Basketball analyst Ernie Johnson opened the Final Four post-game broadcast following Florida's 79-73 win over Auburn Saturday night with a statement no one can argue with: "Walter Clayton Jr. is that guy."
Everyone in the basketball world now knows who Clayton is after a 34-point night against Auburn to lead the Gators to a national championship appearance, including the panel alongside Johnson for the Capital One Tournament Central post-game show on CBS. They all gushed over Clayton after the win went final, and, yes, that includes Auburn alumnus and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.
"The best team won," Barkley said. "Our guys played valiantly. It was a heck of a game. I'm so proud of our team and Coach (Bruce) Pearl and those kids. Yeah, I'm disappointed, but Florida was the better team. (Ernie) said it and Clark (Kellogg) said it — don't say more and don't say less — Mr. Clayton is the real deal. Mark Jackson always said, 'Momma, there goes that man.' He is the real deal, and the thing is, he kept them in it when they were struggling."
The deciding moments
Kellogg broke down the comeback, highlighting Will Richard's "pesky, active and aggressive" defense, which allowed Florida to get the ball to Clayton and back in the game. Jay Wright focused on the big guys and recognized the frontcourt's collective effort against Johni Broome, who was worn down over time. Wright also remembered what he believed to be the putaway sequence for Florida.
"One minute and 33 (seconds) left in the game, it was a three-point game. Every player on Florida's team had an open shot. They passed it up, passed it up, passed it up and got it back to Walter Clayton Jr.," Wright said. "He got an and-one at the end of that clock and made it a six-point game. That was the ball game to me. They were smart enough to go to their go-to guy, their closer."
Kennt "The Jet" Smith added that he was unaware "how real" Clayton was before the game, but Saturday's performance left no doubt in his mind. He likened Clayton's run to Jalen Suggs' with Gonzaga in 2021. Suggs and the Zags ultimately lost in the championship game, but he was a top-five pick later that summer.
"(Clayton) is able to get it done efficiently," Smith said. "Not super flashy but it is flash, meaning that it's very effective and very on point. He gets to his area, he takes contact, he's able to finish through the bigs and he deserves to take this and move it on."
Walter Clayton Jr. doesn't miss his chances
Barkley turned the focus to Todd Golden and his game plan. Golden got Auburn uncomfortable playing a run-and-gun style that favors Florida. Barkley wished that the Tigers had adjusted the plan at that point, but gave kudos to Golden for putting them in that position.
Johnson then mentioned the small moments of poor execution by Auburn in the final five minutes of the game, notably the missed free throws from Broome and his offensive foul.
"That's exactly right, Ernie," Kellogg said. "When you're in a tight game, you only need a couple of plays to get separation or allow your opponents to get separation. Missed free throws, turnovers. Florida did a great job on the offensive glass in the second half, too. They really dominated that part of the game, the defensive activity. But the confidence you have when you have a guy like Walter Clayton Jr. — not only does he take shots efficiently, but he doesn't miss his chances. He capitalizes. When he has a chance, he makes it count, and he's done that throughout this tournament."
