All the Madness 🏀
It was Florida’s resiliency with another big comeback…
For all the complaints about the lack of upsets in the NCAA scores, the men’s 2025 Final Four proved to be great, with three memorable March Madness games in a battle of all No. 1 seeds. But in the end, the Florida Gators prevailed, 65-63, over the Houston Cougars to win the national championship.
Florida tied the third-largest comeback in college basketball championship game history:
Florida’s win tied for the third-biggest comeback in championship history.
15-Loyola Chicago vs. Cincinnati, 1963
15-Kansas vs. North Carolina, 2022
12-Kentucky vs. Utah, 1998
12-Florida vs. Houston, 2025— David Worlock (@DavidWorlock) April 8, 2025
SEC Legacy Secured
Did you have Florida winning your March Madness bracket? You should have once they won the SEC tournament after the historic year that conference had, sending 14 teams to the dance.
But it was Florida’s resiliency with another big comeback (12 points) and their own shutdown defense that was too much for a Houston team that went ice cold down the stretch.
Florida had the lead for a grand total of 1 minute and 3 seconds.
Gators’ largest lead was 2 points.
Grind, Grind. Grind.— Mike Waters (@MikeWatersSYR) April 8, 2025
When you have a 7’9” player like Florida’s Olivier Roux, no ladder is necessary to cut down the nets, continuing one of college basketball’s greatest traditions.
No ladder, no problem for 7’9″ Olivier Rioux 😭
(via @YahooSports) pic.twitter.com/PGMCBDMBTu
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 8, 2025
Stifled Ending Crushes Houston Coach
It was a good game, but many fans were disappointed with the ending where Houston turned the ball over four times (twice by Emauel Sharp) and failed to register a single field-goal attempt in the final 1:21.
On the last play, Sharp was unable to touch the ball without suffering a violation, ending the game in devastating fashion for a Houston program that’s never won the natty:
Bro……. What did I just watch pic.twitter.com/SBwbYpmvMJ
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 8, 2025
That has to be the worst ending I’ve ever seen to a basketball game. That play was awful. 20 seconds on the clock. WTF
— fein4bean (@fein4bean) April 8, 2025
Many felt bad for 69-year-old Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, who watched his team dribble the ball to nowhere in what was his best shot to win a championship.
Coach knew it was incredibly bad that his team couldn’t get any shots down the stretch.
Kelvin Sampson on Houston’s last two possessions:
“It’s incomprehensible in that situation we couldn’t get a shot. You gotta get a shot.” pic.twitter.com/17tOw0XPYY
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 8, 2025
Houston’s Famous Fans Let Down
With the game in San Antonio, Texas, NCAAB rumors say more high-profile attendees were rooting for Houston. Hakeem Olajuwon (Mr. Basketball in Houston) was spotted chatting it up with new NBA phenom Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) at his side in a cool moment.
Hakeem Olajuwon — Victor Wembanyama
Legendary link-up. 🔥🤝
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 8, 2025
But legendary sports broadcaster Jim Nantz has also been in the NCAA news enjoying his team’s run to the title game. However, after that devastating loss, fans couldn’t help but poke fun at the mood Nantz will be in when he does Masters coverage for CBS.
Jim Nantz to open #TheMasters broadcast:
“Fuck you, friends.” pic.twitter.com/YoKGxivUd1
— Bryan Tweed (@BryanTweed16) April 8, 2025
Most Outstanding Player and Tweet
Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. won the Most Outstanding Player award for the tournament, but he didn’t have his greatest night. In fact, he was scoreless for much of the first half, prompting the funniest tweet of the night in this dark reference to Breaking Bad:
Walter Jr when I have money on him pic.twitter.com/ckP7w25yxR
— jojo (@Betrjojo) April 8, 2025
But it was Clayton on defense to force the pivotal hesitation to seal the win at the end. Clayton still put in great work the rest of the tournament in leading these comebacks, and Florida is reportedly the first team in the modern era to win a championship without a top-100 recruit on the roster.
Florida is the first team in the modern era to win the National Championship without a top-100 recruit on the roster.
— Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) April 8, 2025
Clayton was also among the first Gators to show good sportsmanship with the dejected Houston team on the court following that chaotic finish:
Walter Clayton Jr. showed love to Houston immediately after winning the National Championship.
True sportsmanship 🙏 pic.twitter.com/7DYfEJzlct
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 8, 2025
That wraps up another NCAAB season with UConn (women’s) and Florida (men’s) prevailing as champions. Let the countdown begin for March 2026 when we’ll be ready to go through all the bracketology again.
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