The Auburn Tigers and the rest of the number-one seeds make the Final Four for the first time since 2008. In 2025, no seeds outside of one, two, or three made the Elite Eight, proving the dominance of the juggernauts. All Final Four members have looked tremendous and withheld the most momentum they have had this season, but Auburn relies on star Johni Broome too much and does not play as dominantly as the other teams do. The Tigers enter the stage with a thirty-two and five record with losses to two of the three other final four teams.
The Houston Cougars have reached seven Final Four appearances, including their 2021 and 2024 runs, proving their recent success. Auburn, on the other hand, last reached the Final Four in 2019, and does not boast the blue blood pedigree. The Tigers have defeated Houston this season, but that was an early contest in November. The Cougars are an evolved squad running with a 17-game win streak and rank top-tier in efficiency metrics. Houston bleeds experience, starting with Coach Sampson, who has housed a defensive powerhouse since 2014. Key players like J’Wan Roberts, who has played 170 career games for Houston, give them experience Auburn simply can’t compete with.
The gap between the Tigers’ prestige and Duke’s is another big differential. The Blue Devils are an NBA Factory with talents like Zion Williamson, Kyrie Irving, and Jayson Tatum who are constantly graduating from the program. Cooper Flagg is next in line for that honor. Flagg averages 18.9 points and 4.2 assists while grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game. The Maine-born superstar has been an elite playmaker, scorer, and defender for Duke this postseason. The Blue Devils rarely miss the tournament and high-stakes games in March, last missing the tournament in 1984.
The Florida Gators are among the two last teams to win back-to-back national championships. The Gators have found their rhythm as of late, making their way back to the blue blood status they once held. The squad from Gainesville is an NBA producer as well, producing greats like Al Horford, Joakim Noah, and Bradley Beal. Florida has cemented a strong defensive identity emphasizing balanced play and protecting the rim. Their style of play is extremely beneficial when previewed against Auburn. The Gators have won against the Tigers earlier on and have proven that they can get the best of Johni Broome and the company.
Schedule and Matchups:
Date: Saturday, April 5th (semifinals) and Monday, April 7th (national championship)
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas (previously hosted in San Antonio in 1998, 2004, 2008, and 2018)
How to Watch
TV: CBS.
Streaming: Fubo (free trial available)
The Auburn Tigers, alongside the other top-seeded teams, have reached the Final Four for the first time since 2008, highlighting the continued dominance of their squads and the prestige they hold. The 2025 tournament has seen an upset drought, lacking the usual double-digit seeded teams beating powerhouses. While Auburn, a great team, boasts an impressive record, its reliance on star Johni Broome hinders their ability to compete with the other teams with a more balanced game plan.
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