Auburn completes wave of No. 1 seeds into Final Four • Defense carries Cougars past Vols into Houston’s 7th Final Four
Sentinel Sports Final Monday, March 31, 2025 | | |
| | | | Clayton Jr. fuels UF's march to Final Four | Auburn up next for Gators while Duke gets Houston | As Magic clinch postseason spot, guard Cole Anthony’s return nears | | | | UF’s All-American point guard Walter Clayton Jr. arrived in the basketball-rich Bay Area and led the Gators to the Final Four. | | | | | Auburn (32-5) earned its second Final Four trip — where the Tigers will face Florida following their 70-64 victory — while Michigan State (30-7) fell short in its bid to send coach Tom Izzo to his ninth national semifinal. | | | | | L.J. Cryer finished with 17 points, Emanuel Sharp scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and the nation's stingiest defense delivered a historic NCAA Tournament performance en route to a 69-50 victory. | | | | | Fortunately for the Magic, they didn't need Cole Anthony against the Kings, but the reserve guard believes he's close to returning from a left toe strain. | | | | | Markelle Fultz told reporters in the locker room prior to tip-off at Kia Center he's in regular contact with his former Magic teammates. "It's a lifetime relationship that I have with these guys," the former Orlando guard said. | | | | | The Knights have several starters returning to balance a talented group that should enhance the team's pass rushing abilities. | | | | | Florida held one more day of regular practice with a revised date for the opening scrimmage set for Tuesday. | | | | | Hurricanes receiver Ray Ray Joseph was a four-star prospect, but he played a limited role in his first two years at UM. Instead of transferring, he stayed with his hometown team and is now competing for a starting role. | | | | | Jonathan Aranda scored on Junior Caminero's single to give the Rays the lead and spark a four-run sixth inning. | | | | | With the 55th victory of his career (tying NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time list), Hamlin also snapped a 31-race winless streak since last April at Dover. | | | | | On the LPGA Tour in Arizona, Hyo Joo Kim overcame a 4-shot deficit to force a playoff, which she won on the extra hole with a 6-foot birdie putt in the Ford Championship. | | | |
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