2025 NCAA Championship Recap

In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the Florida Gators beat the Houston Cougars 65-62 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, winning their third national championship and the first national championship since 2007. The game was a defensive battle, which consisted of many instances of grit and hustle from both teams. However, aside from the scoreboard, the matchup showcased two starting fives that were full of talent and heart that embodied this year’s NCAA tournament. 

Florida Gators Key Players:

Waltor Clayton Jr. (Guard) – The senior guard, although he carried the Gators offense throughout the most of the tournament, he was scoreless in the first half and did not shoot efficiently throughout the whole game.He however scored 11 second half points and added a huge defense stop in the last minute which sealed the deal for Florida to win the national tournament.

Zyon Pullin (Guard) – Zyon Pullin is a steady floor general for the Gators who controlled the tempo and made smart decisions throughout the game. He did not really do anything flashy, but his calm and leadership kept Florida close to Houston the whole game, especially when Houston was on the verge of pulling away in the second half.

Alex Condon (Center) – Condon’s length and rim protection were two of the primary aspects of Florida’s defense. He may not have filled up the stat sheet, but he influenced the shots of his teammates with good floor positioning and great passes, which consistently set his teammates up to make big shots throughout the game. 

Houston Cougars Key Players:

LJ Cryer (Guard) – The catalyst of the Cougars offense, Cryer led all scorers with 19 points. He hit big shots to extend Houston’s lead early in the second half, but the Gators defense began keying in on him late in the game which prevented the Houston offense from scoring many points in the second half. Nevertheless, Cryer was Houston’s heartbeat throughout the whole tournament and the Cougars would not have been the same without him. 

Amanuel Sharp (Guard) – Sharp had a solid game but got closed off in the last few minutes by excellent defense from Walter Clayton Jr. His final possession of the game, he got blocked on a crucial drive to the hoop, which was the final blow before the buzzer which caused Hosuton to lose the game in the end. 

J’Wan Roberts (Forward) – Roberts provided energy and rebounding for the Cougars which aided the frontcourt greatly. His second chance attempt and physicality gave Houston a chance, but his excess of foul trouble limited his minutes when Hosuton needed him most and allowed multiple mismatches to take place which allowed the Gators to get back in the game late. 

Overall, both opening units left their heart on the court , but it was the key players of Florida that rallied from a 12 point deficit and played very well under the pressure of being down in a big game. With a youthful coach of Todd Golden becoming the youngest coach to ever win a championship and veterans like Walter Clayton etching their names into the Florida history books, the 2025 championship is no doubt one to remember.