Chalky NCAA Tournament sets up historic Final Four matchups, best storylines

ATLANTA — For the second time in NCAA Tournament history, all four 1-seeds will play in the Final Four. After a chalky first weekend continued through the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, there is plenty to get excited about entering the final week of college basketball.

While there is no Cinderella left dancing, the matchups at hand provide so many great storylines to follow. Expect historic ratings to follow.

Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida have all proven themselves to be the best teams throughout the season, and will now compete head-to-head for the national championship. Pair that with big brands on the front of the jersey, and the interest in San Antonio should be sky-high over the coming days.

On Friday, Florida mounted a massive comeback to advance past Texas Tech, becoming the first team to clinch its Final Four spot. They were followed by a big-time Duke performance which held off Alabama and ended any shot for the SEC sweep the spots available.

Saturday saw Houston announce themselves to the world as a true title contender, blowing out Tennessee with little struggle past the opening tip. Finally, Auburn sealed the first all-1-seed Final Four since 2008 – and second all-time – by taking down Michigan State.

Now, the storylines get good. Whatever March Madness lacked in early Cinderella narratives and buzzer-beater shots, it will make up for this week.

Auburn vs. Florida

Auburn and Florida boast two must-watch storylines which are sure to build hype. From the matchup on the floor to the impact on college basketball’s hierarchy, this one has it all.

First, and most important to the result of the individual matchup, is the relationship between Bruce Pearl and Todd Golden. The Florida coach previously spent time on the Auburn staff, working for Pearl before continuing his career at multiple stops on his way back to the SEC. Their familiarity has already become a story in early matchups, and produced some big on-court performances which helped turn both teams into juggernauts. Now that kind of hype reaches the Final Four as both coaches look for their first national title.

Along with that, there is the story which continues to follow the SEC and its dominance throughout the 2024-25 season. The regular season champion and conference tournament champion now face off for a chance to play in the national title game. With no conference rivals left on the other side of the bracket, it will also set the stage for which SEC team can seal the deal and put any debate to rest regarding the historic season.

Duke vs. Houston

Duke and Houston bring two primary storylines of their own to the table, ready to rival the SEC teams for the best matchup. Two historic programs are in position to write their names in history.

In a classic battle of offense vs. defense, fans and scouts alike get a chance to see Cooper Flagg and the rest of the potential NBA draft picks at Duke go up against the best defensive unit in college basketball over recent seasons. Houston will not shy away against the big names, looking to drag the game to the pace and score they want, while picking apart weaknesses.

Beyond that, these are two programs looking to cement legacies with a national championship. Both Kelvin Sampson and Jon Scheyer are looking for their first national title. Cooper Flagg is also there to build his standing in basketball history with another early accolade next to his name. This championship would come with extra juice this season too, becoming the team able to knock off the SEC in what has become the best season in college basketball history.