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San Francisco – The number of times Steph Curry questions were lobbed at Walter Clayton Jr. The past few days have been countless. But it makes sense. I’ve been talking a lot about television over the course of the college basketball season from 2024 to 25. Florida Point Guard and Elite Shot Maker are equivalent to Curry, and Clayton’s postseason performance was added to the story. I played the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament at Chase Center, home to Curry and the NBA Golden State Warriors, taking things to another level.
Clayton flattered him, but he wasn’t particularly interested in talking.
“It’s definitely the biggest point guard in basketball history, so there’s a way to go,” Clayton said Saturday night. “I haven’t compared myself at all yet, but I’m grateful for the recognition.”
But these words came about an hour after Clayton did something like Steph in Steph’s building and fired the Gators into one of the program’s biggest wins in basketball history and one of the biggest wins in NCAA Tournament history.
Clayton scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the final five minutes. The top-seeded Gators shocked the third-seeded Texas Tech in a three-seeded shot storm, shocked the third-seeded Texas Tech and 13-seeded Texas Tech in the Western Regional Championships, which was covered in the Western Regional Championships, erasing a nine-point deficit with the rest of the nine minutes as they shocked the third-seeded Texas Tech in the Western Regional Championships, reaching first place in their fourth year in the Western Regional Championships. Texas.
Coach Todd Golden, just 39, had the NCAA not win his resume until last weekend, but it only took three years to take the program from NIT bait to an epic showcase of college basketball.
“It’s incredible, absolutely incredible,” Golden said after winning the previous 17 10 straight wins and on the 16th, “This is a direct result of the work our players have done all year round, and a direct result of the work my staff has done.
Or frankly, without Clayton finishing seven of 14 off the floor, he hit all three of the three pointers in the second half, 14-13 on the free throw line, and paid four assists in 35 minutes.
The only first team in UF history was bombed with two threes in the final two minutes. The first team tied the game and was second to lead 30 seconds later – fourth-placed Gator (33-4) finished the game with 18-4 tears at the final 3:32. Clayton’s two free throws essentially kick out the results in 10.6 seconds.
“I can’t even explain how great he is,” UF sophomore Alex Condon said of the team’s unparalleled creative scorer. “We give him the ball in a clutch situation and tell him to go cook – and he delivers.”
He had help. Backup sophomore forward Thomas Howe was spectacular off the bench, finishing with a double double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, throwing a late three-pointer pair during a comeback that was as important as Clayton’s big maker.
“What happened, it’s wild. You don’t even know what to say?” emotional Howe said afterwards. “I think Walter Clayton is a cold, cold guy!”
Haugh, with 12 points and six boards in the first half, was the only thing the Gators were doing for the majority of the game as the 9th place Red Raiders (28-9) suppressed one of the nation’s best offenses and crushed the UF with a furious post-up from Darrion Williams’ forward (23 points, 5 rebounds), all Almerican JT Toppin (20 points) offensive rebounds (14) and second chance points (23).
It was only eight minutes to play, and UF had a quarter field goal (16 attempts) and missed all four of his 3-point attempts. Tech LED 67-57.
“They started wearing us and putting them in baskets,” Golden said. Golden chose to stay with his defensive plan, leaving the Bigs in one-on-one coverage at the post against Williams and Toppin’s brutal backdown. “We thought giving up three seconds at that point would be a dagger for us. They made a 2 (making) and they weren’t a 3S.”
Soon, they hadn’t made either.
The Red Raiders led 75-66 when Toppin posted Haugh for a 3:11 layup.
At that time, ESPN’s “winning probability” meter was 95.6% for Texas Tech.
Put another way, there’s a 4.4% chance of the Gators.
“Yeah, we were nine years old, but you still need to keep on track,” said Guard Ari Jamartin, a fifth-year student who has 10 points, seven rebounds and will be in the second final four with the second team after leading the Florida Atlantic Cinderella Run in 2023.
The first Florida possession after Toppin’s bucket ended with three threes from the left side of Howe, and Golden immediately called a 75-69 timeout at 2:47. Two games owned.
“The message was that every winning play had to be stretched,” Golden summoned a similar weapon call in last week’s rally, which ended up beating four to two defending NCAA champion Connecticut in his second round play in Raleigh, North Carolina. “We didn’t feel like there was no hope. We still felt like we felt there was still a shot, but we knew we didn’t have time. We picked it up, got all the block outs, got all the 50-50 balls, obviously stepped up and made a big shot.”
They had another thing in mind. They were trying to foul Toppin, a 70.1% free throw shooter, but 60% on the front end this season were trying to expand the game. However, UF missed the chance at the toppin and instead fouled Williams, the 84% man.
Williams bouncing off the 1-1 front end, and the UF rebounded, bombing for two consecutive three.
This time, the Gators fouled Toppin and the technology was still on one side. Toppin missed the second straight front end (he was 5-5 on the line) and the Gators secured a rebound. On Florida’s half court, Clayton ran into the paint, looked at the wall, then pivoted and retreated to the three-point line. He quickly turned and rose, facing two technical defenders, and was immediately surprised towards the Red Raiders bench, “How about?”
Did Clayton think he launched it?
“Nothing,” he said. “My heart was empty.”
As Howe said, a cold man.
Florida’s first lead since the 13th minute mark was 78-77, with one minute making the Arena’s Gators go vicious.
“He’s hardcover, very difficult,” he lost this game, like he won his “Sweet 16” round two nights ago when the Red Raiders wiped out a 16-point late lead (down 12 for under 6). “He can hurt you in so many ways and is very crafty in his changing pace.”
At the end of Tech, Williams missed a three-point attempt, and Martin skied for the rebound and was fouled with 22.2 seconds left. He gave both free throws a 3-point advantage.
In 16 seconds, again, it was three ties at Williams. not good. UF center Rueben Chinyelu rebounded and shoveled the ball to Clayton.
Tech Guard Change McMillian went through the careful and safe UF defense with a layup in 4.5 seconds, bringing the margin back to three, but the senior guard ended with Richard winning and 4 final tickets, followed by two more free throws.
UF hit the final four field goal attempts of the game (3 seconds) and six straight free throws in the final 22 seconds.
Championship hats and t-shirts, confetti, trophy poses, net cuts – ah, tears, lots of tears continued on the floor of the Chase Center.
On the podium, Clayton announced the most valuable players in the Western region.
“In America, there are no players who are now now than Walter Clayton had the ball in his hand,” Golden said. “He does an amazing job of controlling his emotions. Most players at that moment have their heart rates rising, but he has a special talent to stay by chance.”
He also has a special talent for shotmaking.
At Steph’s house, doing it was just too perfect in miserable, water conditions.
“I think the unity of the team, the love we have for each other, just shows us through those tough times,” Clayton said. “But we stay on the course. That’s the way Gators think.”
And it’s next to Texas.
Email senior author Chris Harry to chrish@gators.ufl.edu
