San Francisco Later tonight, Florida hopes to qualify for the Final Four. The Texas Tech Red Raiders are positioned in the middle.
After defeating four seed Maryland 87-71 in the Sweet 16 on Thursday, the Gators advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for the tenth time in program history and the first since 2014.
The Gators, who are now riding a nine-game winning streak and are only one win away from the Final Four, maintained their run thanks to a well-balanced offensive approach, suffocating rebounding, and explosive second-half surges.
The top seed Gators (33-4) face No. 3 seed Texas Tech (28-8) in the West Regional final on Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET (TBS, 103.7-FM) at the Chase Center. Though an SEC showdown with Arkansas seemed possible for much of the night, a late Texas Tech comeback flipped the script, setting up a battle of offensive powerhouses.
The last time these two teams met in March, Texas Tech broke Gator hearts with a 69-66 win in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Overall, Florida holds a 2-1 series lead dating back to the 1960s, but history means little when a Final Four is on the line. UF third-year coach Todd Golden is counting on his team’s depth to be the difference-maker in this high-stakes showdown.
Florida’s Sweet 16 victory showcased exactly why this team is so dangerous. Six different players scored in double figures — just the second time that’s happened in Florida’s NCAA Tournament history. Will Richard led the way with 15 points, followed closely by Alijah Martin (14), Walter Clayton Jr. (13), Thomas Haugh (13), Denzel Aberdeen (12)vand Rueben Chinyelu (10).
Similar to Golden, Aberdeen also believes that depth has been one of Florida’s biggest strengths — and it’s showing up when it matters most.
Update on Injuries: Condon Plans to File a Suit
After sustaining a right ankle injury in the first half of the Maryland game, sophomore forward Alex Condon was able to return. With 13:29 remaining in the game, he returned and ended with six points, four rebounds, and one block to help the team win. In February, he was sidelined for two weeks due to an injured right ankle.
During Friday’s press conference, Condon gave an optimistic update despite the setback, stating that he has been undergoing continuous therapy and wants to be ready for the Elite Eight.
“I feel pretty good,” he remarked. Just a lot of care for the last twelve hours or so … I will ensure that it will be suitable for the Texas Tech game.
Prior to Saturday’s tip-off, Condon stated that he was still hopeful about his condition and intended to take it easy and minimize his weight-bearing activities during practice.
“That’s the current plan — I think I’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”
Texas Tech Keeps Fighting
Texas Tech, ranked No. 9 in the nation, earned its third Elite Eight appearance the hard way — erasing a 16-point deficit to stun Arkansas 85-83 in overtime Thursday. Darrion Williams played hero, sinking a game-tying 3 in the final 10 seconds of regulation, then scoring the game-winner in OT.
Williams has been nothing short of electrifying in March, averaging 20.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game through three NCAA Tournament contests. He’s joined by a core of rising stars: freshman Christian Anderson, who dropped a career-high 22 points against Arkansas, and JT Toppin, who notched his 18th double-double with 20 points, 10 boards and five blocks.
Texas Tech’s roster is long, athletic and gritty — built to wear teams down and fight until the buzzer. Through three games, Toppin is averaging a double-double (20.3 PPG, 10.7 RPG) and Anderson and Elijha Hawkins are each chipping in 11.3 points per game.
What’s At Stake
The Gators are 9-1 in their last 10 games, averaging 90.5 points, 37.9 rebounds, 16.2 assists, 6.9 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.8 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Red Raiders are 8-2 in their last 10 games, averaging 78.8 points, 34.7 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 4.6 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.4 points.
A spot in the 2025 Final Four in San Antonio’s Alamodome awaits the winner. Florida is chasing its first appearance since 2014, while Texas Tech hopes to return for the first time since its national title game run in 2019.
If No. 3-ranked Florida advances, it would face the Sunday (5:05 p.m. ET, CBS) winner of the South Region final between top seed Auburn (31-5) and two seed Michigan State (30-6) on April 5. One more game, one more win — and the Gators could be back on the biggest stage in college basketball.
