As March Madness heads into its thrilling Final Four, the SEC has made a strong statement, sending half of the teams into the penultimate round of the tournament. Among these teams, Florida stands out as the SEC’s best chance to dethrone Duke and capture the national title.
Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams, hosts of the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, recently discussed the Final Four matchups and shared their thoughts on which SEC team—Florida or Auburn—has the best shot at toppling Duke. While Duke is widely considered the tournament favorite, both hosts agreed that Florida has the tools necessary to pull off the upset.
For Toppmeyer, it all comes down to the strength of veteran leadership, particularly from Florida’s senior guard, Walter Clayton Jr. “I trust veteran guards to become the stars of March Madness,” Toppmeyer said. Clayton has been one of the standout players of the tournament, and his ability to shine in clutch moments has been key to Florida’s success. Toppmeyer highlighted Florida’s balanced attack, noting that the team has multiple scoring threats but emphasized that when the game is on the line, Clayton is the go-to player.
Adams echoed this sentiment, adding, “Clayton’s heroics are becoming one of the top storylines of this tournament.” He pointed to Clayton’s pivotal performance against Texas Tech, where he passed up a contested shot in the paint to confidently step out and hit a critical 3-pointer. That kind of decisiveness and poise in big moments is something that Florida will need to overcome Duke’s powerhouse lineup.
To beat Duke, Florida must match fire with fire. The Blue Devils are known for their explosive offense and suffocating defense, but Florida’s array of 3-point shooters provides a potent counterattack. With the likes of Clayton leading the charge, the Gators’ perimeter shooting can keep Duke on its toes.
While the road to the championship is no easy feat, Toppmeyer and Adams are confident that Florida’s combination of veteran leadership, depth, and high-stakes performances positions them as the SEC’s best hope for a national title. As Adams put it, “The stars shine brightest in the NCAA Tournament,” and Clayton and his Gators could very well be the story that defines this year’s March Madness.
For now, all eyes will be on the Gators as they look to upset the odds and dethrone Duke in the Final Four.
