Welcome to Glass Slipper! I can’t say I know what the Nuggets are doing; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

Here are my 10 biggest takeaways after the 2025 men’s Final Four.

1. An iconic choke.

One made field goal for Duke in the final 10:30 of that loss. One. That’s a nine-and-under YMCA league statistic.

Just like that, Jon Scheyer becomes the latest college basketball coach to learn. Experience triumphs in March. No squad as reliant as the 2024-25 Blue Devils on one-and-done guys has ever claimed a national title. People will point to the Anthony Davis Kentucky team, but half of the players who appeared in the championship game for those Wildcats - including two starters - were non-freshmen. The exact same thing is true for the 2014-15 version Duke that won it all.

Zero first-year kids saw the floor on Monday evening. Seniority still rules.

2. Cooper Flagg’s legacy.

He’s probably one of the five best dudes I’ve personally witnessed at the collegiate level. Yet, there’s a singular image that will instantly come to mind whenever someone mentions his time in Durham. That half-stunned, half-incredulous expression he made, upon realizing that his dream was slipping away.

As sad as that is, nothing can change it.

3. A softened stance.

Alright, one final thing about the Blue Devils. Have you noticed that this new generation doesn’t hate them? For years, fans of the sport were programmed to root against Duke. Look at those smug guys. Slapping the floor, huddling after every foul, acting all arrogant. Oh, I can’t stand this program. You don’t really hear young people say that stuff anymore.

So, what changed? Well, it’s pretty simple; the Blue Devils just stopped winning titles. Like, I was literally in middle school the last time it happened. There’s no dominance to be jealous of, and no accomplishments to discredit. A ten year-old college basketball diehard is walking around right now, and they’ve never been alive for a Duke championship. What reason do they have to hate? The landscape does not have a villain at the moment.

4. Vindicated.

Auburn was on top all season long, and I told you incessantly that it would ultimately crumble. After taking control of that Florida contest, the Tigers gave up a 42-25 run and sent the ever-irritating Charles Barkley into a state of unadulterated misery. I tried to warn you.

5. Disaster strikes.

No matter who you were rooting for to hoist the trophy, watching Emanuel Sharp unravel in the final moments was absolutely gut-wrenching. Twitter was unfortunately not the prettiest place after those two late turnovers; I sincerely hope he’s doing alright today.

Come back to Houston for your senior campaign, and shut these folks up. I believe in you, buddy.

6. An Ian Eagle evaluation.

He’s likable, creative, and knowledgeable. At the same time, I just don’t get an immediate big-game feel from his voice. Could it be because he spends many of his nights working low-stakes Brooklyn Nets contests? Probably.

College football’s signature play-by-play guy is Gus Johnson, and the MLB now has the universally-beloved Joe Davis. I’m not sure Eagle ever reaches that territory.

7. Walter Clayton is a first-round pick.

I mean, why not? Here are his stats from this season, lined up next to the lone college campaign of last year’s No. 29 overall selection.

They’re the same size, neither were good defenders coming out, and Collier’s USC team was absolute garbage. I would say Clayton has earned a Day 1 spot.

8. Dilemma time for Tahaad Pettiford.

Speaking of the draft, I think this is the most fascinating decision of them all. Pettiford legitimately looks like a left-handed Allen Iverson when he’s cooking, but he could really benefit from being a squad’s lead ball handler for a season.

Honestly? I would transfer. Auburn is going to be bad; posting gaudy-yet-inefficient numbers like 2019-20 Cole Anthony won’t prove anything. Tahaad needs to find an elite program with a proven head coach, who is searching for a star point guard. In other words, he should go to UConn.

9. A message to Houston fans.

Stay patient, guys. Villanova had to wait, Virginia had to wait, and Baylor had to wait. Your moment is coming.

10. My unreasonably early 2026 Final Four picks.

Kansas, Purdue, BYU, and UCLA. Incoming five-star Darryn Peterson and Bill Self take the Jayhawks back to the mountaintop. This prediction will definitely change by the end of the month.

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