Todd Golden explains Walter Clayton Jr. and his importance to Florida
Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. has done a bit of everything for the Florida Gators this season, but that was never more clear than in the Elite Eight against Texas Tech.
The Gators’ March Madness hopes were almost destroyed as they faced a 75-66 deficit with under three minutes left in the game. Thomas Haugh hit two three-pointers in a row to bring the score to within 75-72. Clayton was the assist-man on both of those shots.
The Lake Wales, Florida product then made a three-pointer of his own to tie the game and after Darrion Williams gave Tech the lead back with a layup, Clayton hit this move and shot that with 59 seconds left the gave the Gators a lead they never gave up.
Recently speaking with Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Florida head coach Todd Golden explained that those huge moments in March Madness can only be made by a star of Clayton’s caliber.
“You always want a veteran that’s experienced, that’s a great player, to be able to lead your team in those moments. And Walter’s done that for us all year,” Golden said (h/t On3). “So when he pulled that first three and knocked it down to tie the game, and then we go down two and he dribbles it back out and stops and pops off a quick kind of 180 turnaround, those are big-time shots that only a big-time player like him can take and make.”
Golden explained part of what makes Clayton Jr. special is his ability to be in those moments and not let them get too big for him.
“He’s able to just kind of contain his emotions and never get too high, never get too low,” Golden explained. “As he’s proven over these past couple weeks, no moment is too big for him.”
To that point, Clayton averaged 18.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game for the Gators during the regular season. Through four NCAA Tournament games, he’s averaging 22.3 points per game, so he’s absolutely stepped up his game.
Up next for the Gators is a Final Four matchup with SEC rival Auburn on Saturday. Florida will need Clayton Jr. to keep playing like a star in order to beat the team many considered the best in the nation for much of this season.
