The Florida Gators are the 2025 men's basketball national champions after rallying back to beat the Houston Cougars in the national championship game on Monday. The achievement was not only special for the team and the Gator Nation but for the Southeastern Conference as well.
The Orange and Blue's first title on the collegiate parquet since 2007 was led by an unexpected hero — former transfer guard Walter Clayton Jr., who learned how to run the point in the offseason ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. His ability to learn the new position quickly while still demonstrating his dagger skills at shooting guard made him one of the more prolific players in the game this season.
Additionally, Florida's title win put a feather in the cap of the SEC, which had an eye-popping 14 representatives in the Big Dance this spring and saw four of its member schools participating in the Elite Eight. It was a great season all around for the league — and for Florida and its start guard in particular.
It should come as no surprise, then, that USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg picked all three topics to include as "winners" in his post-tournament column; Duke Blue Devils star forward Cooper Flagg also earned a mention.
Winner: Florida Gators
"As against Auburn, the Gators needed to dig out of a hole to beat Houston. The Cougars set a physical tone early and made Florida earn everything, only to hand the game away with an inept performance near the basket and sloppy shooting from the free-throw line.
"But winning while playing Houston’s style speaks to Florida’s brilliance, which went largely unrecognized for much of the regular season, lost in the shadow cast by the many title contenders in the SEC. While clearly more comfortable in a run-and-gun setting, the Gators played the Cougars’ game and came out on top.
"The team’s 36 wins tie Florida’s 2014 squad for the most wins in program history."
Winner: Walter Clayton Jr.
"After becoming the first player since Larry Bird in 1979 to score at least 30 points in the Elite Eight and national semifinals, Clayton disappeared in the first half against Houston, failing to score a single point while struggling to get to his spots on the perimeter.
"But he came back with 11 points in the second half to pace the win while chipping in seven assists, five rebounds and a block and a steal. While not the scoring explosion from the earlier rounds, Clayton’s play helped deliver the national title.
"Overall, his performance ranks among the best by a guard in recent tournament history."
Winner: Southeastern Conference
"It was a dominant regular season for the SEC, resulting in a record 14 teams chosen for the tournament, four teams in the Elite Eight and a pair in the Final Four. Florida’s win was a fitting way to end the year. The title is the league’s first since 2012, ending a painful drought."
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