As they made their way back onto the court to cut down the nets, performing the Gator chomp all along the way, they passed SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. He stood there stoically looking out into the crowd before eventually flashing a thumbs up and letting out a sly grin to his wife, Cathy.

Walter Clayton Jr. is having an NCAA Tournament for the ages. Florida now just needs him to deliver one more time. Set to face Houston in the title game Monday night at the Alamodome, the Gators finally are getting a shot at another national championship after another special performance from their All-America guard.

The exact moment the SEC became a basketball conference is still up for debate. What Rick Barnes can tell you is when his league was barely known for basketball. It was 1987, the beginning of what will someday be a hall of fame career for Tennessee's current coach.

At a hearing for the settlement of three cases vs. the NCAA, Judge Claudia Wilken says she has some concerns that need to be dealt with before she gives final approval.

The SEC regular-season champion Tigers face the conference tournament-winning Gators on Saturday in the first all-SEC matchup in the history of the Final Four.

Notable: Rupp retired at the end of the 1971-72 season, and Hall led the Wildcats back to the Final Four three years later. The first 32-team NCAA tournament was also the last for legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, who retired after winning his 10th national championship. Top players: Jack Givens, Rick Robey, Kyle Macy

Celebrate Florida basketball's epic run to winning the 2025 NCAA championship with commemorative book and page prints from The Gainesville Sun.

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College basketball experts reveal 2025 NCAA March Madness score predictions and national championship picks for Houston vs. Florida