By Joshua Miranda

Sports Capital Journalism Program

SAN ANTONIO – The Florida Gators put on a show in the co-main event of Saturday night, holding off the Auburn Tigers in a 79-73 victory to reach the championship game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. But it was the Houston Cougars who stole the spotlight. Houston pulled off the third-largest comeback in national semifinal history, toppling oddsmakers’ favorite Duke and snatching the headlines. Houston’s knockout of Duke sent shockwaves through the sports world. The heartbreak was almost audible.

Florida could feel the weight of the moment. With the biggest game of their season tipping off in less than 48 hours, the Gators watched the end of the Houston-Duke clash with their eyes glued to the TV and their jaws on the floor.

“We watched it. There was a minute and a half left, and one of the guys said, ‘This is not over.’ I agreed with him,” said Walter Clayton Jr. He hadn’t had much time to process all he’s accomplished this postseason, but he understands what Houston’s performance meant.

“Definitely a great fight by Houston,” added Will Richard, who recorded a team-high three steals against Auburn and knows a thing or two about tough defense. “They’re a great program. It shows how resilient they are. They fought to the end.”

Alijah Martin, Florida’s second-leading scorer on the season and again on Saturday, was the first player on the court to reach double-digit points. His emphatic dunks served as key momentum shifters. That kind of energy will be critical against a Houston defense that thrives when opponents go cold.

“I just let every game come to me,” Martin said. “I just do whatever the team needs me to do. If they need me to rebound, I do that. If they need me to score, I do that.”

Martin and Clayton Jr. understand Houston’s mentality, and they’re counting on coach Todd Golden to draw up the blueprint that can carry Florida across the finish line.

Golden, like many, was captivated by the Houston-Duke game. On one hand, he appreciated Houston’s relentless effort. On the other, he couldn’t ignore the looming challenge.

“Their defense worries me a lot,” Golden said with a smile. “It definitely concerns me. I think there are going to be some issues for us out there. If we don’t troubleshoot well, we’ll be in trouble.”

Golden’s concern is valid but so is Florida’s offensive firepower. Clayton Jr. joined Hall of Famer Larry Bird as the first player since 1979 to score 30 points in back-to-back games in the Elite Eight and Final Four. With him leading the offense, the Gators know they have weapons of their own.

“We’re a pretty elite offensive team,” Golden said. “We’ll lean into that and see what happens.”

Florida and Houston haven’t faced off this season. That will change Monday night in the NCAA national championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Houston is 2-2 against Southeastern Conference teams this season, while Florida is 2-0 against Big 12 opponents.

This matchup holds a ton of potential to be exciting and historic. With Florida’s elite offense and Houston’s suffocating defense, the stage is set for a championship clash to remember. It marks only the 10th time since 1985 that two No. 1 seeds will meet in the title game, making it a historic showdown before the ball even tips off.

The stage is set, the tickets are sold out and the curtain call for the 2025 NCAA tournament is coming. And the hope is that this iteration of the tournament is sent home with a bang.