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ESPN Analyst Called It: How Florida's Relentless Resilience Delivered a Title

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Martinez | Last updated Apr 9, 2025 8:04 PM ET

The Florida Gators were down nine to UConn in the Elite Eight, ten to Texas Tech in the Final Four, and twelve to Houston in the title game. Each time, they stared down the deficit, steadied themselves, and stormed back.

On Monday night, they cemented their place in history, becoming the only national champion in the last twenty years to overcome a second-half deficit of at least nine points in the Elite Eight, Final Four, and championship game—and doing it with their best player struggling.

When ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg picked Florida to win it all before the tournament, he saw what others didn't: a team built not just to win, but to survive.

Resilience in Real Time

Even when Walter Clayton Jr.—the engine of Florida's tournament run—was held scoreless in the first half of the title game, the Gators didn't panic. Instead, they turned to defense, toughness, and a refusal to settle. When asked about how the Gators came back Greenberg gave his thoughts.

"The resilience they got back in this game. How do you get back in the game? You get back by getting stops," Greenberg said Tuesday morning on Get Up. "Down the stretch, they got stops. And when they got stops, they took advantage—not by settling, but by getting downhill."

This wasn't just about one game. Florida's DNA was tested—and proven—repeatedly:

"They didn't flinch against UConn, they didn't flinch against Texas Tech, and they didn't flinch on the biggest stage," Greenberg said. "Different guys impacted winning. That's what champions do."

What It All Means

This Florida team wasn't just talented—it was unbreakable. When Clayton couldn't carry them, Thomas Haugh crashed the glass. When Houston's defense locked in, Denzel Aberdeen attacked the rim. And when the moment was biggest, Todd Golden's calm leadership kept them steady.

As Greenberg put it: "They made the plays they had to make on both ends to win a banner."

And now, after the greatest string of comebacks in modern tournament history, that banner is theirs.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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