SAN ANTONIO — It is the second that has grow to be his all through this magical Florida season, which has been full of twists, turns, historic comebacks and a lot extra. For Walter Clayton Jr., a pressure-filled, late-game state of affairs was nothing new. Only a week prior, the Gators’ celebrity guard helped his crew rally from 9 down with 2:51 remaining to shock Texas Tech and punch their ticket to the Last 4.
This time, with lower than two minutes remaining in Saturday’s nationwide semifinal matchup in opposition to top-seeded Auburn, Clayton and the Gators had been trying to ship the dagger. Holding onto a three-point lead and with the shot clock operating down, Clayton had the ball in his palms. The primary-team All-American confirmed the world once more why he is been Kemba Walker-like on this event, gliding down the lane, burying a runner and taking the foul to ship the Florida devoted right into a frenzy.
“He is been doing all of it yr for us,” Florida head coach Todd Golden mentioned of Clayton in an unique interview with FOX Sports activities following the sport. “I do not need to say we take it without any consideration, however we consider he is one of the best guard in America. He is a terrific chief for us.”
Clayton’s memorable bucket served as one other golden second in a season full of them, and now, for the primary time since Billy Donovan’s back-to-back championship groups at Florida in 2006 and ‘07, the Gators will probably be again within the nationwide title sport. Florida overcame yet one more second-half deficit to take down Auburn and full the season sweep of the Tigers, 79-73.
Florida’s protection, which entered the night time ranked tenth in KenPom, awoke within the last 20 minutes, making it arduous for All-American large man Johni Broome, and even more durable for Auburn’s perimeter assault, to get going. Twelve minutes into the second half, Auburn had solely made 4 pictures. The Gators locked down the Tigers from downtown, holding them to 7-of-25 on Saturday night time.
An 11-0 second-half run modified the sport, and in so many respects, it has summed up Florida’s highway to the nationwide title sport. Will Richard delivered an and-one bucket, Clayton buried a 3, Alijah Martin adopted with one other triple, and eventually, Clayton blitzed to the rim for a bucket off a turnover. A trio of gamers who had been beforehand at Belmont, Iona and Florida Atlantic, respectively, have confirmed to be the right items to the puzzle assembled by Golden and his employees.
With Auburn clinging to a four-point lead with 12 minutes remaining, Clayton responded with one other trifecta. With simply over 4 minutes left, Denver Jones knocked down a 3-pointer to make it a one-point sport. Clayton then got here proper again with a bucket off a steal.
“He at all times finds a solution to make big-time profitable performs down the stretch,” Golden mentioned of Clayton. “There’s no participant in America that you just’d fairly have the ball in his palms late within the sport with the sport on the road.”
Repeatedly, Clayton willed his crew and punched the Gators’ ticket for Monday night time.
“He is unimaginable, man,” Florida sophomore Thomas Haugh mentioned when requested about Clayton. “We belief him in each state of affairs, and that is what he does – he knocks down large pictures each single day.”
None larger than Saturday night time in San Antonio, the place Clayton grew to become the primary participant since Larry Hen in 1979 to have back-to-back 30-plus level video games within the Elite Eight or later within the NCAA Match. In consequence, the Gators are one in all two left standing.
“Our perimeter guys — Clayton, Martin and Richard — breathe life into all people else on this crew,” Golden mentioned. “Tonight was a testomony to our group in each manner.”
John Fanta is a nationwide school basketball broadcaster and author for FOX Sports activities. He covers the game in a wide range of capacities, from calling video games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Community to offering commentary on The Area of 68 Media Community. Observe him at @John_Fanta.
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