The road to the Final Four is halfway complete, with two No. 1 seeds securing their spots in the prestigious event. On Saturday, both Florida and Duke emerged victorious from their regional matchups. Meanwhile, the stage is set for fellow top seeds Houston and Auburn, who face off on Sunday in hopes of advancing to the major stage.
Florida stands as the first Southeastern Conference team and No. 1 seed to book a place in San Antonio, thanks to a stellar performance by Walter Clayton Jr. Despite trailing by nine points with just three minutes left in the game, Clayton showcased his clutch ability, sinking two pivotal 3-pointers to propel Florida to an 84-79 victory over Texas Tech in the West Region final. This triumph marks Floridaโs first appearance in the Final Four since 2014. Next, the Gators will face the victor of the Auburn versus Michigan State clash, a game that is slated for Sundayโs second half of the Elite Eight.
This victory clinched the 20th win for an SEC team in this yearโs tournament, surpassing the record previously set by the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2016. Meanwhile, Duke ensured that an all-SEC Final Four would not come to fruition. The Blue Devils efficiently neutralized Alabamaโs dynamic offense, overcoming a poor shooting performance from All-American Cooper Flagg in an 85-65 triumph in the East Region final. Duke will next meet the winner between Houston and Tennessee on Saturday.
In Indianapolis, one must-watch matchup pits Houston (33-4) against Tennessee (30-7) in the Midwest Region final. This contest features two of the nationโs premier defensive squads. Under coach Kelvin Sampson, Houston has become synonymous with defensive excellence, allowing only 59 points per game since 2018 and leading the NCAA with 58.5 points conceded this season. On the other side, Tennessee is renowned for its defensive prowess, ranking in the nationโs top ten for both scoring defense and opponent field goal percentage. The game will also spotlight three finalists for defensive player of the year: Tennesseeโs Jahmai Mashack, Zakai Zeigler, and Houstonโs Joseph Tugler. Houston earned their third Elite Eight appearance in five years by narrowly defeating Purdue 62-60, courtesy of Milos Uzanโs last-second layup. Tennessee showcased its defensive strength in the Sweet 16, stifling SEC rival Kentucky in a 78-65 victory.
In Atlanta, Auburn (31-5) will compete against Michigan State (30-6) with a Final Four berth on the line in the South Region. Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl has attempted to paint his team as the underdog, despite reaching the Elite Eight for two consecutive years and topping the AP Top 25 for eight weeks, a feat unrivaled by others this season. Auburn overcame Michigan 78-65 in the Sweet 16 after a second-half rally. Part of Pearlโs perceived underdog status stems from the opponentโs coach. Michigan Stateโs Tom Izzo, steering the Spartans to their 11th Elite Eight, is only one victory away from securing his ninth Final Four appearance. His team employed traditional gritty tactics to edge out Mississippi 73-70 in the Sweet 16. The court will be laden with talent, including Auburnโs SEC player of the year Johni Broome, and Michigan Stateโs dynamic freshman guard Jase Richardson, a potential first-round NBA draft pick.
For those looking to catch the action, every menโs tournament game will be available on CBS, TBS, TNT, or TruTV, along with their digital platforms. Additionally, games will be streamable via Paramount+ and the NCAAโs March Madness Live. Both the Final Four and national championship games will be broadcast on CBS.
Heading into the games, the top betting favorites according to BetMGM Sportsbook were Duke, Florida, Houston, and Auburn. The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, taking place from March 27-30, are hosted in various cities including Newark, Atlanta, Indianapolis, and San Francisco. The climactic Final Four is set for April 5 in San Antonio, followed by the championship game on April 7.