04.03.25

FOUR CORNERS:

Get Set for College Basketball’s Biggest Stage and Clash of Titans

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We have made it to the final weekend of March Madness and, with all No. 1 seeds making the Final Four for just the second time in tournament history, it’s safe to assume that many bracket pools and championship bets are still up in the air!

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While many people have been disappointed with the lack of upsets or shocking results in this most recent installment, there is also something dynamic about four powerhouses all reaching the Alamo City ready to slug it out. Depending on who you talk to, a case can/should be made for every team to cut down the nets on Monday night.

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To all Huddle Up Hoops families, schools and participants, THANK YOU for the ongoing support and joining in the fun of March Madness!​ 

 

For those interested in a deeper dive on the remaining teams, see below to get yourself prepped and knowledgeable for a Final Four get-together or championship debate.

 

HOUSTON COUGARS

Rugged. Intense. Fierce. Mature. Unafraid.

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This Houston program has been resurrected (and rebuilt) via toughness and togetherness by future Hall of Famer Kelvin Sampson since he took the reins a decade ago. The Cougars finished TENTH in the American Athletic Conference standings during his first year. Since then, his groups have never finished worse than third and hold six conference titles – including two straight since making the recent move to the Big 12.

But Houston, and its aging leader (who turns 70 later this calendar year), desperately wants more. Sampson has never won a national title and this program is now making its second Final Four appearance in the last five years. But standing in the way of that elusive trophy is, well… Duke.

If anyone can beat the Dukies this year, it’s probably Houston. They have the best defense in the country – allowing just 58.3 points per game – while Duke features one of the most potent offenses around 83 points per contest. Who will impose their will best?

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Houston will almost certainly look to keep the Blue Devils in a halfcourt setting. The Vegas total (combined points) for this game is listed around 136-ish, suggesting a slower tempo than some might expect in a Duke game. If a veteran (and unafraid) Houston team hangs close into the final minutes, all bets are off on who might prevail.

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Keep a close eye on how the game with Duke is officiated. Houston isn’t very reliant on free throws in order to score… evident by needing to go just 26 of 35 over the past three games. Meanwhile, Duke has found a significant output at the “charity stripe” by converting 61 of 72 over the same time span. If the refs hold their whistle and allow some physicality, it will undoubtedly favor Houston.

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Keep an eye on sophomore Joseph Tugler, who just received the Lefty Driesell Award as the best defensive player in college basketball. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound specimen will look to play a critical role in slowing down Duke star Cooper Flagg.

 

DUKE BLUE DEVILS

Potent. Efficient. Well-Rounded. Powerhouse.

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Instilled as the betting favorites to cut down the nets in San Antonio, not much has changed from an odds perspective as Duke remains at the forefront in that realm.

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Head Coach Jon Scheyer has done a remarkable job carrying on the legacy and tradition left by Coach K a few years ago. He is 89-21 since taking over and nearly guided Duke to the Final Four last year, before falling in the Elite 8.

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But now, he possesses his best roster yet and a historically efficient offense that not only scores 83 points per game… but does so while shooting 49% from the field, 78% from the free-throw line and nearly 40% from long range. If anyone thought it was just weak competition in the subpar ACC this year, think again…

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Duke – which beat Auburn by six very early in the season – has more recently given the business to fellow/routine national challengers Baylor, Arizona and Alabama in recent weeks leading up.

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Everyone (and deservingly so) will talk Cooper Flagg. He’s a generational talent that is putting up a freshman season that’s in the same category – if not better than – the likes of Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse), Kevin Durant (Texas), Greg Oden (Ohio State), Michael Beasley (Kansas State) and Derrick Rose (Memphis). The “Maine Man” is averaging 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists this year on 48% shooting… and has the ability to single-handedly change a game back into the momentum of Duke when things aren’t going well. He’s the great equalizer and difference maker.

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But, Duke is where it is because of everything around the star forward. In fact, fellow freshman Kon Knueppel (another soon-to-be first round NBA Draft pick) led the team with 21 points in the Elite 8 win over ‘Bama. His mother, Chari, is the all-time leading scorer of UW-Green Bay. Tyrese Proctor (from New South Wales, Australia) is just as dynamic and 16 of 25 from three-point range in this tournament. He typically lets both his play, and mouth, do some combined talking on the court for a lineup that will play 8-9 capable pieces.

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You can see why this team is favored to hoist the trophy late (too late) Monday evening. It will take a herculean effort by any team to keep it from happening. Certainly not impossible, but a tall order nonetheless.  

 

AUBURN TIGERS

Gritty. Battle-Tested. Experienced. Confident.

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The preseason No. 1-ranked team in the country is still right there with a chance to prove everyone correct. Head Coach Bruce Pearl, well-traveled at 65 years old, won a Division II national championship at Southern Indiana way back in 1995 but is still searching for an elusive crown at the D1 level. He has been close before, guiding Auburn to the Final Four in 2019 until a very controversial foul call with 0.6 seconds left provided Virginia multiple free throws to shockingly eliminate his club. But that’s in the rear-view mirror and this version of Auburn has everything – size, speed, length, ball movement and tenacity... 

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The Tigers have won in different ways, showing they can win games played in the 80’s but also in the 60’s. Defense travels more than shooting and it’s been evident for Auburn, which has now allowed any tournament opponent to score more than 70 points. That has been critical for a team inconsistent from three-point range, making just 33 of 107 attempts (about 30%) in the NCAA bracket thus far.

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You will see perhaps the oldest lineup to ever lace up in the Final Four. Aside from 19-year old Tahaad Pettiford, here are the ages of the rest of Auburn’s primary rotation: Chad Baker-Mazara (25, yes this is true), Denver Jones (24), Dylan Cardwell (23), Johni Broome (22), Miles Kelly (22) and Chaney Johnson (22).

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Auburn overcame the temporary absence of Broome in the Elite 8 grinder with Michigan State and will be game for any scenario that plays out with conference rival Florida. They lost the regular-season matchup against the Gators (90-81) on their home court in early February after shooting just 7 of 22 from behind the arc.

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If the Tigers can find a way to make some perimeter shots and limit Florida point guard Walter Clayton Jr. (who previously went for 19-9-6 against Auburn), then we just might get a Johni Broome vs. Cooper Flagg matchup on Monday night for the entire bag of goodies.

 

FLORIDA GATORS

Resurgent. Focused. Perseverant. Swagger.

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The Gators are chomping at the bit to reassert themselves back into national prominence after this once-stories program has experienced more valleys than peaks in recent years. Florida didn’t even make this tournament in 2022 or 2023 and was then eliminated in the first round last year as a No. 7 seed. But alas, here they come again behind third-year head coach (and rising star) Todd Golden, a former player at Saint Mary’s back in the mid 2000’s. 

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Looking for a great storyline? When Bruce Pearl first took over Auburn back in 2014, he hired Golden (in his late 20’s at the time) as Director of Basketball Operations. Now, the former coworkers will be squaring off in a “Teacher vs. Student” type of vibe.

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Florida has flirted with elimination twice in recent weeks but admirably survived both times – outlasting UConn (77-75) and then frantically erasing a nine-point deficit with under three minutes to play against Texas Tech in the Elite 8. Thomas Haugh and Clayton Jr. went full nuclear in the closing stretch by making four consecutive three-pointers to stun the opposition.

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The Gators don’t go super deep with their rotation, but everyone is a rather capable threat for one of the nation’s highest-scoring teams at 85 ppg. This group also went a near perfect 25 of 27 at the free-throw line in its last game, something to keep an eye on if/when another game is close in the final minutes. Every point matters this time of year.

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Florida (34-4) has lost by more than six points just once this year and could be primed to win the program’s first national title since going back-to-back in 2006/2007. Many oddsmakers have them power rated as the second-best team behind Duke, but let’s see if they can outlast Auburn for a second time in a rematch that should feature a lot of points.

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Have fun this weekend watching all four of these fierce giants trade haymakers on college basketball’s biggest stage, and thanks again for the ongoing collaboration in Huddle Up Hoops. We are two years in and we're just getting started!