And then there were four.
But not just any four. For the first time since 2008 — and only the second time ever — all four No. 1 seeds have made it to the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. After a fantastic, eventful and entertaining March, America is getting the Final Four that it wholeheartedly deserves.
The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, will be rocking this Saturday as the Florida Gators take on their fellow SEC rival, the Auburn Tigers, in a highly anticipated rematch. Immediately following, the No. 1 overall seed Duke will square off against Houston, the top seed in the Midwest Region.
In total, this Final Four features three different conference champions — Duke (ACC), Houston (Big 12) and Florida (SEC) — setting the stage for one of the most competitive, talent-stacked Final Fours in recent history.
Without further ado, here’s a preview of what’s to come for this epic weekend of college basketball.
Florida
Road to the show
- Round of 64: 95-69 win over No. 16 Norfolk State
- Round of 32: 77-75 win over No. 8 UConn
- Sweet 16: 87-71 win over No. 4 Maryland
- Elite 8: 84-79 win over No. 3 Texas Tech
Starting Lineup
- Walter Clayton Jr., Guard
- Alijah Martin, Guard
- Will Richard, Guard
- Alex Condon, Forward
- Rueben Chinyelu, Center
Preview
Florida certainly had one of the hardest routes to the Final Four out of everyone in the tournament, barely squeaking out wins against Maryland, Texas Tech and defending two-time national champion UConn. In each of their tournament wins, several key players rose to the occasion, including guard Walter Clayton Jr. Clayton Jr. has been nothing short of incredible, averaging 23.3 points per game this tournament while hitting several key shots that helped seal close victories. Their bench has been incredible as well, especially forward Thomas Haugh, who was the difference maker in their Elite Eight victory over Texas Tech. Overall, this Florida team is dominant in nearly every facet of the game and will be a pain for Auburn to take down on Saturday. Not to mention, the Gators have already ousted Auburn 90-81 in the regular season.
Auburn
Road to the show
- Round of 64: 83–63 win over No. 16 Alabama State
- Round of 32: 82–70 win over No. 9 Creighton
- Sweet 16: 78–65 win over No. 5 Michigan
- Elite 8: 70–64 win over No. 2 Michigan State
Starting lineup
- Chad Baker-Mazara, Guard
- Denver Jones, Guard
- Miles Kelly, Guard
- Johni Broome, Forward
- Dylan Cardwell, Center
Preview
After suffering a loss to Tennessee in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament, the Auburn Tigers have bounced back, cruising to the Final Four convincingly. The Tigers are led by SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome, who’s currently averaging 18.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists. In their Elite Eight matchup against No. 2 Michigan State, Broome left the game with apparent elbow and knee injuries but later returned and played out the rest of the game. However, Broome appeared to have a slight limp, which may play a huge factor in the game on Saturday. Regardless, head coach Bruce Pearl’s Tigers are talented all across the board and possess the ability to beat virtually any team in college basketball. Guard Miles Kelly and center Dylan Cardwell complement Broome rather nicely, resulting in a balanced team all around.
Duke
Road to the show
- Round of 64: 93–49 win over No. 16 Mount St. Mary’s
- Round of 32: 89–66 win over No. 9 Baylor
- Sweet 16: 100–93 win over No. 4 Arizona
- Elite 8: 85–65 win over No. 2 Alabama
Starting lineup
- Sion James, Guard
- Kon Kneuppel, Guard
- Tyrese Proctor, Guard
- Cooper Flagg, Forward
- Khaman Maluach, Center
Preview
In my opinion, the reigning ACC champion Duke Blue Devils have by far the most talented team in the entire tournament, possessing several five-star prospects. In fact, the Blue Devils have five-stars who don’t start, including center Patrick Ngongba II and guard Isaiah Evans. Their most prolific player, however, is ACC Player of the Year and projected top draft pick Cooper Flagg. Flagg has been virtually unstoppable this tournament, including his 30-point performance in Duke’s Sweet 16 win over Arizona. Tyrese Proctor, Khaman Maluach, Kon Knueppel and Sion James have all played massive roles in the Blue Devils’ postseason run, resulting in a balanced, versatile attack that’s nearly impossible to contain.
Houston
Road to the show
- Round of 64: 78–40 win over No. 16 SIU Edwardsville
- Round of 32: 81–76 win over No. 8 Gonzaga
- Sweet 16: 62–60 win over No. 4 Purdue
- Elite 8: 69–50 win over No. 2 Tennessee
Starting lineup
- LJ Cryer, Guard
- Emanuel Sharp, Guard
- Milos Uzan, Forward
- J’Wan Roberts, Forward
- Joseph Tugler, Forward
Preview
Under the reign of head coach Kelvin Sampson, the Houston Cougars have been a household name in college basketball in recent years. What’s baffling is that Houston has never won a national title in program history — a baffling statistic, to say the least. However, if there was a year for Sampson to break through, 2025 definitely feels like it. The Big 12 champions are playing their best basketball right now, suffocating teams on the defensive end while making timely shots on offense. Guards LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp have been leaders for the Cougars, both averaging double-digit point totals while bringing much-needed veteran experience to the table. A Duke–Houston Final Four matchup is ultimately a dream scenario for college basketball lovers — a clash between two perennial powerhouses as they compete for a bid to the national championship.
The Games
No. 1 Florida vs. No.1 Auburn: Saturday at 6:09 p.m.
Prediction: Florida
No. 1 Duke vs No.1 Houston: Saturday at 8:49 p.m.
Prediction: Duke