The ball flies over the backboard. That’s it. The Houston Cougars take down the Duke Blue Devils.
Duke was up by seven points with two minutes remaining in the game; however, this is when the game trended down for them. A three from Houston followed by a turnover and a missed free throw, turning the game in Houston’s favor with fifteen seconds remaining.
Towards the end of the game, a few controversial calls were made, the most prominent one being the over-the-top call on Cooper Flagg with twenty seconds left. Many believe this was the incorrect call, especially at that point in the game.
However, the game ended in Houston’s favor as the Cougars moved on to their 3rd title game appearance.
Before this game was the intense matchup between the Florida Gators and the Auburn Tigers. There were fifteen lead changes and ten ties throughout this game. In the end, the Florida Gators punched their ticket to the National Championship in San Antonio.
Walter Clayton Jr. led the Gators to their 4th Championship Game with thirty four points against the Tigers. His leadership and dominance throughout the season played a major role in his team’s success.
The Final Four was composed of all 1-seeds for the first time in years, and that was evident through the quality of play in these games. All four teams performed at a high level, but only two spots were available to earn the title.
On Monday, April 8th, the Gators and Cougars battled for the crown. The game remained close throughout the first half, with Houston entering the locker room up three points. The Cougars continued to increase their lead coming out of the half, even going up by twelve at one point.
The fouls for both teams continued to rack up. Florida committed five fouls in the first two minutes of the second half, increasing free-throw attempts for Houston. Florida even received two technical fouls: one given to Florida’s bench for stepping on the floor and one to Rueben Chinyelu after he slammed the ball on the ground after a foul call.
Despite Houston’s double-digit lead, Florida climbed their way back and tied the game with three minutes left. The Florida Gators were able to secure their win after a chaotic sequence to end the game. This is the 3rd national title returning to Gainesville.
Emotions were high after the buzzer rang. While there was a major celebration on one side, devastation fell on the other. As the game ended from a botched play, players, coaches, and fans were stunned. Walter Clayton Jr. showed excellent sportsmanship, consoling opposing players after his win.
Overall, a great season for both teams. As of now, Houston is number one in the preseason poll for next season.
