The 2025 Final Four Showdown: Basketball's Elite Collide in San Antonio

This year's NCAA tournament has broken from tradition, delivering a Final Four featuring four powerhouse programs that dominated the regular season. Unlike typical Cinderella stories, the 2025 championship chase features blueblood programs who've proven their excellence over five grueling months of competition.

1. Duke Blue Devils: The Young Guns Continue a Dynasty

Path to San Antonio:

• Def. No. 16 Mount St. Mary's 93-49
• Def. No. 9 Baylor 89-66
• Def. No. 4 Arizona 100-93
• Def. No. 2 Alabama 85-65

Key Insights:

• Jon Scheyer has silenced doubters by reaching his first Final Four in just his third season
• Freshman phenom Cooper Flagg (18.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg) plays beyond his years
• Leads nation in both offensive (122.1) and defensive efficiency (89.7)
• Facing Houston's elite defense will be ultimate test

2. Florida Gators: Walter Clayton Jr.'s Moment of Destiny

March to the Final Four:

• Def. No. 16 Norfolk State 95-69
• Def. No. 8 UConn 77-75 (OT thriller)
• Def. No. 4 Maryland 87-71
• Def. No. 3 Texas Tech 84-79 (comeback win)

Crucial Factors:

• Walter Clayton Jr. (22.3 ppg in tournament) has clutch gene
• Only team with multiple players averaging 15+ ppg (Clayton, KJ Simpson)
• Seeking third national championship (2006, 2007)
• Physical frontcourt could dominate Auburn

3. Houston Cougars: Kelvin Sampson's Redemption Arc

Road to the Final Four:

• Def. No. 16 SIU Edwardsville 78-40
• Def. No. 8 Gonzaga 81-76
• Def. No. 4 Purdue 62-60 (instant classic)
• Def. No. 2 Tennessee 69-50 (defensive masterpiece)

Why They Can Win It All:

• Nation's top defensive efficiency (86.3 points per 100 possessions)
• L.J. Cryer (18.9 ppg) provides elite scoring punch
• Sampson's second Final Four appearance at Houston
• Held Tennessee to record-low 15 first half points

4. Auburn Tigers: Bruce Pearl's Resilient Contenders

Tournament Journey:

• Def. No. 16 Alabama State 83-63
• Def. No. 9 Creighton 82-70
• Def. No. 5 Michigan 78-65
• Def. No. 2 Michigan State 70-64

X-Factors:

• Johni Broome's health critical (15.8 ppg, 9.1 rpg)
• Deep rotation with 10 players averaging 10+ minutes
• Nation's leader in blocks (6.7 per game)
• Seeking program's first national championship

Championship Odds and Matchup Previews

Saturday's Marquee Matchups:

• #1 Florida vs #1 Auburn (6:09 PM ET, CBS) - Battle of SEC powers
• #1 Duke vs #1 Houston (8:49 PM ET, CBS) - Precision offense vs lockdown defense

This Final Four represents the best of modern college basketball - four distinctly different teams with compelling narratives all fighting for one shining moment in San Antonio.