Wegs Pool: We Have A Champion

We had two top teams trading blows all night, but only one would come away a Champion.

Incredible Finish Again

In the first half, it was definitely like a heavyweight fight, as the teams were feeling each other out. Neither team was very sharp, as the teams combined for 0-13 from behind the arc to start. However, Houston was able to grab the lead early on, and mainly because they were able to bottle up the tournament’s leading scorer, Walter Clayton, Jr. who went scoreless in the half. It also didn’t help that F Alex Condon had 3 traveling violations along with 6 other Gator TOs. Houston was able to grab 6 offensive rebounds and seemed like they were playing volleyball at times tipping the ball back and off the glass for more opportunities. Two of the unsung heroes early on Offense for the Cougars were F Ja’Vier Francis (8 points 6 rebounds) and G Mylik Wilson (9 points) who gave them 13 first half points off the bench. Still, the Gators started to change their tactics and G Will Richard (18 for the game) kept Florida within striking distance with 4 triples and 14 total first half points. Houston took a 31-28 advantage into the break.

In the 2nd, Florida needed to make adjustments to the Houston D, could the Gators respond to the physical nature of the game and still cut into that lead? The Gators were whistled for 5 quick fouls including 2 on Offense that allowed the Cougars to stretch the lead to 12 early on. Houston had Florida completely stymied. It appeared that the Gator will was broken with just under 16 minutes to play at 42-30 – their largest deficit of the tournament. After a timeout, Florida responded with 4 straight points to get the lead down to 8, as Clayton finally scored his first points with 2 free throws (5:03 into the 2nd half). The issue was Houston got into the bonus at 14:07 left, which gave them a huge advantage. In my opinion, all the calls on both teams took away from the flow of the game. However, the Gators showed some grit – a layup then G Alijah Martin hit a triple, F Thomas Haugh (5 points, 5 rebounds) blocked LJ Cryer on a three leading to a 3 point play on the break to cut the lead to 45-42 in just a few minutes. We had a game again. The Cougars responded with a 3 point shot to end the run. Then, the Gators pushed some more with Denzel Aberdeen (7 points) hitting 2 free throws, a free throw by Rueben Chinyelu (3 points, 5 boards), and Clayton making a tough 3 point play to tie the game at 48. Houston would respond, as Chinyelu was called for a foul on Ju’Wan Roberts (8 points, 8 rebounds), and he slammed the ball to get a Tech – 2 Cryer (19 points, 6 rebounds) free throws and one by Roberts put the lead back to 51-50. Clayton responded again with yet another 3 point play to tie at 51. Blow for blow, these teams were responding. Back and forth they went until after a Francis dunk got the game back to 60-57 and a 3 point advantage, yet Clayton responded again (finished with 11 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds) by drilling a triple to tie the game again. Down the stretch, it took the Florida D to hold HOU to just one free throw over the final 2:28, and they kept driving the lane over and over again and hit 5 of 6 free throws to get their first lead since early in the game when G Alijah Martin (7 points) hit 2 free throws at 64-63 with 46.5 seconds to go. On the next possession, Houston’s Sharp dribbled the ball off his leg, then Aberdeen hit one of 2 free throws setting up the final possession. Houston had the ball with 19.7 seconds down 65-63, the Cougars went for the win. Sharp rose up, but didn’t shoot, dropped the ball, didn’t go after it in fear of a travelling call, then Condon (12 points, 7 rebounds) dove on the ball as time expired for a Florida Championship!!! HC Todd Golden becomes the youngest coach to win the title since Jimmy V in 1983 who also beat the Cougars. An incredible comeback for a team that needed to out-grit, the gritty Cougars. Walter Clayton, Jr. was awarded the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

Final Score: Florida 65 Houston 63

Wegs Pool Results

Many of the Poolsters probably thought they were in the money with the Cougars controlling the game, but the Gators’ late run changed the final leaderboard.

Wegs Pool Final Standings

Quite a tournament. Thank you all for participating. See you all next year.

Wegs