The Elite Eight of March Madness brings sharp plays and surprise upsets. Two teams earn spots in the Final Four: Florida Gators and Duke Blue Devils. Florida fights back against Texas Tech, and Duke holds off Alabama.
Florida Completes Epic Comeback
In a tight game on the court, the Florida Gators beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders by 84-79. Florida, a No. 1 seed in the West, trailed by ten points in the second half. The Red Raiders, led by coach Grant McCasland, built a lead with a 12-2 run that used their tall players and strong drive.
For a while, Florida shot poorly. Then their three-point shots turned the game around. Thomas Haugh, who had 20 points and 11 rebounds, hit key three-pointers that started a 16-2 run. Walter Clayton Jr. scored 30 points. He made 22 points in the second half, which helped Florida take the lead with less than a minute left. Fans cheered as the team returned to the Final Four after many years. Their past play under coach Billy Donovan brought back warm memories.
Duke Shuts Down Alabama
At the same time, the Duke Blue Devils used strong defense against Alabama. Duke won by an 85-65 score. A pair of freshmen, Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach, played well from the start. Their teamwork made it very hard for Alabama to score. The team reached a point when Alabama scored nothing for four minutes, and they only hit 25% of their shots.
Duke did not let Alabama come back late in the game. Flagg scored 16 points. Knueppel and Maluach added 19 and 14 points. Their play stopped Alabama’s best, Mark Sears, who scored just six points. Duke grew from a team with early slips to one that now fights hard for the title.
Looking Ahead
Now that the Elite Eight is done, the Final Four in San Antonio awaits. Two strong teams now stand ready. Florida’s grit and Duke’s tough defense will face new tests as they fight for the championship. Fans get ready for a grand finish in college basketball’s top event.