Florida Gators Star and 2025 NCAA tournament The most excellent player Walter Clayton Jr. Still talking to his teammates about what happened Monday night in San Antonio.

How could they not, after winning a hard-fought national championship with a 65-63 NCAA Tournament Final victory over Houston Cougars?

It came down to maximum effort on the last game of the game, where Houston, to the shock of everyone saw, never got a shot off for a potential draw or victory when the last sum sounded.

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But Clayton and his teammates made it difficult for Cougars to get a clean look at the hanger, including Claytons close to Emanuel Sharp over the 3-point line, which iced the victory after the Houston Guard couldn’t touch the ball again after dropping it.

Clayton, who worked with a festive “shift” by raising Cane’s in Gainesville, Florida, Thursday, talked to Pakinomist Digital about what he saw in the last seconds.

“I saw a lot going on,” he explained over the phone. “We felt they would either try to get something to [L.J.] Cryer or [J’Wan] Roberts. So they ran some action to the right side of the wing. [Florida’s] Will [Richard] and Alijah [Martin] Did a great job of pushing the ball. Sharp kinda slid down there to baseline. I thought he would put a back screen for Roberts, so I sat down there in the paint a little.

Houston’s Kelvin Sampson about final possession of titled loss: ‘You need to get a shot’

“He ended up slipping it, so then just thought in the head, ‘got out there and disputed the shot.’ [I] Skipped to the side, he ended up with some kind of pumping foot and threw the ball down, and I would definitely say I was a little surprised that they didn’t get a shot off, knowing that you should get one of the moment. “

Clayton and Gators do not complain that a shot was never set up by Houston. Cougars -Head coach Kelvin Sampson admitted his own surprise during his comments after Postgame and said, “You need to get a shot” in that situation.

Clayton gave some insight into what Gators was looking for at the other end of the floor as the game resumes.

“We talked about those who were running a flare screen for cryes or a back screen for Roberts,” Clayton said. “So we felt they would be the two options they went to. They ended up throwing ourselves off with the little surprise, but we were ready for everything to happen.”

Houston Cougars Guard Emanuel Sharp (21) shoots against Florida Gators Guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) In the second half of the 2025 National Championship Game on Alamodome. (Robert Deutsch/IMAGN -Pictures)

Looking back on the last spectacle, it seemed that Houston was playing a game for Cryer who picked up the ball to get it again after some screens were put. But Florida snuck it out and Richard was right in his face when he received the pass.

Sharp then ran away from Clayton to meet Cryer for a passport, and he hoped to get rid of a 3-pointer for the victory. But Clayton timed his leap perfectly and the rest goes down in history when Florida won his first title since 2007.

“Man, it feels good,” Clayton said when asked to be a national champion. “I honestly can’t even explain the feeling. Me and some of the guys still talk about it. It still doesn’t feel right, but it’s just a good feeling to bring it back to Gainesville.”

Alijah Martin, Walter Clayton Jr. And Thomas Haugh is in front of the breeding of Cane’s. (Raising Cane’s)

Clayton was with Martin and Thomas Hough by raising Cane’s, just as hundreds of Gators fans celebrated the title.

Clayton will be in search of his next championship in NBA as a projected lottery pick in this year’s NBA draft.