Will Walter Clayton Jr’s ongoing Steph Curry impression carry the Gators to a third national title? Or will the Cougars’ suffocating defense unlock the program’s first?
The Gators need to push the pace and turn it into a high-possession game, disrupting the Cougars’ grind-it-out style. They also must knock down perimeter shots early to stretch Houston’s stingy defense, which is the best in the country by any metric. Limiting turnovers against the Cougars’ ball pressure and winning the rebounding battle to create second-chance points will be critical, same for composure in late-game possessions against Houston’s relentless physicality. Bryan Armen Graham
