Men’s National Championship Games 2025 View: Keys for Houston in Florida

And then there were two.

Florida and Houston were strong during the regular season. Both dominated their conference tournaments. Both are 1-SEMENT. And they both defeated hard opponents to achieve Monday’s championship in San Antonio.

Now everything is on the line in the finals of March Madness (20:50 et on CBS).

Gators are looking for their first national championship since their Back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 with with Billy DonovanWhile Cougars are looking for their first in the history of the program.

Recently this season, Myron Medcalf and Jeff Borzello will break each team and choose that reduces networks.

Go to:
Florida | Houston | Forecast

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As Florida reached Final Four:

How can Gators fight Houston’s physicality? That was the primary question for every opponent of Houston in the last 11 years. Kelvin Sampson’s Houston teams have completed the TOP-15 in modified defensive efficiency in seven of the last eight seasons, which means that the Florida Bigs will have to be persistent in reflection, attacking the color and playing exceptional interior defense. Houston Outcored to the Duke 19-12 at second chances on Saturday and Gators will have to close this gap to win.

But this game is also about endurance. Blue Devils were exhausted by the end of Saturday night-more exhausting, 40-minute game against Houston. Florida needs its big men to avoid unpleasant problems, urged bombs around the edge of attack and defense, and have stamina to play intense pace for two halves. It is a depressing task that has achieved only one team from November 30 against Houston.

Who has to get to Florida? Will Richard. The List Standout Guards Houston held up in March by appalling offensive performances is long: Robert Wright III (Baylor), Julian Hammond III (Colorado), Egor demin (Byu), Braden Smith (Purdue), Obstructive (Tennessee) and Tyrese Proctor (Duke). Walter Clayton jr. It could be added to this group on Monday.

But Gators are not a show for one person. Richard is the only member of Florid’s starting Backcourt to have three one -digit efforts in the last five games. 6-Naha-4 Senior created 38% of its shots from the arc in the league game, but was 0-for-5 out of the 3-point line in its previous two games. That everything has to change on Monday evening. Duke and his three screened lottery and the national player of the year needed more help against Houston, even after he had a 14-point lead. Richard will have to contribute.

Potential Fatal Error Gators: Giving too many opportunities on the free throw line. Florida was a defensive team in the last month of the Top-25 season. It is a key element of his comeback during the NCAA tournament. Gators, however, recently committed too many fouls. Nine of their last 11 rivals had at least 22 attempts to throw free throw. This could happen again on Monday evening if Gators put Cougars on the free throw line too often.

Florida wins if … Walter Clayton Jr. score of 25 or more points. Given how Florida plays and how much he relies on Clayton as a handler of the ball, Gators will go just as far as he takes them. When he is a strong shooter and a player, opponents are forced to double him and create more opportunities for his teammates. Gators will face the best defense in America and although in the NCAA tournament have surpassed almost impossible chances was almost unprecedented. If Clayton warms up on Monday evening, it will probably mean that Gators – second in a nation in a modified offensive efficiency – is rolling and found holes in this praised defense of Houston. If he is fighting, it will complicate everything that Florida wants to do against Houston, especially if the gathers have another half deficit between them and their title dreams. – Myron Medcalf

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As Houston reached Final Four:

How can Cougars contain Walter Clayton Jr.? If someone slows down Walter Clayton Jr., the best defense at college will be. Houston is incredibly physical, on the ball and outside and does nothing easy for opponents. Cougars are likely to try to deny Clayton’s easy rhythm and make sure it doesn’t get a clean look.

But Clayton did not have a lot of clean views against Texas Tech or Auburn and still stood up historically good performances. One area you can watch will be a 3-point line. Houston has a strong three-point defense, but allows 3-point shots. This is not a recipe to stop Clayton.

Who has to get to Houston? This is another potentially massive game for J’wan Roberts. After performing the biggest games in the last seconds he should enter with a lot of self -confidence Cooper Flagg Draw a foul, make two throw free and attack Flagg’s potential shot from the game. In the last month he was inconsistent and also missed two games due to ankle injury.

He will have to be the best against Florida and his elite frontcourt. This means being active and aggressive on an offensive glass and at the other end of the floor avoid unpleasant problems. Gatoři have size and depth on Monday evening to throw Houston and Roberts must remain on the floor.

Potential Cougar Error: Houston does not have many weaknesses. But the two areas to be monitored will be a free throw line, and whether Cougars can avoid offensive drought, which almost dug them too large a hole against the Duke. Houston was 12 of the 16 large 12 teams at a free throw defensive rate and 14. Cougars on average on fewer free -throw attempts on the game than their opponents.

Florida is not good to get on the free throw line – and is even worse in performing these shots – but if officials don’t let Houston be physical and players like Clayton and Will Richard and Thomas Haughe They get on the line, that’s bad news for Cougars.

Meantime, Lj Cryer He simply held Houston on Saturday at a sudden distance and hit several 3 s against Blue Devils-but did not get much from his teammates until the end of the second half. It’s hard to see that it works again.

Houston wins if … He wins the war on board and limits the Clayton. Fortunately for Cougars, both are in the round of Kelvina Sampson. Cougars are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country – it’s a big place for Roberts and Joseph Tugler -If the 10th place in the offensive percentage of the reflection and the 20 best points in the second chance of the game. (Although Florida is huge and even better in offensive reflection, statistically.)

On the other hand, Houston Rangers will have to stick to their principles against Clayton. Auburn had some early success, which caused him on the balls of the balls and pushed the ball out of his hands, but as the game worn, he always got to his left hand and rhythm. Houston is likely to have the same ideas, passing through the ball screens, moving hard, freezing to get the ball from Clayton’s hands, and make sure it doesn’t have a clean look. – Jeff Borzello

Florida vs. Houston predictions

Jeff Borzello: Houston wins, 67-65
Myron Medcalf: Houston, 70-67