That was some final NCAA game Monday night between Houston and Florida! The whole Final Four trio of games were down-to-the-last-possession games. If you don’t know who won the championship game and want to see it for yourself, come back to this article after you reward yourself by watching a great basketball game on the platform of your choice.

Houston had the best defense in the country, allowing an average of about 59 points per game. Florida had the best offense at about 91 points per game. What was going to give? Walter Clayton Jr., the much heralded guard of Florida, would be the focal point/player for both teams. Houston double-teamed him excellently, essentially neutralizing him for the first half. In fact, he did not sink any field goals for the entire first half! And moreso, he didn’t successfully shoot a field goal until the last eight minutes of the game.

Houston was in control most of the game, Florida only leading for a total of about 60 seconds. The lead for Houston reached about 12 points, Smart and Cryer playing great basketball on both ends for the Cougars. But then coach Golden of the Florida Gators changed tactics a bit, and the cream floated to the top. Clayton started scoring. Will Richard had kept them in the game with 14 points in the first half including three three-pointers, while also playing his excellent scrappy style of defense.

The 6’ 11” Aussie, Alex Condon, made himself available for long passes in transition, and scored some big (12) points. He had only scored ONE point the game before versus Auburn and had fouled out.

Houston was incredible, blocking shots, stealing the ball, playing with will and intensity. It didn’t look good for Florida. Yet the Gators tied the game, with Clayton scoring a couple of three point plays, sinking all his crucial free throws due to fouls committed by Houston as he finally attacked the basket on his gymnastic but smooth! drives.

It was a one point game with about 28 seconds to go. Denzel Aberdeen was on the foul line for two shots. He makes them both they have a three-point lead with Houston needing a three-pointer to tie, or Houston could go for two plays to one to get the needed points. But that would probably require a stop.

Aberdeen, a colorful wiry junior guard who could score well, and find his shots, missed his first attempt. Then, he made the second. So now it is 65-63. The shot clock is off. Now a three-pointer wins the game for Houston! Apparently Cougars longtime coach Kelvin Sampson opted to go for the three pointer as time was expiring, thus garnering the win.

I and others have said that when it comes down to the big play for Florida, Walter Clayton Jr. would be there. The Gators amped their defensive energies to the maximum heights as Houston threw the ball in. They pressed the ball, the ball-handler, kept their bodies in front of the potential shooters, shut off, far away from the basket. CJ Cryer, Houston’s best, hottest shooter at 6’ tall had to pass the ball. The man who runs the engine for the Cougars, Emanuel Sharp, a 6’ 3” chunky but quite accurate shooter, had the ball. He started to take the game-winning shot but someone appeared high in front of him at just the right time: it was Walter Clayton Jr.

Sharp reflexively had to halt his shot as he could sense the billowing Clayton had flown into the space/trajectory where his shot would be blocked. Unfortunately, the tension and the action discombobulated his hands so he lost control of the ball. He was savvy enough to know not to try and take that ball back into his hands, causing a double-dribble violation, probably ending the game, so he backed himself widely in front of Clayton, who was now behind him. Clayton couldn’t break through, but Alex Condon dove for the ball on the floor, losing it momentarily, then cradling it into his arms as the clock expired!

Sharp was devastated, holding his head down, remaining on his haunches while the Gators went wild, suddenly celebrating their victory, their winning of the 2025 NCAA championship. And who was there at the moment of decision to save the day, make the play? Walter Clayton Jr had done it again, this time with a superlative defensive move. He had only ended up with 11 points total, but all 11 were crucial for the victory.

One of the greatest games you’ll ever see! Hope you get to see it as a full game to appreciate the theatrical drama as it unfolded, and the climax in the last seconds, starring a worthy championship team like the Gators. Houston almost did it, but they got a taste of their own medicine: incredible defense when it was most crucially needed.

April 8, 2025 © Conrad Miller M.D.

Here is some basketball lover’s eye candy of 6’ 3” 195 pound, NCAA March Madness 2025 MVP Walter Clayton Junior:  a youtube short short video:

https://youtube.com/shorts/9uB9bdNV59M?si=ktmjK_h8EmlsYqH7