SAN ANTONIO — Walter Clayton Jr.’s introduction to March Insanity got here 14 years in the past.
It was the time that Kemba Walker put Connecticut on his again, main the Huskies to a Large East Match crown and an surprising NCAA Match title.
“Kemba on one of the biggest stages was calm, cool and collected,” Clayton mentioned. “Just watching that, I kind of admired that. He was able to just zone himself out, just play his game.”
That’s how Clayton’s teammates have described him. He’s now one win away from pulling off a virtually actual imitation of Cardiac Kemba.
The previous Iona College star’s large match now features a memorable Remaining 4 efficiency, after he lifted No. 1 seed Florida previous fellow No. 1 Auburn 79-73 on the Alamodome on Saturday night time.
The Gators will face Houston, which beat Duke, in Monday’s championship recreation
This wasn’t as dramatic as his second-half outbursts in come-from-behind wins over No. 9 Connecticut within the second spherical and No. 3 Texas Tech within the Elite Eight.
However it was simply as spectacular, Clayton going off for 34 factors and 5 3-pointers on 11-for-18 taking pictures — the primary 30-point effort within the Remaining 4 since Carmelo Anthony in 2003, and simply the fifteenth ever.
“I feel like I’m ready for Monday,” Clayton mentioned after changing into the primary participant with consecutive 30-point video games within the Elite Eight or later since Larry Hen in 1979. “I’m ready to get to Monday, hopefully get the job done.”
Once more, he was at his greatest in crunch time.
Clayton scored 10 factors within the remaining 4:29, and 20 within the second half. His 3-point play with 1:33 to go pushed Florida’s result in six, after he had scored on a driving layup on the earlier possession, going previous Auburn ahead Dylan Cardwell like he wasn’t there.
Clayton’s emergence is straight out of a Hollywood script.
An under-recruited child who solely had mid- and low-major scholarship affords popping out of highschool, Clayton caught the eye of coach Rick Pitino, then at Iona, and developed right into a star underneath his tutelage.
Clayton then went again dwelling after his sophomore yr and flirted with going professional final spring, solely to return to guide Florida to a spot within the nationwide championship recreation for the primary time since 2007.
The coach of that staff, Billy Donovan, was in attendance Saturday night time. Earlier within the day, the Bulls head coach was elected to the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame.
“He raised the bar pretty high at Florida,” mentioned coach Todd Golden, whose staff improved to 35-4. “There’s some pretty high expectations now because of what he was able to do in his time there.”
Alijah Martin added 17 factors for Florida and Thomas Haugh had 12.
Chad Baker-Mazara scored 18 factors for Auburn (32-6) and Johni Broome had 15.
The Gators, trailing by 9 early within the second half, turned the sport with their protection.
They compelled 12 Auburn turnovers and restricted them to 33.3 p.c taking pictures after halftime.
Throughout the intermission, Haugh mentioned Clayton delivered a pep speak to the Florida frontcourt, which struggled within the early going.
Clayton’s message was easy: Overlook in regards to the stakes. Play your recreation.
“I just told them I love them and I’m with them regardless,” Clayton mentioned.
The Gators forwards responded, limiting Broome, the SEC Participant of the 12 months, to simply three factors after halftime and proudly owning the inside.
Clayton and Martin saved Florida shut within the first half, combining for twenty-four factors on 8-for-15 taking pictures, and it was Clayton and Martin once more early within the second half, the 2 producing eight factors in an 11-0 burst that turned a nine-point deficit right into a two-point Florida lead.
From there, Clayton was in management, making the identical large photographs he has hit all through this match.
“Clayton was the difference,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl mentioned. “He was just flat out the difference. We couldn’t contain him down at that end.”
Clayton didn’t present a lot emotion, even after Florida had superior to its first title recreation since 2007.
That’s simply his approach. He promised he would if the Gators have been the final staff standing Monday night time.
“You see the biggest smile on my face for sure,” he mentioned.
