SAN ANTONIO—Tonight at the Alamodome is the national championship game—how cool is that? The Florida Gators, the top seed out of the West Region, face the top seed out of the Midwest Region, the Houston Cougars. Florida won the SEC Tournament and has won 11 straight games. Houston won the Big 12, the Big 12 Tournament, and 18 straight games. This will be a war.

Florida is led by Iona transfer and head of the snake, Walter Clayton Jr. He has “it,” whatever “it” is. He wants the ball in his hands when things get tough. Clayton is eerily similar to Caleb Love in terms of on-court talent. They start two other guards with Clayton in Alijah Martin and Will Richard, and all three are three-level scorers who can shoot from downtown or get in the paint. The x-factor in this one could be 6’5” guard Denzel Aberdeen, who brings instant offense off the bench and is deadly when in the paint.

This Florida team reminds me of a slightly better Arizona squad. With Alex Condon and Reuben Chinyelu in the frontcourt, they have a lot of size. The Coogs will need to be physical with them and not allow them to create extra opportunities. If the Houston big men can control the glass on both ends of the court, I really love their chances.

This is my final scouting report of the season, and I have to say, this is a dream come true. I love writing these! Now, we get to watch two great programs, two great coaches, and two great fanbases. It all comes down to this! I love this program, and am thankful to Ryan and our GoCoogs team for the chance to do this! And thank you all for reading!

Florida Offense Notes

• Florida moves the ball well in order to find the open guy. They are a big drive-and-kick team, so it will be important for Houston to be disciplined and get out on open shooters.
• They run tons of sets out of a “horns” base offense (a guy on each elbow at the free throw line). The Coogs must communicate on cuts, hand-offs, and off-ball flare screen actions.
• The Gators are terrific in transition offense. They love to advance the ball by passing up the court vs. dribbling it up. They always look for early opportunities, so the bigs must get back quickly. They love to look for Condon on the rim run.
• The Gators don’t play a true point guard, and full-court pressure can affect them. The Coogs only press at the end of games when they are down, but I’d be tempted to pressure them full-court at times when Clayton Jr. is out of the game.
• Florida is not the best outside shooting team, but they make about 10 a game. Clayton is their best outside threat (39%), but they have several guys who are shooting 35% and can get hot.
• Except for Haugh (79%), the other Florida big men are under 60% free-throw shooters. I’d be tempted to hammer them, rather than giving up easy baskets in a tight game.

Gators Defense Notes

• Florida scored 16 points off of Auburn turnovers Saturday night, and Bruce Pearl circled that as the reason they lost. The Coogs must take care of the ball and keep turnovers to a bare minimum.
• Florida is not elite in defensive transition. UH could get some wing/corner threes off of turnovers or long rebounds.
• Houston needs to drive the ball in the paint, because the Gators tend to collapse in the paint. That should open up outside shooting opportunities.
• UH should be able to get some pin-down screens to open up some mid-range jumpers for LJ, Eman, and Terrance.
• Florida struggles with off-ball screens. I would look to screen them to death and look to get LJ and Eman open three-point opportunities.

Florida Personnel

*#1 – Walter Clayton Jr. – 6’3″ – SR – Guard – (Iona) – 19ppg, 4rpg, 4apg.

• Explosive/volume scoring combo-guard; Has 100 more shot attempts than their next guy (Martin) and almost 200 more shot attempts than their 3rd guy (Richard);
• Comparison: A slightly better Caleb Love; Both are super dangerous, especially when the game is on the line;
• Three-level scoring guard;
• Only needs an inch to get his shot off. He makes tough shots;
• Their best three-point shooter – 116/296 (39%);
• Loves to shoot it drifting to his left, off of ball-screens. The UH BLITZ could be a problem for him.

*#15 – Alijah Martin – 6’2″ – GR – Guard – (Florida Atlantic) – 15ppg, 5rpg.

• Smaller/super athletic scoring guard;
• Three-level scoring guard;
• Really good at attacking the paint;
• Solid three-point shooter – 78/220 (36%). Likes to head fake and shoot to his left;
• Very aggressive in transition. Looking to put someone on a poster;
• Really good defender. Will look to poke it away if you aren’t paying attention.

*#5 – Will Richard – 6’4″ – SR – Guard – (Belmont) – 13ppg, 5rpg.

• Taller/athletic guard;
• Aggressive defender;
• Solid three-point shooter – 76/216 (35%). Likes the three from the right wing
• Capable of scoring in the paint.

*#21 – Alex Condon – 6’11” – SO – Forward/Center – 11ppg, 8rpg.

• Tall stretch forward;
• Really good/strong rebounder;
• Loves to rim-run in transition offense;
• Pretty good outside shooter for 6’11” – 19/57 (33%);
• Solid around the basket. Wants it in his right hand, going over his left shoulder. Force him to go the other way, similar to what UH did to TKR from Purdue.

*#9 – Reuben Chinyelu – 6’10” – SO – Center – (Washington State) – 6ppg, 7rpg.

• Big bruising post-player;
• Really good finisher at the rim. He’s best when rolling to the basket;
• STRONG rebounder;
• Gets a little out of control and forces tough shots when pushed outside of the paint.

#11 – Denzel Aberdeen – 6’5″ – JR – Guard – 8ppg, 2rpg.

• Long/rangy/scoring point guard off the bench;
• Maybe their X-Factor. Bring big offensive energy off the bench;
• Crafty scorer in the paint and an explosive driver. He looks for contact;
• Solid three-point shooter – 36/102 (35%).

#10 – Thomas Haugh – 6’9″ – SO – Forward – 10ppg, 6rpg.

• Tall outside threat;
• Super sneaky athletic and a good ball-handler at 6’9″;
• Likes to drive and use the spin move in the paint;
• Good three-point shooter for his size; 35/101 (35%).

#3 – Micah Handlogten – 7’1″ – JR – Center – (Marshall) – 3ppg, 5rpg.

• BIG post player;
• He is pretty good in the pick and roll game and an excellent passer when he catches on the roll.

#4 – Sam Alexis – 6’8″ – JR – Forward – (Chattanooga) – 5ppg, 4rpg.

• Big back-up forward;
• Not a great percentage scorer;
• May not get many minutes Monday night.

#7 – Urban Klavzar – 6’1″ – SO – Guard – (Real Madrid) – 3ppg, 1rpg.

• Smaller back-up shooting guard;
• Not very good. Houston’s pressure should give him fits.

Keys to Victory

1. Limit Walter Clayton Jr. He’s a dawg. Florida wants the ball when an opponent goes on a run or the game is on the line. He loves to shoot the three going left, off of screens. The Coogs will look to BLITZ those screens and try to get the ball out of his hands.
2. Limit turnovers. Florida is in this game because they scored 16 points off Auburn turnovers. If the Coogs can have fewer than eight turnovers, it will limit the extra opportunities the Gators usually capitalize on. Houston has only 35 turnovers in five Tournament games.
3. Be physical without fouling. Houston did a phenomenal job playing physical with Duke, without having to send their big men to the bench with fouls. They need to do that again Monday night. Sampson needs them on the court, attacking the glass on both ends.
4. Defensive transition. Florida is excellent in transition offense, looking to rim-run with Condon, attack the basket, or take open threes when they are available. Houston is terrific at transition defense and will have to be great one more time.
5. Toughest team wins (THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP). This is it! Both teams are going to leave it all on the court. Houston must be the first ones on the floor, taking charges, offensive rebounding, making tough free-throws, quieting the crowd when they go on a run, etc. WHATEVER it takes!!