SAN ANTONIO — High Stakes, Familiar Foes, Same Goal

Tonight at the Alamodome, Florida aims to replicate its success from 56 days ago at Auburn’s Neville Arena—another victory over the Tigers. A win would send the Gators to face either Houston or Duke on Monday night, with a shot at securing their third national title.

Back on February 8, Florida toppled then-top-ranked Auburn 90–81, led by All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., who delivered 19 points, six rebounds, and nine assists. That win ended Auburn’s 14-game streak, even with Alijah Martin sidelined due to injury.

[Read colleague Chris Harry's comprehensive "Pregame Stuff" preview here]

The upcoming rematch has dominated press conferences this week, with UF head coach Todd Golden and Auburn’s Bruce Pearl both weighing in.

"Good thing is we only have to beat them one more time," Golden said Friday. "Our teams know each other really well at this point. We are going to show these guys [his players] what we call our keys in personnel probably three more times before the ball goes in the air. I would venture to guess [they] could tell you, player by player, right now the tendencies that each of these Auburn players have, what they like to run, whether it is out of bounds, half-court, on the sidelines."

This clash between Southeastern Conference powerhouses underscores the strength of the league’s regular season—Florida and Auburn are the final 14 SEC teams still alive in the NCAA Tournament.

Gators coach Todd Golden is two wins away from bringing the third national championship in school history home. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)

Florida returns to the Final Four for the first time in over a decade—its sixth appearance in program history. Auburn, meanwhile, is making just its second trip, the first being in 2019 when it fell to eventual champion Virginia in the national semifinals.

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, who brought Todd Golden onto his staff in 2014 as director of basketball operations, knows Florida’s system well—and the feeling is mutual.

With Florida entering as a slight favorite in Las Vegas, Pearl has leaned into the underdog narrative.

"I don't want to say this is our one shining moment, because we've had a couple, but this is rare," Pearl said. "We are still going to play that [underdog] card. We still have two more opportunities hopefully to prove that we're a great basketball team."

Florida’s hopes ride on the shoulders of Walter Clayton Jr., while Auburn counters with SEC Player of the Year Johni Broome. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound senior is a dominant force, capable of taking over games. Despite sustaining an elbow injury during the Elite 8 win over Michigan State, Broome confirmed he’s ready for the rematch.

As for the earlier loss to Florida?

"That's why there's always the next game,'' Broome said.

Broome enters the matchup averaging 18.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. He’s supported by a trio of double-digit scorers—Denver Jones (10.9), Miles Kelly (11.4), and Chad Baker-Mazara (12.2)—with Tahaad Pettiford contributing 11.9 points and 3.0 assists off the bench.

In their regular-season meeting, Florida overwhelmed Auburn’s defense, shooting 57.1% in the first half and taking a 48–38 lead into the break.

Clayton played the full 40 minutes in that game, going 6-for-11 from the field and 4-for-8 from beyond the arc—an outing that cemented Florida’s status as a legitimate Final Four contender. The Gators have since won 10 straight and 16 of their last 17.

"Honestly, he just got the ultimate green light and was just shooting from anywhere,'' said Auburn’s Jones. "You didn't know when he was going to shoot it. So, I just feel like a lot of the actions, I'm just trying to make him put it on the floor instead of just giving him open shots. When he's feeling comfortable, we just need to make him feel uncomfortable."

Florida’s roster runs deep—this isn’t a solo act. Walter Clayton Jr. is supported in the backcourt by Alijah Martin, Will Richard and Denzel Aberdeen. Up front, the Gators boast a strong rotation with Rueben Chinyelu anchoring the center position, alongside Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Micah Handlogten.

Their path to the Final Four included dramatic comeback victories over Connecticut and Texas Tech. Head coach Todd Golden hopes Saturday’s performance won’t require similar late-game heroics.

Still, he knows the team must deliver one of its finest outings of the season—much like their earlier win over Auburn.

"Both teams have probably changed quite a bit since Feb. 8,'' Golden said. "But I do think our first game gives us some confidence."

CBS will carry the game with Ian Eagle handling play-by-play, Grant Hill and Bill Raftery offering analysis, and Tracy Wolfson reporting from the sidelines. The Gators Sports Network from Learfield will also be live from the Alamodome, featuring Sean Kelley (play-by-play), Lee Humphrey (analysis), and Steve Egan (producer/host).

For GSN stations, click here.

For live commentary and updates, follow FloridaGators.com  senior writers  Chris Harry (@GatorsChris) and Scott Carter (@GatorsScott)  on X (formerly Twitter). Full post-game coverage will be available late Saturday night on FloridaGators.com, with additional content rolling out Sunday.