How Duke, Florida punched their Final Four tickets

The March Madness field of 68 is quickly being trimmed to four.The Florida Gators and Duke Blue Devils punched the first Final Four tickets of the 2025 NCAA competition with wins over the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night.The Elite 8 continues with Tennessee vs. Houston(2:20 p.m. ET) and Michigan State vs. Auburn (5:05 p.m. ET) on Sunday, however for now, our analysts recap the very first 2 games of this round while breaking down how Florida and Duke reached the Final 4 and what will be crucial for each in the semifinals next Saturday.Jump to: Relive Saturday night’s action Last: Duke defeated Alabama 85-65 How Duke beat Alabama: It was inevitable that Alabama wouldn’t bring its extraordinary shooting display screen of 25 3-pointers from Thursday’s Sugary food 16

win into Saturday’s Elite Eight matchup, eventually ending up 8-for-32 from beyond the arc. Duke, on the other hand, had the ability to complete consistently at the rim or toss lobs to Khaman Maluach for easy dunks. Kon Knueppel led the way for the Blue Devils with 21 points, while Cooper Flagg completed with 16 points and 9 rebounds.The Crimson Tide were only quickly able to produce consistent momentum early in the 2nd half, but heaven Devils reacted with an 11-4 run to extend the cause 13, keeping Alabama at arm’s length before growing the cause 20 points in the last minutes.– Jeff Borzello Cooper Flagg ended up the game against Alabama with 16 points and nine rebounds. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson The No. 1 element that assisted Duke reach the Final 4: Duke is just more talented than any other group. Flagg and fellow NBA prospects Maluach and Knueppel deserve the majority of the credit, but the fleet of skill down the lineup has boosted everything that coach Jon Scheyer has actually done

with it.It has actually made practices more competitive. It has actually permitted the team to conquer hardship(see: winning the ACC competition title with Flagg injured). And it suggests that in the last of the season, the players coming off the bench would be starters for numerous other groups– Caleb Foster was a top-30 recruit in high school, Isaiah Evans might be selected early in the second round of this summer season’s NBA draft, Mason Gillis assisted Purdue reach the national title game a year ago and Patrick Ngongba II was 26th in ESPN’s ranking of the 2024 recruiting class. The number of groups are bringing players of that pedigree off the bench?Top to bottom, there just isn’t a team in the field that can assemble an equivalent collection of elite players.– Myron Medcalf Editor’s Picks < img src= "https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2025/0329/r1470647_1296x1296_1-1.jpg&w=130&h=130&scale=crop&location=center"width ="65" height=" 65 “/ >

1 Related Duke’s key in the

Last 4

: The Blue Devils ‘capability to protect the rim and protect the paint. This Duke team has among the top protective units in recent program history. Against an Alabama squad that made 25 3-pointers in the Sweet 16, the Blue Devils required the Crimson Tide into uncomfortable, off-balance shots. Alabama plays at the fastest speed in America, but Duke turned that tempo into chaos, restricting Alabama’s options around the rim.The Blue Devils are assertive with their interior defense, whether it’s Khaman Maluach modifying

and obstructing shots, Cooper Flagg securing players for 90 feet or others challenging challengers on the border then feeding them to heaven Devils’huge guys. Alabama was outscored in the paint by double digits Saturday, in part due to the fact that Duke does not provide opposing groups area to get comfy in the post.– Myron Medcalf Last: Florida beat Texas Tech 84-79 How Florida beat Texas Tech: With Florida on the verge of elimination, Walter Clayton Jr. scored 13 of his game-high 30 points over the last 5:24 to erase a 10-point deficit to Texas Tech and send the Gators to their first Last Four given that 2014. Florida had actually been unable to score back-to-back containers the whole 2nd half, however Thomas Haugh finally shot back-to-back 3s to cut the deficit to 75-72 with 2:27 to play before Clayton Jr. took the baton, also hitting back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to offer Florida its very first lead considering that early in the half and ice the game in its closing minutes with a pair of free tosses.– Kyle Bonagura play 0:35 Walter Clayton Jr.’s late threes move Florida to the Final 4 Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. strikes a pair of clutch 3-pointers late tosend out

the Gators to the Final Four.The No. 1 factor that assisted Florida reach the Final 4: The Gators are here because no team in America has been able to turn games in their favor with devastating runs the way they have. Down 9 points with 3:14 to bet Texas Tech, they ended the game on an 18-4 run akin to ones we have actually seen from them numerous times this season. Just in this tournament, they outscored Maryland 47-33 in the second half of their Sugary food 16 win and had 53 points in less than 17 minutes against Norfolk State in the opening round.They have actually launched those very same knockout punches against other elite teams, too. In the SEC tournament championship, Florida was tied with Tennessee at 16 with 11:30 to play in the first half. 8 minutes later on, the Gators had a 12-point

lead.Florida is college basketball’s equivalent of a home run player in the bottom of the ninth inning. It’s never over with the Gators because of the way they can seize control of games, even when they seem out of reach.– Myron Medcalf Florida’s type in the Final 4: Walter Clayton Jr.’s luster. The Final Four is everything about stars. The teams that have players who shine under the brightest lights are the groups that ultimately cut down the internet and win national championships. There is a factor we mention Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Kemba Walker, Mateen Cleaves and Jay Williams when we discuss the best NCAA tournament runs. Star power rules. And beside Cooper Flagg, Florida may have the most significant star of them all in Clayton Jr. His sheer will and talent might be the deciding consider whether the Gators win the title.– Myron Medcalf Relive the action ,! 1);]]