SAN ANTONIO — In a Final Four showdown that had basketball legends rising from their seats, Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. delivered a performance for the ages, scoring 34 points to power the Gators past Auburn 79-73 and into their first national championship game since 2007.
A Show for the Basketball Royalty
The Alamodome’s front rows read like a who’s who of college basketball: Jim Boeheim, Mark Few, Scott Drew, Nate Oats, and Tubby Smith watched alongside NBA greats like Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard. But it was Clayton who commanded the spotlight, leaving even North Carolina legend Roy Williams marveling:
“That Walter Clayton Jr. is the real deal.”
With his back-to-back 30+ point games in the Elite Eight and Final Four, Clayton joined Larry Bird as the only players to achieve that feat in NCAA tournament history.
The Clayton Effect: Calm, Collected, and Unstoppable
Trailing by nine early in the second half, Florida never panicked — because they had Clayton.
- Shot-making sorcery: Hit contested threes, acrobatic layups, and a dagger and-one to seal the game
- Ice in his veins: “He never shows emotion, just hoops,” said center Micah Handlogten
- Teammate trust: “We’ve got Walt. He’s going to let it fly,” forward Sam Alexis declared
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl had warned Friday: “Clayton can’t be the best guard on the floor tomorrow.” Yet for the second time this season, Clayton outdueled the Tigers — just as he did in Florida’s February win at Auburn.
March to the Championship
The Gators now prepare for Monday’s title game against Houston, seeking their:
- 3rd national championship overall
- 1st title since their 2006-07 back-to-back crowns
- Chance to cement Clayton’s name alongside Final Four legends like Laettner and Carmelo
“Don’t get too high, don’t get too low,” Clayton said postgame, embodying the cool demeanor that’s made him the tournament’s most dangerous player.
For Auburn, the loss ends a remarkable season that saw them overcome preseason doubts to reach the Final Four. But on this night, even their meticulous defensive planning couldn’t solve the Walter Clayton puzzle.
“Hats off to him,” said Auburn associate head coach Steven Pearl. “He willed them to the championship game.”