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207673003.jpg?ts=1743375232 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>There's no doubt that Barnes has done a solid job since taking over in Knoxville a decade ago. The 70-year-old has guided the program to a pair of Elite Eight appearances, won two SEC regular-season titles, and captured a conference tournament crown. He trails only Ray Mears on the school's all-time wins list.Barnes' elite defensive system has contributed greatly to his success. Since 1997, his teams have posted 19 top-50 finishes in KenPom's rankings for adjusted defensive efficiency. But perhaps the one thing that's kept Barnes from taking Tennessee one step further is a lack of firepower.The Vols made last season's Elite Eight behind the high-scoring performances of Dalton Knecht. The future Los Angeles Lakers guard had 37 points in the Midwest Regional final versus Purdue. Still, it wasn't enough, as no other Tennessee player registered double digits in scoring.Lanier replaced Knecht this season as the program's lead option, and he thrived in a starring role. However, the lack of support around Lanier led to the team's downfall against Houston at the same stage. Sure, Lanier didn't have his finest night at the office. But only two other players made multiple field goals versus the Cougars. That doesn't make things any easier for Lanier when the opposing defense can primarily focus on shutting him down without facing any repercussions. The Vols didn't have a backup plan to lean on when Lanier couldn't get going and needed more offensive weapons if they hoped to get over the hump.

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Sunday Elite Eight takeaways: Broome over everything

Experience ruled the day in the West Region, while youth was served in the East, with the Most Ou...

Experience ruled the day in the West Region, while youth was served in the East, with the Most Outstanding Players announced after the Elite Eight games Saturday.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/380" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/380">Florida</a>'s senior guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/96362" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/96362">Walter Clayton Jr.</a> earned the nod as top player in the West, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/329" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/329">Duke</a>'s star freshman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/162169" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/162169">Cooper Flagg</a> took home the award in the East.Clayton was at his best for the Gators in the clutch Saturday, nailing back-to-back triples in the game's final two minutes to deliver a comeback victory Texas Tech. The Iona transfer has averaged 22.5 points per game through the tournament and has connected on 45% of his 3-pointers.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Flagg has poured in 19.5 points per game in the tournament while stuffing the stat sheet overall. The 18-year-old phenom has pulled down 7.7 rebounds per contest, registered 5.2 assists, and supplied seven total blocks.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 29: Walter Clayton Jr. #1 of the Florida Gators cuts down the net after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 84-79 in the West Regional Elite Eight round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Chase Center on March 29, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

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Clayton, Flagg nab regional MOP honors

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Saturday's Elite Eight games and what...

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Saturday's Elite Eight games and what it all could mean moving forward.<h3>Walter Clayton, the closer</h3>Maybe Todd Golden was onto something with the Steph Curry comparisons for Walter Clayton Jr."From a college version, I think it's applicable to say he's similar to Steph," the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/380" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/380">Florida</a> coach told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6234113/2025/03/27/florida-gators-march-madness-walter-clayton-jr-steph-curry/">Lindsay Schnell of The Athletic</a> earlier in the tournament. "His off-balance shooting, his ability to get his shot off at different times, and just his confidence to let it fly from deep. I think those things are very similar to Steph."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Clayton quickly shot down those comparisons during the same press conference, but he'll have a tough time doing that after Saturday's outrageous performance versus Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. The All-American guard scored 13 of the Gators' last 20 points in the final 5:30 of the contest to power an epic comeback win.Clayton did his damage in various ways, but <a href="https://x.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1906140279565865373">back-to-back triples</a> in the final two minutes gave Florida a lead it wouldn't relinquish. It was similar to what the senior guard pulled off in the Round of 32 with eight points in the last three minutes versus UConn to oust the two-time defending champions.It's important to note that it wasn't just Clayton who helped pull off the unthinkable comeback, as Thomas Haugh deserves almost as much shine. The standout reserve had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and two clutch threes - both assisted by Clayton - down the stretch.However, it's clear everything runs through Clayton when the game is on the line for Florida. That scenario has to terrify the other Final Four participants next weekend.<h3>Duke shuts down Sears</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778002/cropped_GettyImages-2207571691.jpg?ts=1743306159" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778002/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207571691.jpg?ts=1743306159 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778002/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207571691.jpg?ts=1743306159 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778002/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207571691.jpg?ts=1743306159 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778002/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207571691.jpg?ts=1743306159 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778002/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207571691.jpg?ts=1743306159 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/329" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/329">Duke</a> and Alabama's showdown was the first Elite Eight matchup since 1989 in which both teams averaged at least 90 points per game in the NCAA Tournament. Each school cracked the century mark in the previous round, but there was bound to be some regression.Nobody was hit harder than Crimson Tide star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/93780" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/93780">Mark Sears</a>. Two nights after the sharpshooting guard erupted for 34 points against BYU, the Blue Devils held Sears to six points on 2-of-12 shooting, including a 1-of-5 clip from deep. It was his third-lowest scoring output of the season. Sears' first field goal of the contest came with 2:17 remaining in the first half.Jon Scheyer's squad had an outstanding defensive performance, especially after being torched by other high-scoring guards this season, including Caleb Love in the Sweet 16. Duke wasn't going under screens and allowing Sears to launch threes like BYU did. The Blue Devils' guards maximized their size advantage, played with physicality, and funneled Sears into the paint where the towering Khaman Maluach awaited.Sears couldn't capitalize on switches either, as Maluach or Cooper Flagg had the mobility and length to contain him. The Blue Devils gave Sears fits all evening, culminating in an offensive foul to cap a five-turnover showing.<h3>Kneuppel has his shining moment</h3>Flagg and Maluach aren't the only projected NBA lottery picks on Duke's roster. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/162168" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/162168">Kon Knueppel</a> will be off the board early, too, with his Elite Eight performance versus Alabama cementing his status as one of the top prospects in this year's draft class.Knueppel has brought his best basketball to the Big Dance. The 6-foot-7 wing posted his second straight 20-point outing, tallying a game-high 21 points, five boards, five assists, and three steals to lead the Blue Devils to their first Final Four under Scheyer. Knueppel and Flagg are the first pair of freshman teammates to each have a 20-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist game in the NCAA Tournament, according to <a href="https://x.com/JaredBerson/status/1906184052509474895">college basketball statistician Jared Berson</a>.Knueppel starred on both ends of the floor. The All-ACC second-team selection set the tone early, knocking down a pair of catch-and-shoot threes. He drove to the basket with force and often finished over his smaller defenders. Kneuppel's ability to get into the lane created opportunities to find cutters or get to the charity stripe. The Wisconsin native was also clinical in the two-man game with Maluach, throwing countless lobs out of the pick-and-roll for his 7-foot-2 center.Kneuppel's contributions went beyond the obvious categories in the box score. He hustled to save loose balls from going out of bounds, forced a tie-up on a Sears drive, frequently contested shots, and was always in the thick of the battle on the glass. Those intangibles will serve him well when he moves onto the next level later this year.<h3>Script flipped on Texas Tech</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777969/cropped_GettyImages-2206976308.jpg?ts=1743300245" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777969/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206976308.jpg?ts=1743300245 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777969/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206976308.jpg?ts=1743300245 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777969/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206976308.jpg?ts=1743300245 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777969/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206976308.jpg?ts=1743300245 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777969/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206976308.jpg?ts=1743300245 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brett Wilhelm / NCAA Photos / Getty</figcaption></figure>One day, you're pulling off one of the biggest Sweet 16 comebacks in history. Less than 48 hours later, you're getting your hearts ripped out after blowing a nine-point lead in the final four minutes of an Elite Eight game. It's safe to say it's been a roller coaster of emotions for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/1079" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/1079">Texas Tech</a> in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.The Red Raiders advanced to the Elite Eight in incredible fashion with a 16-3 run down the stretch in Thursday's game against Arkansas. On Saturday, the script flipped entirely. Florida did the hunting, ending the contest on an 18-4 run to complete the shocking comeback win.The lead was nine with three minutes to play. A Florida offensive rebound led to a triple. Two missed Texas Tech free throws during one-and-one opportunities handed the ball back to the Gators. They took full advantage with two more 3-pointers. That lead? Long gone.Darrion Williams, the Sweet 16 hero, briefly restored Texas Tech's lead, but Clayton's last three of the night put Florida up for good.Texas Tech played brilliantly for 35 of 40 minutes Saturday, taking a double-digit lead on a Florida team that has won 16 of its last 17 games. However, all it took was a missed assignment leading to an offensive rebound and two missed free throws to completely change the outcome of this all-time classic.

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Saturday's Elite Eight takeaways: Duke slows down Sears

The scoreboard operators are in for a busy shift in Saturday's late Elite Eight game, as the expl...

The scoreboard operators are in for a busy shift in Saturday's late Elite Eight game, as the explosive offensive units for Alabama and Duke take the court.That matchup highlights a blockbuster Elite Eight schedule over two days as the Final Four will be set by the end of the weekend.No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 1 Florida get things started Saturday before the Crimson Tide and Blue Devils take over. Sunday's action features No. 1 Houston versus No. 2 Tennessee followed by No. 1 Auburn against No. 2 Michigan State.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Elite Eight schedule (All times ET)</h3>Saturday, 6:09 p.m.: No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 1 Florida Saturday, 8:49 p.m.: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 Duke Sunday, 2:20 p.m.: No. 1 Houston vs. No. 2 Tennessee Sunday, 5:05 p.m.: No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Michigan State

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 21: Cooper Flagg #2 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts in the first half against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers during a first round game of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament at Lenovo Center on March 21, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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Explosive Alabama-Duke matchup highlights Elite Eight tip times

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Friday's biggest NCAA Tournament game...

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Friday's biggest NCAA Tournament games and what it all could mean moving forward.<h3>Houston wins on FUNdamental play</h3>There are few things basketball coaches love more than highlighting to youth teams across the country that the most dangerous person on an inbounds play is the one throwing the ball in. Friday's late game showed exactly why.Purdue battled back to tie things against <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/471" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/471">Houston</a> in the final minute, only for the Cougars to face an inbounds opportunity beside the Boilermakers basket with under three seconds to play. One team executed its fundamentals perfectly, and the other did not. We'll let you guess who's moving on to the Elite Eight and who's going home.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said his team worked on the play in Thursday's practice, and it went off without a hitch to provide Milos Uzan with the game-winner. The play featured multiple options, and it appears Braden Smith bit on the first one, as he opted to dart toward a Houston player running around a screen instead of staying on Uzan throwing the ball in. That decision proved to be the difference.It's fitting that the game came down to Uzan versus Smith, as those two turned in an incredible duel. Uzan hit a career-high six triples in the contest, helping the Cougars overcome L.J. Cryer's woeful shooting performance.Smith carried Purdue throughout the contest with elite point-guard play. He dished out 15 assists in the close loss, including a brilliant one on the game-tying triple with just over 30 seconds to play. According to <a href="https://x.com/JaredBerson/status/1905841579798958385">college basketball statistician Jared Berson</a>, Smith is the first player ever to have two career 15-assist games in the NCAA Tournament.<h3>Auburn roars back behind key trio</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775249/cropped_GettyImages-2205124360.jpg?ts=1741981753" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775249/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205124360.jpg?ts=1741981753 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775249/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205124360.jpg?ts=1741981753 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775249/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205124360.jpg?ts=1741981753 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775249/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205124360.jpg?ts=1741981753 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775249/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205124360.jpg?ts=1741981753 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>A lot of the talk entering Auburn and Michigan's Sweet 16 encounter had to do with the big men. How would <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/87250" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/87250">Johni Broome</a> fare against the Wolverines' 7-foot duo of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/104554" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/104554">Danny Wolf</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/88860" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/88860">Vlad Goldin</a>? The Wooden Award candidate looked anything but that a week ago against Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, mustering just eight points on 4-of-13 shooting. The Tigers couldn't afford another subpar showing from Broome, and their marquee player delivered with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.Broome had his finest performance of the Big Dance, posting 22 points and 16 boards in 30 minutes of action. The fifth-year forward joined Chuck Person and Charles Barkley as the only players in Auburn history to register at least 20 points and 15 boards in an NCAA Tournament game. Wolf and Goldin had their moments defending Broome, but he couldn't be contained. Broome was relentless on the offensive glass, had success driving into Goldin's body, and even hit a three off a jab step for good measure. With Michigan trailing 51-50 with under nine minutes to go, Broome's screen-setting set up <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/96188" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/96188">Denver Jones</a> for eight points over three consecutive possessions.Despite Broome's strong effort, the Tigers needed more firepower to counter Wolf's solid offensive performance. Enter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/162002" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/162002">Tahaad Pettiford</a>. The freshman guard came through with a 23-point showing off the bench in the previous round against Creighton, and he stepped up again when Broome went to the bench with 6:51 remaining after picking up his fourth foul. Pettiford immediately went on an 8-0 scoring run to end any chance of a Wolverines rally.Broome, Jones, and Pettiford each tallied at least 20 points, marking the first time in school history that three Auburn players cracked the mark in an NCAA Tournament contest. The trio combined for 62 points, which accounted for 79.5% of the Tigers' output.<h3>Izzo's moves get Michigan State off the mat</h3>Ole Miss versus <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/660" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/660">Michigan State</a> was far from the barn burner that opened Thursday's action between Alabama and BYU. The defensive battle initially suited the Rebels, as they flustered the Spartans' half-court offense. Chris Beard's squad took away the paint early and baited Michigan State into taking more threes than desired. Ole Miss' game plan worked to a degree, with its opponent misfiring on six of its first seven attempts from beyond the arc.But there's a reason Tom Izzo is one of the most respected coaches in the sport. The Hall of Famer went back to the drawing board at halftime and made the proper adjustments, as he's done repeatedly in his career. The Spartans came out of the locker room with a different approach, consistently driving the ball to the basket instead of settling for 3-pointers. Their aggressiveness paid off, and they got into the bonus with 7:52 remaining.Ole Miss couldn't be as physical with the fouls piling up, making it much easier for Michigan State to get to the basket. The Spartans got four layups and one dunk and went 13-of-14 from the charity stripe over the final 7:52 to erase an early 10-point deficit. The result marked Michigan State's eighth victory this season when trailing by 10 points or more, the most among major conference teams.<h3>Tennessee drags Kentucky down</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777812/cropped_GettyImages-2207412169.jpg?ts=1743214196" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777812/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207412169.jpg?ts=1743214196 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777812/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207412169.jpg?ts=1743214196 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777812/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207412169.jpg?ts=1743214196 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777812/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207412169.jpg?ts=1743214196 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777812/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207412169.jpg?ts=1743214196 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>You'll often hear in sports that one of the hardest things to accomplish is to beat the same team three times in one season. Kentucky showed why that idea remains popular in 2025 by failing miserably in its attempt to do just that versus <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/1063" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/1063">Tennessee</a>. While the Wildcats will walk away with a 2-1 record against their SEC foe this year, the Volunteers showed up when it mattered most and booked a second straight trip to the Elite Eight.The two teams technically play the same sport but approach basketball in a completely different manner. Tennessee wants to turn the game into a rock fight, while Kentucky wants to run early and often. The Volunteers rank 346th of 364 Division I teams in tempo, while the Wildcats sit 26th. It's safe to say Rick Barnes' outfit won that style battle Friday, with Kentucky's 62 possessions well below the season average of 74 per contest.The story from the opening two games between the squads was 3-point shooting, with Kentucky red-hot to make a combined 24-for-48 from deep. The stout Tennessee defense wasn't having that again, swarming the 3-point line to hold the Wildcats to 6-of-15. Kentucky scored 33% of its points on the season from beyond the perimeter, but 18 wasn't going to get it done against the Vols.Tennessee isn't a stranger to the Elite Eight, with Thursday's win booking a second straight trip to the regional final. However, the program has never made a Final Four. That could change Sunday when it takes on Houston.

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Friday Sweet 16 takeaways: Inbounds perfection for Houston

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Thursday's biggest NCAA Tournament ga...

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Thursday's biggest NCAA Tournament games and what it all could mean moving forward.<h3>Sears leads Bama's 3-point onslaught</h3><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/41" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/41">Alabama</a> has prided itself on its high-volume 3-point shooting during Nate Oats' tenure. The Crimson Tide entered Thursday's Sweet 16 clash against BYU ranked 14th in triples attempted (29.2 per contest) and 21st in threes made (10.2). They stayed true to that identity versus the Cougars.Oats' squad drained an NCAA Tournament-record 25 threes, surpassing the previous single-game mark of 21 set by Loyola Marymount in 1990. The Crimson Tide accomplished the feat with eight minutes remaining on an efficient 49% clip. Their combined output from downtown and the charity stripe (18 free throws) eclipsed BYU's overall point total.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Sears led the historic 3-point barrage with 10 makes from distance, finishing just one short of the individual all-time tournament record. He's the first player with eight threes and eight assists in the same NCAA Tournament contest, according to <a href="https://x.com/jeffborzello/status/1905429794872758616">ESPN Stats &amp; Info</a>. Second-year guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/110664" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/110664">Aden Holloway</a> was just as vital to Alabama's victory, knocking down six triples of his own, including a pair of second-half threes to restore the Crimson Tide's lead to double digits. Sears and Holloway are the first pair of teammates to make six 3-pointers apiece in the same NCAA Tournament game, according to <a href="https://x.com/MattNorlander/status/1905426269036044764">CBS Sports</a>.<h3>Flagg shows off complete package</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777669/cropped_GettyImages-2207275572.jpg?ts=1743135860" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777669/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207275572.jpg?ts=1743135860 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777669/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207275572.jpg?ts=1743135860 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777669/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207275572.jpg?ts=1743135860 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777669/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207275572.jpg?ts=1743135860 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777669/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207275572.jpg?ts=1743135860 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>With just over a minute left in the first half, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/162169" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/162169">Cooper Flagg</a> attacked <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/87651" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/87651">Trey Townsend</a> off the bounce and hit a step-back jumper to give him his 14th and 15th points of the evening. The seemingly ordinary sequence encapsulated why NBA teams are tanking games. Flagg's ability to stop on a dime, remain balanced, and calmly drain a basket while creating distance from the fifth-year forward is a lot harder than it looks. It was easy work for the presumptive No. 1 pick, who then hit Townsend with a "<a href="https://x.com/CBSSports/status/1905455137541218599">they can't guard me</a>" look.Flagg has been by far the best player in the country and will likely join Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson as the only freshmen ever to win the Wooden Award. The 18-year-old is only scratching the surface yet could step into an NBA lineup tomorrow with all the weapons already at his disposal.Flagg shined in the biggest game of his young career, tallying 30 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and three blocks. The Duke forward is the first player to register at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in an NCAA Tournament game since Dwyane Wade in the 2003 Elite Eight against Kentucky, according to <a href="https://x.com/MattNorlander/status/1905472817686081761">CBS Sports' Matt Norlander</a>.As Flagg alluded to, the Wildcats couldn't stop him. The Blue Devils phenom finished with his off-hand in the paint, made timely cuts to expose holes in the defense, and drove aggressively to the basket. When Arizona tried to force the ball out of Flagg's hands, he went into playmaker mode and consistently found big man <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/players/162172" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/players/162172">Khaman Maluach</a> on lobs. Flagg was more than willing to do the dirty work, too, going after rebounds on his own missed shots and hustling back for a block after missing at the rim on the other end.Flagg's the type of game-changing prospect who can win a team a national championship and also one a club can build an NBA roster around.<h3>Texas Tech's comeback hero</h3>Nobody told Darrion Williams that the Arkansas game story praising John Calipari on his 13th trip to the Elite Eight had already been written. The junior forward will never have to buy a drink in Lubbock again after his late-game heroics versus the Razorbacks. The <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/1079" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/1079">Texas Tech</a> standout first forced overtime in the dying second of regulation, before ending things with a clutch bank shot in the extra frame.While Williams was undoubtedly the star, a whole lot had to happen in the final 5:00 just to give him the chance to shine. The Red Raiders trailed 69-56 at that moment and went to overtime tied at 72. We'll save you the math: that's a 16-3 run to close regulation - with all 16 points provided by Williams and Christian Anderson. In fact, that duo and JT Toppin combined for 62 points in the win - the first trio of teammates to all score at least 20 points in a second-weekend game since 2010, according to <a href="https://x.com/JaredBerson/status/1905482796056928626">college basketball statistician Jared Berson</a>.There will be plenty of talk about how Arkansas blew things down the stretch, but the offensive execution by the Red Raiders deserves plenty of attention. <h3>Full Arkansas experience on display</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777677/cropped_GettyImages-2207282089.jpg?ts=1743139785" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777677/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207282089.jpg?ts=1743139785 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777677/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207282089.jpg?ts=1743139785 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777677/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207282089.jpg?ts=1743139785 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777677/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207282089.jpg?ts=1743139785 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777677/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207282089.jpg?ts=1743139785 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>We've spent the whole season trying to figure out <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/71" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/71">Arkansas</a>, so why would the Sweet 16 provide any clarity on the Razorbacks? John Calipari's outfit both dazzled and baffled this season - from an 11-2 start to losing five straight games to start SEC play. Somehow, Thursday's loss was a perfect encapsulation of their season-long resume.The Razorbacks flashed their immense talent in the opening half, with Karter Knox, Johnell Davis, and DJ Wagner all providing moments of brilliance at both ends. The team made 6-of-10 triples in the half - a remarkable number after hitting only two in the entire game versus St. John's on Saturday. Calipari entered the game with a perfect 35-0 record in NCAA Tournament play when leading by at least six points at half. Unfortunately, regression hit like a Mike Tyson right hand in the second half, with only 2-of-10 3-pointers dropping as the offense stagnated.That paved the way for the Texas Tech comeback and will force writers everywhere to mass delete all the words of praise headed Calipari's way for getting his team to peak in the tournament. Instead, we are left with just as many questions about this Razorbacks team as we've had all season.<h3>Florida's toughest foe is ... Florida</h3>No. 1 <a href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/380">Florida</a> entered the 2025 NCAA Tournament as one of the most popular picks to win the national championship. Through three games of the Gators' tournament run, it's pretty clear the team that has the best chance of beating them is ... the Gators, themselves.Florida's nervous moments against UConn and now Maryland have come as a result of sloppy offensive play. However, when the SEC Tournament champs button up their ball-handling, it's damn near impossible to beat them - as the second half versus the Terrapins showed Thursday.The first half looked eerily similar to Sunday's nail-biter against the Huskies in which the Gators committed nine turnovers before heading to the locker room. On Thursday, they turned the ball over a whopping 13 times in 20 minutes - their most in a half this season. Clearly the team has suffered from a bad case of nerves to start the last two games, considering it averages only 10 turnovers per game on the year. However, the Gators have shown their championship mentality in both second halves.They turned the ball over just three times in the second half against UConn and handed it to Maryland only four times. A more careful approach on offense led the Gators to pull away late in the Round of 32 and run wild against the Terrapins. Florida outscored its opponent 47-33 over the final 20 minutes Thursday with a 21-10 rebounding edge playing a large role.Todd Golden now has one job to deliver on over the next 48 hours before tip-off in the Elite Eight: solving the Gators' first-half turnover issues. If he can do that, it's tough to see anybody taking this Florida team out before the national title game.

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Sweet 16 takeaways: Alabama on fire, Texas Tech brings drama

Every year on Selection Sunday, the bracket is announced, Gonzaga's name appears, and college bas...

Every year on Selection Sunday, the bracket is announced, Gonzaga's name appears, and college basketball fans of a certain age recite the iconic Gus Johnson call aloud:<a href="https://youtu.be/DdXeWvucvH8?feature=shared&amp;t=17">"Gonzaga, the slipper still fits!"</a>Those of us born in the 1980s will never forget Gonzaga's incredible Cinderella run to the Elite Eight in the 1999 NCAA Tournament. It seems unfathomable given the powerhouse the Bulldogs have become, but they actually entered that year's March Madness with zero all-time wins in the NCAA tourney.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Over the past 25 years, March Madness has been full of Cinderellas that capture national attention with shocking runs. In recent years, we've seen multiple 16-over-1 upsets, three different 11-seeds in the Final Four, and a Florida Atlantic team that had never previously won an NCAA Tournament game come within a buzzer-beater of playing for the national title.And then along came 2025. Chalk one up - finally - for Lady Tremaine and the evil stepsisters. The clock didn't just strike early for Cinderella; she never even made it through the ballroom door.For the first time since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1975, every Sweet 16 school is from the major conferences. Seven of the participants are from the mighty SEC, with the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC making up the rest of the field.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776648/cropped_GettyImages-2206407832.jpg?ts=1742673435" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776648/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206407832.jpg?ts=1742673435 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776648/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206407832.jpg?ts=1742673435 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776648/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206407832.jpg?ts=1742673435 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776648/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206407832.jpg?ts=1742673435 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776648/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206407832.jpg?ts=1742673435 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Emilee Chinn / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>With no Cinderella to root for, the NCAA Tournament is a huge disappointment, right? Some pundits clearly feel this way - notably ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who said that a lack of underdog success <a href="https://x.com/FirstTake/status/1904196992315847167">"will be the death of college basketball."</a>However, the NCAA Tournament is not a four-day event.Yes, the first week was missing some sizzle due to a lack of upsets, but it's produced a Sweet 16 full of absolute bangers. Arkansas is the only remaining team sitting outside of <a href="https://kenpom.com/index.php">KenPom</a>'s top 25, and the Razorbacks are about as healthy as they have been in months with the returns of Boogie Fland and Adou Thiero to the lineup.The opening matchup of the next round has the potential to blow up the scoreboard as two of the nation's best offensive units square off in Alabama and BYU. Thursday's other early game matches up an electric Florida team against Derik Queen and Maryland in another potentially explosive showdown. Could we see another <a href="https://x.com/SportsCenter/status/1903981264828342688">buzzer-beater finish</a>?The last time Caleb Love faced Duke in an NCAA Tournament game, he dropped 28 points to help North Carolina end Mike Krzyzewski's legendary career with a loss. That forever ingratiated him with Tar Heels fans, and now he'll look to plunge one final dagger into Duke, this time with Arizona.In Thursday's final game, "underdog" Arkansas takes on a Texas Tech team that attempted 46 triples in the first round, then completely changed its approach and scored 50 points in the paint in the second round.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775657/cropped_GettyImages-2205134510.jpg?ts=1742219415" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775657/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205134510.jpg?ts=1742219415 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775657/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205134510.jpg?ts=1742219415 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775657/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205134510.jpg?ts=1742219415 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775657/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205134510.jpg?ts=1742219415 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775657/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205134510.jpg?ts=1742219415 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Friday's menu is equally tasty, with Tom Izzo looking for his 11th Elite Eight appearance at Michigan State. The opponent: an Ole Miss team that just dropped 91 points on Iowa State's stout defense. An all-SEC matchup is the other early game, as Kentucky looks to beat Tennessee for the third time this season. The Wildcats feature a unique roster - and zero returning point production from last season's team.The late slate opens with Michigan and its outrageous 13-4 record in games decided by four points or less against top overall seed Auburn. Tigers star Johni Broome will likely win multiple player of the year awards, but he struggled to a 4-for-13 performance last round. Now he faces the twin towers of Michigan in Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf.The final game of the Sweet 16 might be the most raucous, with No. 1 Houston traveling to enemy territory to face last year's national runner-up Purdue. The game will be played in Indianapolis, just 70 miles from the Boilermakers' campus.One potentially negative consequence of a Cinderella making it through the first two rounds is a blowout in the Sweet 16. Last year, defending champion UConn hammered San Diego State by 30. In 2021, four of the Sweet 16 games saw a team seeded No. 4 or worse lose by double digits. Of course, there's no guarantee that won't happen this year, but evenly matched teams throughout the bracket make it less likely.Is 2025 the new normal, or a one-year outlier that comes at the end of the extra year of COVID eligibility? The transfer portal and NIL money are the biggest reasons for the dilution of mid-major rosters, but the portal has been around for a number of years. The school revenue sharing that comes in next year could go some way toward leveling the playing field for colleges that don't have to finance a big-name football program. However, it's probably safe to assume NCAA basketball will heavily favor the major programs for years to come.That's not a bad thing. In fact, it's something we should look forward to. Upsets will mean more than ever, and a Cinderella run will carry added significance given the increased degree of difficulty. If the underdogs take another year off, fans will be left with blockbuster Sweet 16 matchups to keep them satisfied.And don't just take our word for it: TV ratings for this year's men's NCAA Tournament are <a href="https://x.com/MM_MBB_TV/status/1904553940340859272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1904553940340859272%7Ctwgr%5E2a00ff84ebaf5b1d21aacad757182f5f30b1fb48%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fcollege-basketball%2Farticle%2Fmarch-madness-draws-highest-viewership-numbers-since-1993-in-tournaments-first-weekend-160512203.html">the highest they've been since 1993</a>. The public sure doesn't seem to think college basketball is dying.

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Blockbuster Sweet 16 the reward for Cinderella-less tourney

The race for the national championship has been whittled down from 364 teams to just 16 as we hea...

The race for the national championship has been whittled down from 364 teams to just 16 as we head into the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.While this year's event lacked Cinderella upsets in the opening two rounds, the reward is a loaded Sweet 16 with all teams hailing from major conferences.Here's how we rank the remaining 16 squads heading into Thursday's action.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>1. Duke</h3>Results: 93-49 vs. No. 16 Mount St. Mary's, 89-66 vs. No. 9 Baylor Average winning margin: 34.5 pointsDuke crushed Mount St. Mary's and Baylor thus far, winning by an average of 34.5 points. The story through the opening weekend is undoubtedly Tyrese Proctor, with the junior guard fully on NBA Jam mode through two games. According to <a href="https://x.com/JaredBerson/status/1903919148104577497">college basketball statistician Jared Berson</a>, Proctor became the first player in NCAA Tournament history to make at least six 3-pointers on at least 75% 3-point shooting in consecutive games.<h3>2. Houston</h3>Results: 78-40 vs. No. 16 SIU Edwardsville, 81-76 vs. No. 8 Gonzaga Average winning margin: 21.5 pointsHouston rolled in the opening round before ending Gonzaga's consecutive Sweet 16 streak at nine Saturday. We've known Kelvin Sampson's team gets after you defensively, but it's the offense - most notably L.J. Cryer - that carried the Cougars past the Bulldogs. Expect a hostile atmosphere in the Sweet 16 with Purdue's campus just 70 miles from Indianapolis.<h3>3. Auburn</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775656/cropped_GettyImages-2204188911.jpg?ts=1742219382" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775656/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204188911.jpg?ts=1742219382 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775656/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204188911.jpg?ts=1742219382 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775656/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204188911.jpg?ts=1742219382 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775656/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204188911.jpg?ts=1742219382 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775656/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204188911.jpg?ts=1742219382 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Stew Milne / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Results: 83-63 vs. No. 16 Alabama State, 82-70 vs. No. 9 Creighton Average winning margin: 16 pointsAuburn has somehow posted an average winning margin of 16 points through two rounds despite looking largely pedestrian. Star forward Johni Broome struggled versus Creighton 7-foot-1 center Ryan Kalkbrenner, making only 4-of-13 shots, but the team's depth carried the day. The challenge remains tall - literally - in the next round as Michigan boasts a pair of 7-footers in Vlad Goldin and Danny Wolf.<h3>4. Florida</h3>Results: 95-69 vs. No. 16 Norfolk State, 77-75 vs. No. 8 UConn Average winning margin: 14 pointsWalter Clayton Jr. lifted Florida past UConn with some clutch shotmaking in the final minutes to eliminate the two-time defending champions. That came on the heels of a dominant offensive performance in the opening round. When Florida is in full flight, there's no better team to watch in the sport. However, the Huskies showed you can muck it up with the Gators and keep things close as a result. That's probably the blueprint Maryland will attempt to follow in the Sweet 16.<h3>5. Tennessee</h3>Results: 77-62 vs. No. 15 Wofford, 67-58 vs. No. 7 UCLA Average winning margin: 12 pointsPerhaps the biggest compliment we can give Tennessee through two rounds is that you really haven't had to watch any of the team's games. The Volunteers have handled their business with ease from the jump, holding halftime leads of nine and seven points. Tennessee's defense is undoubtedly championship-worthy, but the 11-for-22 shooting performance from deep versus UCLA shows the offense might also be up to the task. The next challenge will be a chance at redemption with a third meeting of the season against Kentucky.<h3>6. Michigan State </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775694/cropped_GettyImages-2205077133.jpg?ts=1742234467" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775694/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205077133.jpg?ts=1742234467 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775694/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205077133.jpg?ts=1742234467 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775694/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205077133.jpg?ts=1742234467 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775694/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205077133.jpg?ts=1742234467 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/775694/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205077133.jpg?ts=1742234467 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Results: 87-62 vs. No. 15 Bryant, 71-63 vs. No. 10 New Mexico Average scoring margin: 16.5 pointsTom Izzo's tough mentality was on full display Sunday versus New Mexico with Michigan State getting to the foul line a whopping 28 times. The 19 points scored there ended up being the difference as the Lobos added just five from the free-throw line in the loss. <a href="https://kenpom.com/index.php?s=RankAdjDE">KenPom</a>'s fifth-ranked defense now faces the task of slowing down an Ole Miss team that just hung 91 points on Iowa State.<h3>7. Kentucky</h3>Results: 76-57 vs. No. 14 Troy, 84-75 vs. No. 6 Illinois Average winning margin: 14 pointsGone are the days of stressful early rounds for Kentucky under John Calipari, with the Wildcats cruising to the Sweet 16 in the first season under Mark Pope. Kentucky's veteran-laden roster has shone defensively - including in an eye-opening 14-steal performance versus Illinois. The Wildcats now look to beat Tennessee for the third time this season and make the program's first Elite Eight since 2019.<h3>8. Alabama</h3>Results: 90-81 vs. No. 15 Robert Morris, 80-66 vs. No. 7 Saint Mary's Average winning margin: 11.5 pointsAlabama without Grant Nelson actually trailed with 7 minutes to play in the opening round against Robert Morris. The Crimson Tide with the star forward erased that deficit, won by nine, then completely outclassed Saint Mary's on the weekend. If Nelson is healthy enough to play serious minutes, the Tide could push to the Final Four. If he isn't, BYU could pull the upset Thursday.<h3>9. Michigan</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769130/cropped_GettyImages-2197290925.jpg?ts=1738807903" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769130/w220xh124_GettyImages-2197290925.jpg?ts=1738807903 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769130/w320xh180_GettyImages-2197290925.jpg?ts=1738807903 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769130/w640xh360_GettyImages-2197290925.jpg?ts=1738807903 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769130/w768xh432_GettyImages-2197290925.jpg?ts=1738807903 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769130/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2197290925.jpg?ts=1738807903 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Nic Antaya / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Results: 68-65 vs. No. 12 UC San Diego, 91-79 vs. No. 4 Texas A&amp;M Average winning margin: 7.5 pointsOf course Michigan won a close game in the opening round. The three-point triumph over No. 12 UC San Diego was the program's 13th victory by four or fewer points this season - the second team since World War II to hit that mark in one campaign. However, it's the double-digit Round of 32 win over No. 4 Texas A&amp;M that has the Wolverines dreaming about a Sweet 16 upset of top-ranked Auburn.<h3>10. Purdue</h3>Results: 75-63 vs. No. 13 High Point, 76-62 vs. No. 12 McNeese State Average winning margin: 13 pointsPurdue has looked comfortable with two double-digit wins while also facing the easiest path to the Sweet 16 of any team in the bracket. Thanks to McNeese State's upset of No. 5 Clemson in the Round of 64, the Boilermakers have yet to face a top-11 seed. However, things are about to quickly get real for Purdue with No. 1 Houston next on the slate. One bonus for the Big Ten program is the game will be just down the road from Purdue's West Lafayette, Indiana, campus.<h3>11. Ole Miss</h3>Results: 71-64 vs. No. 11 North Carolina, 91-78 vs. No. 3 Iowa State Average winning margin: 10 pointsFrom a basketball history perspective, Ole Miss might be the most surprising team in this year's Sweet 16. It had been 24 years since the Rebels made it past the first weekend, and they did so this year with a shocking rout of No. 3 Iowa State. Ole Miss blew the doors off the Cyclones with an outrageous 11-for-19 performance from beyond the arc, but that will be near-impossible to replicate in the Sweet 16 against Michigan State. The Spartans lead the country in 3-point defense, allowing just 27% shooting on the season.<h3>12. Arkansas</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776284/cropped_GettyImages-2202497014.jpg?ts=1742514787" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776284/w220xh124_GettyImages-2202497014.jpg?ts=1742514787 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776284/w320xh180_GettyImages-2202497014.jpg?ts=1742514787 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776284/w640xh360_GettyImages-2202497014.jpg?ts=1742514787 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776284/w768xh432_GettyImages-2202497014.jpg?ts=1742514787 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776284/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2202497014.jpg?ts=1742514787 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Results: 79-72 vs. No. 7 Kansas, 75-66 vs. No. 2 St. John's Average winning margin: 8 pointsArkansas is the worst team remaining in the tournament in KenPom's efficiency rankings, but its resume so far moves it up the list. No team has faced a tougher path than John Calipari's program, and it has passed with flying colors. The Razorbacks have defeated two Hall of Fame coaches in Bill Self and Rick Pitino by taking the games over down the stretch. Boogie Fland's return has brought stability to a team with plenty of scoring firepower.<h3>13. Arizona</h3>Results: 93-65 vs. No. 13 Akron, 87-83 vs. No. 5 Oregon Average winning margin: 16 pointsArizona's fans likely didn't love the roller-coaster ride against Oregon. The Wildcats fell way behind in the opening half, roared back to take a lead in the second, then nearly blew that advantage in the dying seconds. However, they held on for the win to give Caleb Love one last matchup with Duke in his illustrious career.<h3>14. Texas Tech</h3>Results: 82-72 vs. No. 14 UNC Wilmington, 77-64 vs. No. 11 Drake Average winning margin: 11.5 pointsThe versatility of Texas Tech has been a treat this tournament, with the Red Raiders getting the job done in very different ways. Texas Tech attempted a school-record 46 3-pointers while beating UNC Wilmington in the opening round. The second-round win over Drake was completely different with 50 points in the paint leading the way. If we had to knock Texas Tech's resume, it would be the Red Raiders' lack of quality opponents; the Sweet 16 contest with Arkansas will be its third consecutive tournament game against a double-digit seed.<h3>15. Maryland</h3>Results: 81-49 vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon, 72-71 vs. No. 12 Colorado State Averaging winning margin: 16.5 pointsMaryland looked incredible in the opening round but needed an electric Derik Queen buzzer-beater to get past No. 12 Colorado State. That doesn't bode particularly well with mighty Florida on deck. The Terrapins feature as much top-end talent as almost anybody left in the bracket, but they have yet to face anything remotely close to a contender in this tournament.<h3>16. BYU</h3>Results: 80-71 vs. No. 11 VCU, 91-89 vs. No. 3 Wisconsin Average winning margin: 5.5 pointsAlthough the Cougars fall last in these rankings, it's important to remember this is the list of college basketball's elite this season. BYU's offense can hang with any team in the country, and it was firing on all cylinders in the Round of 32. The Cougars nearly put up a 50-40-90 game versus Wisconsin, hitting 49% from the field, 46% from deep, and 94% from the line. Few teams can keep up with that level of talent, although Sweet 16 opponent Alabama is certainly one.

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Ranking the Sweet 16

The tip times have officially been set for the Sweet 16, with games on Thursday and Friday night ...

The tip times have officially been set for the Sweet 16, with games on Thursday and Friday night across the four regions of the NCAA Tournament.The round gets started Thursday at 7:09 p.m. ET when No. 6 BYU faces off against No. 2 Alabama in what should be a high-scoring affair. The night wraps with John Calipari in his 16th Sweet 16 but first sends Arkansas to battle with No. 3 Texas Tech.<h3>Thursday (all times ET)</h3>7:09 p.m.: No. 6 BYU vs. No. 2 Alabama 7:39 p.m.: No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 1 Florida 9:39 p.m.: No. 5 Oregon/No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 1 Duke 10:09 p.m.: No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 3 Texas Tech<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Friday's slate features four SEC teams, including an in-conference matchup between No. 3 Kentucky and No. 2 Tennessee at 7:39 p.m. ET. In the final matchup of the Sweet 16, No. 1 Houston will head to hostile territory to take on No. 4 Purdue in Indianapolis, less than 80 miles from the Boilermakers' campus.<h3>Friday (all times ET)</h3>7:09 p.m.: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 2 Michigan State 7:39 p.m.: No. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 2 Tennessee 9:39 p.m.: No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 1 Auburn 10:09 p.m.: No. 4 Purdue vs. No. 1 Houston

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 11: Zakai Zeigler #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on February 11, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky.

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Tip times set for Sweet 16

The SEC can add another record to its haul from the 2025 NCAA Tournament, as it will have seven t...

The SEC can add another record to its haul from the 2025 NCAA Tournament, as it will have seven teams in the Sweet 16, the most ever sent to that stage of the competition by any conference.No. 6 <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/680" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/680">Ole Miss</a>' upset of No. 3 Iowa State ensured the conference will hold the new mark after it tied the ACC's mark of six, set in 2016, earlier Sunday.The Rebels joined No. 1 Florida, No. 1 Auburn, No. 2 Alabama, No. 2 Tennessee, No. 3 Kentucky, and No. 10 Arkansas in making it through the first weekend, and they did so in style with a 13-point blowout of the Cyclones.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>While the achievement is impressive, it's worth noting that the conference had a record 14 teams in the field this year. When the ACC sent six members to the Sweet 16 nine years ago, it only had seven teams in the entire tournament field.The SEC could dominate the next few rounds as well, since the only Sweet 16 matchup featuring two of its members is Kentucky versus Tennessee. The possibility for an all-SEC Final Four is also alive with the seven schools spread out across all four regions.With one conference making up almost half the Sweet 16, there is a serious lack of Cinderella programs bringing the underdog angle to the tournament's second weekend. No. 10 Arkansas is the lowest seed still standing, marking the first time since 2007 that there is no 11-seed or lower in the regional semifinals.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 23: Jaemyn Brakefield #4 and Jaylen Murray #5 of the Ole Miss Rebels react during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Fiserv Forum on March 23, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Ole Miss gives SEC record-breaking 7th Sweet 16 team

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Sunday's biggest NCAA Tournament game...

theScore runs down the top storylines and developments from Sunday's biggest NCAA Tournament games and what it all could mean moving forward.<h3>Maryland's buzzer-beater luck finally changes</h3>The buzzer-beater hasn't been kind to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/627" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/627">Maryland</a> this year - three of the Terrapins' last four losses came with less than 0.5 seconds to play. But the tables turned Sunday against No. 12 Colorado State.It looked like a similar heartbreak was on the way after Jalen Lake canned a deep triple to give the Rams a one-point lead with just under four seconds to play. Then freshman star Derik Queen entered the huddle during the timeout, told coach Kevin Willard to "<a href="https://x.com/CBSSports/status/1903980542271672444">give me the MF ball</a>," and hit a <a href="https://x.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1903979563350126664">ridiculous runner</a> to send the Terrapins to the Sweet 16.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Queen's winner didn't just send Maryland to the next round - it also injected some much-needed drama into a tournament that's lacked excitement in the opening week. It also sets up a massive test for the Terrapins in the next round with No. 1 Florida on deck.Colorado State looked to be the worst seed headed to the Sweet 16 after Lake's late triple. However, Queen's heroics mean that No. 10 Arkansas is the only double-digit seed advancing past the opening weekend.<h3>Clayton is a bad man</h3>Early in the broadcast of the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/380" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/380">Florida</a>-<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/280" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/280">UConn</a> Round of 32 matchup, CBS Sports' Ian Eagle identified Walter Clayton Jr. as an example of knowing when a player at the collegiate level is destined for the pros. That proved prophetic down the stretch, as the All-American came up large to flip a narrow deficit into a victory for the top-ranked Gators.Florida spent virtually the entire contest bogged down by the Huskies' tenacious defense, trailing for the entire second half with under three minutes to play. Clayton took it upon himself to fix that issue, canning a clutch contested triple to finally give the Gators the lead with 2:54 left. Clayton then hit two free throws with 1:50 remaining to stretch the lead to three and then supplied the dagger with another triple to put the contest out of reach.The Gators will certainly walk away Sunday thrilled with the victory but fully aware they need to greatly improve if they hope to make a deep run. The offense was far too sloppy, turning the ball over 12 times, and the team shot just 65% from the free-throw line - well below its season average of 72%.<h3>Plenty of honor in UConn's loss</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776796/cropped_GettyImages-2206537167.jpg?ts=1742758613" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776796/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206537167.jpg?ts=1742758613 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776796/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206537167.jpg?ts=1742758613 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776796/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206537167.jpg?ts=1742758613 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776796/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206537167.jpg?ts=1742758613 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776796/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206537167.jpg?ts=1742758613 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Dan Hurley nailed it in the postgame availability when he told CBS Sports that "there's an honor" in how UConn lost to Florida. Yes, the Huskies' bid for a three-peat is now over, as is the 13-game tournament winning streak, but the effort they showed Sunday was a reminder of just how special the culture is in Storrs under Hurley.UConn entered the contest as a 9.5-point underdog and outmatched by Florida's overwhelming talent at almost every position. Effort and toughness proved to be the great equalizer, as Hurley clearly directed the team to run down the clock on offense and muck the game up when possible. "I don't know that we could have managed the game better than we did. We dragged them into the type of game that we wanted to drag them into," Hurley admitted after, <a href="https://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=206188">according to ASAP Sports</a>. "We kind of dragged them into a Big East, low-possession game. It just did not resemble an SEC game. "That led to the Huskies holding a lead for the first 17 minutes of the second half despite shooting just 27.6% from deep.The latter stretches of the game weren't even a result of poor play by the Huskies, as Clayton simply seemed determined to take over regardless of some very stout defense. You may see some dunking on Hurley for the Round of 32 exit after he famously called himself "the best coach in the f---ing sport" earlier this year. However, if that's your first inclination after watching what transpired Sunday, you simply do not know ball.<h3>Nobody touching Duke through 2 rounds</h3>We've seen enough to call the 2025 NCAA Tournament in favor of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/329" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/329">Duke</a>.The Blue Devils have been the best team through two rounds of play, with an offensive masterclass on Sunday versus Baylor clinching their spot in the Sweet 16. With the 23-point triumph over the Bears, Duke is now winning by an average margin of 33.5 points in this year's tournament.Perhaps the entire world would have picked the Blue Devils to win the tournament if we knew Tyrese Proctor would turn into Steph Curry before it started. The junior torched the nets for a career-high 25 points on 7-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc versus Baylor. That came on the heels of his brilliant 6-of-8 showing from deep in the first round to put his tournament total at an eye-popping 13-for-16.According to <a href="https://x.com/JaredBerson/status/1903919148104577497">college basketball statistician Jared Berson</a>, Proctor is the first player in NCAA Tournament history to make at least six triples in back-to-back games while shooting at least 75% from deep in both. <a href="https://x.com/JaredBerson/status/1903919952421064850">Berson also notes</a> that Duke's 1.50 points per possession versus Baylor represents the best by any team in a tournament game since the 2016 Final Four.<h3>Kentucky refresh headed to Sweet 16</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776866/cropped_GettyImages-2206576635.jpg?ts=1742775361" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776866/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206576635.jpg?ts=1742775361 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776866/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206576635.jpg?ts=1742775361 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776866/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206576635.jpg?ts=1742775361 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776866/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206576635.jpg?ts=1742775361 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776866/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206576635.jpg?ts=1742775361 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>John Calipari was certainly the most notable departure from <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/531" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/531">Kentucky</a> in the offseason, but he was far from the only person leaving Lexington. Most of the roster also hit the exits, forcing the Wildcats into a complete overhaul. Impressively, Mark Pope rebuilt the team on the fly and took Kentucky to its first Sweet 16 since 2019. <a href="https://x.com/MattNorlander/status/1903955907857277038">According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports</a>, Kentucky is the first team in the last 20 years to make the Sweet 16 with zero returning points from the season prior.Koby Brea - who transferred in from Dayton - led the way Sunday against Illinois with 23 points. Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh added 15 while former San Diego State guard Lamont Butler poured in 14 and Amari Williams - who left Drexel for Kentucky - poured in 14. Next is a third meeting with No. 2 Tennessee, with Kentucky having already won both previous contests. It's nearly impossible to beat a quality team three times in one season but, if anyone can do it, it's the new-look Wildcats.<h3>Alabama hare crushes the tortoise </h3>The children's tale might have the tortoise beating the hare, but speed kills in the NCAA Tournament.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/41" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/41">Alabama</a> - the nation's fastest tempo team - played the role of hare and ran the country's fourth-slowest team, Saint Mary's, out of the gym to make the Sweet 16. The Crimson Tide's 80 points mark the first time the Gaels have given up that many in the last 105 games. Simply put, Saint Mary's doesn't have the speed to keep up with explosive teams like Alabama.The Tide flexed their impressive depth, as six players scored at least 10 points in the victory. Nate Oats' program also out-rebounded the nation's top rebounding team, which served as an annual reminder to think about Saint Mary's statistics in the context of the competition it faces.The next round will feel like a different league for Alabama with BYU on deck. The Cougars sport the nation's eighth-best offensive unit but rank outside the top 70 defensively. That likely means a Sweet 16 track meet is incoming - a scenario that has to make the Tide feel pretty good about their chances.<h3>Ole Miss gives SEC new Sweet 16 record</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776907/cropped_GettyImages-2206108471.jpg?ts=1742785839" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776907/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206108471.jpg?ts=1742785839 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776907/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206108471.jpg?ts=1742785839 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776907/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206108471.jpg?ts=1742785839 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776907/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206108471.jpg?ts=1742785839 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776907/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206108471.jpg?ts=1742785839 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Jack Dempsey / NCAA Photos / Getty</figcaption></figure>There's no question this NCAA Tournament is an SEC party. After the Big Ten and Big 12 started March Madness 10-0 and 9-1, respectively, the SEC came roaring back with a dominant weekend. With No. 6 <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/680" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/680">Ole Miss</a> taking down No. 3 Iowa State on Sunday night, the conference set the new NCAA Tournament record with a seventh team in the Sweet 16.Many questioned why the Rebels were a 6-seed after finishing just 10-8 in SEC play this season. It turns out that playing in possibly the toughest conference of all time is difficult and wins are hard to come by. Ole Miss didn't just beat the Cyclones - it dominated from the jump and actually led by 25 points with six minutes to play.The Ole Miss win means it's now a battle between the SEC and Michigan in the Sweet 16 in the South Region. No. 1 Auburn will square off with the fifth-ranked Wolverines, while the Rebels will face No. 2 Michigan State.<h3>Nothing foul about Izzo's 16th Sweet 16 trip</h3>The performance certainly won't win any awards for style, but Tom Izzo will once again take up real estate in a familiar place with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/660" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/660">Michigan State</a>. With the second-ranked Spartans' comeback win over No. 10 New Mexico on Sunday, Izzo is off to his 16th Sweet 16 to tie John Calipari for most among active coaches.It wasn't pretty - not exactly a shock in the Izzo era - but the Spartans knew the Lobos' aggressive defense couldn't slow them down without fouling. That unleashed a parade to the free-throw line - Michigan State shot 18 more foul shots than New Mexico did. The Spartans' 19 points from the stripe were 14 more than the Lobos supplied - an eye-popping number given the final margin of victory was only eight points."We're not gonna sit there, and walk up, and out-talent anybody," Izzo <a href="https://x.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/1904015537358676391">explained to CBS Sports</a> after the game. Don't be shocked if Izzo once again instructs his team to try and get to the line in the Sweet 16. Michigan State is off to face Ole Miss, a team that commits more fouls than 275 of the 364 teams in the nation.<h3>Love goes off to book another date with Duke</h3>Three years ago, Caleb Love dropped 28 points for North Carolina in the Final Four, ended the career of Mike Krzyzewski, and got to forever hold one over Duke. It was clear Sunday that he wasn't going to miss another opportunity to inflict more pain on the Blue Devils as he winds down his college career.Now with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaab/teams/69" href="https://thescore.com/ncaab/teams/69">Arizona</a>, Love took it to Oregon early and often to finish with 29 points and help the Wildcats book a Sweet 16 date with his old foe. There won't be any surprises when the two meet Thursday. They already played this year when Duke emerged with a 14-point win.Love made just 3-of-13 shots from the floor in that one, but you know the senior guard will be fired up to add one final bit of Duke misery to his incredible college resume.

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Dane Belbeck

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