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Myron medcalf
San Antonio – Whenever things begin to disintegrate, Florida turns to his star.
And this is in those moments when the best version Walter Clayton jr. will show up.
It happened again on Saturday when Clayton took it to himself – again – to destroy Auburn’s dreams and send Tigers home. The first team Associated Press All-American won 34 points in 79-73 Final Four victory. Late 3-point Hra-Kbelík and free throw after Fulul-Savřela victory for the determined Florida group.
8 February Clayton scored 19 points and made 50 percent of his three-point attempts to win the road 90-81 over Auburn. He was even better on Saturday.
At the beginning of this week, Alijah Martin He said Clayton’s gift is that it seems that they will never panic in the cruelest moments.
“He’s always calm,” Martin said this week. “He’s just calm.”
During the NCAA tournament, Florida found herself with her back against the wall – against Uconn, Maryland, Texas Tech and Auburn on Saturday.
By nine points at the beginning of the second half, Gators turned to his hero, who expanded his postseason display of back shots as Florida from another hole. Gators now advanced to the first national title match of the program since 2007, when they won the Back-to-Back Championship.
Martin, Robin to Clayton Batman all year round and the last four participant Florida Atlantic in 2023, had a series of games in the second half of the Florida fans in Alamodome. His post (17 points) cannot be overlooked. But Saturday – and the whole NCAA tournament really belonged to Clayton.
In the first half, seven Auburn players, including Broome, earned at least four points. Half was the end of the tigers captured the eight -point lead to the half -time. At the beginning of the second half, Gators were nine points. But she plays later – the species that seems to always carry their backs against the wall – Gators tied the game.
When Clayton scored with 15:29 to play, Gators took the lead 51-49.
Bruce Pearl’s nightmare came true.
“Clayton was the best guard on the floor every night,” Pearl said on Friday. “Clayton can’t be the best guard on the floor tomorrow.”
But he was.
The final result was not a mystery as soon as Clayton became extraordinary in the second half.
In San Antonio, Florida, Walter Clayton Jr.
Auburn not.
