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On one side, a showdown between SEC rivals as Florida takes on Auburn. The Gators high-powered offense defeated the Tigers during the regular season, but Auburn’s veteran lineup won’t go down without a fight.
The winner of that matchup will wait to see who emerges between Houston and Duke — a rematch of a Sweet 16 matchup from last year. Can Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars get some revenge and advance to the program’s first title game since 1984? Or, will Duke make their first Final Four appearance under Jon Scheyer?
Heading into two exciting matchups, let’s look at some potential x-factors for each team. These players might be flying under the radar heading into the weekend, but could play big roles for their respective squads:
Florida — Alijah Martin
The Gators’ front court depth versus Auburn’s All-American Johni Broome will be an intriguing matchup to watch. Florida coach Todd Golden played reserve Thomas Haugh — who is coming off a big regional final performance — over nominal starter Rueben Chinyelu when these two team faced during the regular season. We expect to see that again in their Final Four matchup.
However, the biggest x-factor heading into this game on Florida’s side is Alijah Martin. The physical guard was out with an injury against Auburn on Feb. 8. The Gators still managed to win on the road without their No. 2 scorer. Will Martin’s presence make them an even bigger favorite? Or, could adding a new ingredient weaken the winning formula? Martin struggled shooting last weekend, going 7-of-20 (3-of-11 from three) in wins over Texas Tech and Maryland.
Auburn — Denver Jones
Broome’s health might be the biggest key for Auburn heading into the Final Four. They’ll need him at close to full strength or else they can kiss their title hopes goodbye.
Aside from Broome’s injury, the Tigers need a big game out of guard Denver Jones if they hope to make it past Florida. Jones is the best perimeter defender on the team, and will have his work cut out for him against a stacked Gators backcourt. He got into foul trouble early against Michigan State. Jones will have to avoid that in this matchup. His defense will be too valuable, especially against Florida’s star guard Walter Clayton Jr.
Houston — Joseph Tugler
In a matchup featuring plenty of star power, gritty big man Joseph Tugler could ultimately sway the game between Houston and Duke. Tugler isn’t a stat-sheet stuffer (4.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.3 APG this tournament), but his energy and effort sets the tone for Houston’s stingy defense.
He’ll likely be the primary defender on Duke star Cooper Flagg. No player can completely shut down Flagg, but Tugler has the build and defensive instincts to make it difficult on the future No. 1 pick. Additionally, Tugler’s work on the offensive boards will be highly valuable. The Blue Devils defense is vastly improved since the start of the season. Houston gaining extra possessions from cleaning the offensive glass could be a major factor in this one.
Duke — Tyrese Proctor
The Jon Scheyer-led Blue Devils are the most improved team in college basketball this season. They’ve come a long way since November, and enter the Final Four as favorites to win the title.
There’s no denying the talent of the roster. However, Scheyer’s starting lineup features four player who had zero NCAA Tournament experience entering March. The lone outlier is junior guard Tyrese Proctor. The Aussie was with the team last year when they lost in the Elite Eight, and shot 0-for-9 from the field in an upset loss to NC State. He’s been on fire this year, shooting 67-percent from the field and 64-percent from three in four tourney games. His shooting, playmaking, and experience is invaluable to Duke’s chances of winning a sixth NCAA title.
