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Men's Final Four 2025: Full Breakdown, Predictions and Stars to Watch
Cinderella will not be found at the Final Four. Instead, the favorites are headed to the last weekend of the 2025 men's NCAA tournament.
Auburn, Duke, Florida and Houston make up the championship field this season. The quartet is a mix of programs with zero national titles (Auburn and Houston), a two-time winner (Florida) and a longtime powerhouse (Duke).
They're all headed to San Antonio with dreams of cutting down the nets.
This preview includes a snapshot of every team, along with storylines, the biggest stars and predictions for the national semifinals.
Final Four Schedule
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Saturday, April 5
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 1 Auburn; 6:09 p.m. ET (CBS)
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 1 Duke; 8:49 p.m. ET (CBS)
Monday, April 7
Florida/Auburn vs. Houston/Duke; 8:50 p.m. ET (CBS)
All games played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Florida Gators
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Record: 34-4 (No. 1 seed in West)
Path to Final Four: 95-69 vs. No. 16 Norfolk State; 77-75 vs. No. 8 Connecticut; 87-71 vs. Maryland; 84-79 vs. Texas Tech
Biggest Strengths: Florida's dynamic offense, led by the tremendous backcourt of Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard, is third nationally at 85.4 points per game. The team's 38.9 offensive rebound rate is seventh nationally, as well.
Biggest Weaknesses: Not much! Opponents have at least exposed some vulnerability in UF's post defense, though. Florida hasn't led by more than three points at halftime in any of the last three games, either, so a slow start leading to a notable early deficit is plausible.
What to Expect
Clayton is the catalyst, and that gifted trio on the perimeter is the collective engine of the Gators. All three are volume three-point shooters and, most importantly, make at least 35 percent of them.
But don't overlook the value of the frontcourt.
Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh are ideal complements who provide long-range spacing, each averaging at least two offensive rebounds and two assists. Rueben Chinyelu also offers 6.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
As long as their defensive intensity doesn't wane—and in the Final Four, you'd think it would not—the Gators will be a force.
Auburn Tigers
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Record: 32-5 (No. 1 seed in South)
Path to Final Four: 83-63 vs. No. 16 Alabama State; 82-70 vs. No. 9 Creighton; 78-65 vs. No. 5 Michigan; 70-64 vs. No. 2 Michigan State
Biggest Strengths: The offense is full of solutions. Johni Broome is a powerful post scorer and smart passer, and he's comfortable shooting threes. Tahaad Pettiford and Chad Baker-Mazara are isolation playmakers, while Miles Kelly and Denver Jones are efficient, high-volume perimeter options. Auburn is 11th nationally with a 29.6 three-point percentage allowed, too.
Biggest Weaknesses: Among the Final Four group, Auburn has the worst total rebound and offensive rebounding rates allowed. Also, the Tigers have buried just 30.2 percent of three-point attempts since the start of the SEC tournament.
What to Expect
Auburn is, in a word, relentless.
Whether it's from the barrage of scorers on offense—six players average at least 9.2 points—or a feisty defense, the Tigers are a never-ending thorn. They protect the ball, hit threes and make it difficult on opposing playmakers.
The team's brand of physicality and aggression is fun to watch, but an unfavorable whistle could get Auburn in foul trouble quickly. Chad Baker-Mazara, while he and AU fans alike are probably tired of hearing about this, also has a history of technical and flagrant fouls to monitor.
Nevertheless, the best version of Auburn is spectacular and clearly worthy of winning a national championship.
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Houston Cougars
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Record: 34-4 (No. 1 seed in Midwest)
Path to Final Four: 78-40 vs. No. 16 SIU Edwardsville; 81-76 vs. No. 8 Gonzaga; 62-60 vs. No. 4 Purdue; 69-50 vs. No. 2 Tennessee
Biggest Strengths: As usual, this defense is suffocating. Houston leads the nation in opponent field-goal percentage (38.2) and points allowed per game (58.3). On the offensive end, the Coogs are fifth nationally with a 39.7 three-point clip.
Biggest Weaknesses: Because the team plays such a slow tempo (360th nationally, per KenPom), prolonged scoring droughts are possible. It's worth mentioning UH doesn't have a rotation player who stands above 6'8", even as the Cougars, obviously, have handled that difference well all season.
What to Expect
Nothing comes easy against Houston, which is 26th nationally in both total rebound rate and opponent turnover rate.
And that grinding pace exacerbates the challenge.
Auburn, Duke and Florida all average 83-plus points per game; Houston has reached that mark in only six contests all season. Kelvin Sampson's team lives in half-court sets and forces opponents to slowly break down a rock-solid defense.
Houston is 15th nationally in offensive rebound rate—impressive, given the relatively small rotation—but ranks 296th in two-point percentage. Prevent second chances, and the Coogs may be vulnerable.
But that, obviously, is easier said than done to a team that's won 30 of its last 31 games.
Duke Blue Devils
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Record: 35-3 (No. 1 seed in East)
Path to Final Four: 93-49 vs. No. 16 Mount St. Mary's; 89-66 vs. No. 9 Baylor; 100-93 vs. No. 4 Arizona; 85-65 vs. No. 2 Alabama
Biggest Strengths: Just everything. The offense is remarkably efficient both inside the paint and on the perimeter, and the defense—with each rotation piece standing 6'5" or taller—is stacked with versatility.
Biggest Weaknesses: The intangible of experience is the only thing lacking on a freshman-led roster. As for a data-driven problem? Good luck finding one.
What to Expect
Duke's superpower is having an answer to any obstacle.
Guard them straight up, and four players can break down a defense. Switch everything, and there's a mismatch to be found. Drop into a zone, and the Blue Devils have seven competent three-point shooters.
On the other end, Duke is comfortable handing off assignments because of its ridiculous length. Even the post players will pester smaller guards. Duke typically won't force a bunch of turnovers but contests nearly every shot and ranks 11th nationally in total rebound rate.
Duke boasts the most NBA-caliber talent on any of these rosters. The key, though, is how well the group is playing together.
Stars to Watch
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Auburn: Johni Broome
Tournament Stats: 17.3 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG
Broome, a front-runner for National Player of the Year, is a do-everything star who thrives down low, controls the glass and protects the rim. Auburn needs his playmaking skills to return—he's notched just seven assists in the SEC and NCAA tourneys combined—but Broome is a complete weapon. The lone concern is his health after an awkward fall on his left leg and right elbow in the Elite Eight.
Duke: Cooper Flagg
Tournament Stats: 19.5 PPG (42.9 3P%), 7.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.8 BPG
The other NPOY candidate, Flagg has matched or surpassed all expectations in his freshman season. Although it's easiest to notice Flagg's all-around contributions on offense, his high-level energy and anticipation at 6'9" make him the foundation of Duke's defense, too.
Florida: Walter Clayton Jr.
Tournament Stats: 22.3 PPG (45.2 3P%), 2.8 APG, 2.8 RPG
Clayton is, put simply, an overwhelming playmaker. He's quick on the dribble, comfortable in traffic, crafty at the rim and precise on the perimeter. Throw in his ability to isolate and make contested shots, and Clayton is a nightmare to defend.
Houston: LJ Cryer
Tournament Stats: 16.8 PPG (39.4 3P%), 4.0 APG, 2.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG
The cohesiveness of Houston's defense is the team's primary appeal. But when the offense needs an answer, Cryer is the first choice. He poured in 30 points as the Coogs clipped Gonzaga and—despite having a rough day in the Sweet 16—still stepped up to bury a late, clutch three against Purdue.
Biggest Storylines
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Auburn, Houston Vie for Historic Title
Neither program has celebrated a national championship win. This is Auburn's second trip to the Final Four, while Houston has fallen short in six previous trips—including two losses in the title matchup. Cutting down the nets would give Auburn's Bruce Pearl or Houston's Kelvin Sampson, two respected coaches, a crowning career achievement.
Former Pearl Assistant Eyes Banner for Florida
Pearl accepted the Auburn job in 2014, and that initial staff included Todd Golden. Now the head coach at Florida, the protege is taking on the master in the national semifinals. Golden has helped the Gators rise from 16-17 in his debut season two years ago to 24-12 and 34-4 with a shot at a championship.
Duke Freshmen Aim at 1-and-Done Crown
Generally speaking, teams loaded with one-and-done players don't win a national title. The most recent exceptions are 2012 Kentucky and 2015 Duke. Will the Blue Devils put together an outlier run again? Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and Isaiah Evans—the first three being projected lottery picks, per B/R's Jonathan Wasserman—have a terrific chance to achieve it.
Final Four Predictions
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Florida vs. Auburn
David Kenyon: Florida
Kerry Miller: Auburn
Joel Reuter: Auburn
Houston vs. Duke
David Kenyon: Duke
Kerry Miller: Duke
Joel Reuter: Duke
Picks for the national championship from B/R's college basketball staff will be included in a preview for the title game.
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