SAN ANTONIO — The Submit breaks down Monday evening’s nationwide championship sport between two high seeds — Florida and Houston — on the Alamodome.
Backcourt
Every workforce begins three guards, and each models are explosive, the three main scorers on both sides.
Alijah Martin, Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard common a mixed 46.3 factors and eight.1 assists for Florida, whereas L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan produce 39.9 factors and seven.1 assists per sport for Houston.
Every of the Cougars’ trio shoots over 40 p.c from 3-point vary for the nation’s high long-distance taking pictures workforce at 39.9 p.c.
Cryer saved Houston within the sport in opposition to Duke, scoring 26 factors and hitting six 3-pointers Saturday evening, however he gained’t be the perfect guard on the ground in opposition to the Gators.
That honor belongs to Clayton, the previous Iona star who grew to become the primary participant to attain 30 factors within the Last 4 since Carmelo Anthony 22 years in the past.
Clayton is averaging 24.6 factors and taking pictures an absurd 48.7 p.c on 7.8 makes an attempt from past the arc within the match.
Edge: Florida
Frontcourt
It was a story of two halves on Saturday for Florida massive males Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu: overwhelmed within the first half, and terrific after intermission in shutting down SEC Participant of the 12 months Johni Broome.
Houston’s J’Wan Roberts will pose one other formidable take a look at, a gritty massive man with a motor that by no means stops.
He restricted Duke phenom Cooper Flagg down the stretch Saturday.
The Gators frontcourt has, at instances, been tender within the paint, and Houston is thought for its physicality and relentlessness.
Edge: Houston
Coaches
It is going to be expertise in opposition to youth, 69-year-old Kelvin Sampson of Houston on one bench, 39-year-old Todd Golden of Florida on the opposite.
Neither has reached this level earlier than.
That is Sampson’s third Last 4 in his thirty sixth season as a Division I head coach.
That is simply Golden’s sixth yr working his personal program. Earlier than this season, he had by no means gained a match sport.
Edge: Houston
Bench
Florida has the 2 most impactful reserves in versatile ahead Thomas Haugh and shotmaking guard Denzel Aberdeen.
The 6-foot-9 Haugh has been terrific within the match, backing up his 20-point, 11-rebound effort within the Elite Eight with 12 factors, seven rebounds and two blocks in opposition to Auburn.
Houston has leaned closely on its starters offensively.
The bench has produced simply 35 factors within the final 4 rounds.
Senior ahead Ja’Vier Francis is an underrated piece for the Cougars, a tenacious rebounder and defender.
Edge: Florida
Prediction
These packages are a mixed 38-4 because the calendar turned to 2025.
They’re second and third in KenPom, each with high 10 offenses and defenses efficiency-wise.
Every faculty has had shut calls within the match, Florida needing late rallies to get previous Connecticut within the second spherical and Texas Tech within the Elite Eight.
Houston pulled off the shocker of March Insanity, rallying from 14 down within the remaining 8:17 to get previous Duke in a nationwide semifinal.
It is a toss-up between mentally powerful groups, and in a toss-up, take the perfect participant.
Clayton completes his storybook season with one other breathtaking efficiency.
Florida 74, Houston 72
