As March comes to an end and with it the tail end of March Madness, the Final Four for the men’s NCAA tournament is set, with all number 1 seeds making it through to the National Championship semifinals. In the first semifinal, SEC heavyweights Auburn Tigers and Florida Gators will fight it out, while Duke Blue Devils and Houston Cougars will battle each other for the second ticket to the National Championship game.

This year’s tournament has been special for Jewish fans, with each Final Four team having a special connection.

Auburn Tigers: Bruce Pearl

Pearl is a veteran college basketball coach and the current head coach of the Auburn Tigers. Known for his fiery personality and high-octane playing style, Pearl has revitalized several programs over his career, including Milwaukee, Tennessee and now Auburn, where he previously led the Tigers to the Final Four in 2019.

His coaching career is marked by a strong emphasis on pressure defense, player development, and a passionate fan base wherever he goes. Despite some NCAA controversies earlier in his career, Pearl has remained a major figure in college hoops.

Pearl is proudly Jewish and has been vocal about his heritage. He coached the USA men’s basketball team at the 2009 Maccabiah Games in Israel, where he won gold. In the summer of 2022, Pearl’s Auburn team toured Israel. More recently, Pearl has been vocal in his support for Israel and calling for the hostages to be returned:

“It starts with my faith and it starts with the question, Why has G-d blessed Auburn and this basketball team all season long? I honestly think it’s to put us in a platform for myself, a Jewish American who loves this country more than anything else – my grandfather came over here at 11 years old in 1921, he became a citizen at 32 years old and said it was the greatest day of his life. This Jewish American loves his country more than anything else. At the same time, over in Israel, that’s our ancestral homeland for the Jewish people, and it’s under attack. It’s under attack and under siege and all it wants to do is live in peace with its neighbors. And you know what? There are some Arab countries actually wanting peace with Israel right now. But there’s a segment of the population in the middle east that has been doing nothing but attack Israel for 85 years. October 7th was the worst say since the Holocaust for the Jewish people. They say they want to do it again and again and again. We have Americans that are held hostage in Gaza right now. It’s unacceptable and President Trump has called it out. He said, if they would just free the hostages the killing would stop. Free the hostages and the killing will stop. That’s up to Hamas.”

Florida Gators: Todd Golden

Golden is the head coach of the University of Florida men’s basketball team and one of the rising stars in the coaching world. A former player at Saint Mary’s College, Golden transitioned quickly into coaching after two seasons with Maccabi Haifa in Israel’s Premier League, with early coaching stops as an assistant at Auburn (under Bruce Pearl) and head coach at the University of San Francisco, where he gained a reputation for analytics-driven strategy and a modern approach to the game. His move to Florida marked a big step up, and he’s seen as a forward-thinking coach with a strong recruiting touch.

In addition to his professional career taking place solely in Israel, Golden, who is Jewish, was Team USA’s co-captain under coach Bruce Pearl for the gold medal winning campaign at the 2009 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Duke Blue Devils: Jon Scheyer

Scheyer is the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, having succeeded legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski in 2022. A former McDonald’s All-American and standout player at Duke, Scheyer captained the team to a National Championship in 2010. After a brief professional playing career, including a stint with Maccabi Tel Aviv, he returned to Durham as an assistant, eventually becoming Coach K’s handpicked successor. Scheyer has already made waves on the recruiting trail and is seen as a strong continuation of Duke’s elite basketball tradition.

Scheyer is Jewish and has spoken openly about his background; he played for the U.S. in the Maccabiah Games and was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Houston Cougars: Emanuel Sharp

Sharp is a rising college basketball star, currently playing as a guard for the University of Houston Cougars. Known for his scoring ability, strong frame, and perimeter shooting, Sharp has emerged as a key contributor on one of the top teams in the NCAA. Born in Tel Aviv, he brings a unique international experience and toughness to his game. Sharp has also represented Israel at youth international levels, showcasing his talent on both sides of the Atlantic.

He is Jewish and holds dual Israeli-American citizenship; his Jewish identity comes through his Israeli father, former professional player and Maccabi legend, 2-time EuroLeague champion Derrick Sharp.

Following the Cougars’ Elite Eight victory over Purdue 62-60 – a game in which Sharp scored 17 points in 35 minutes – Derrick Sharp responded to fan Noam Sharlish on Twitter, who wrote that Sharp the son is better than his father: “You are 1000% correct!! It was my dream to have sons that are better than me!! That’s how I raised them all including Derrick Sharp Jnr, Gabriel Sharp, Maya Sharp and Noah Sharp!! We are truly blessed!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🪬🪬🪬”

You are 1000% correct!! It was my dream to have sons that are better than me!! That’s how I raised them all including @djsharp6 Gabriel Sharp, Maya Sharp and Noah Sharp!! We are truly blessed!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🪬🪬🪬

— Derrick L. Sharp (@DerrickSharp) March 30, 2025

This year’s Final Four will take place at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The semifinals are schedule to take place on Saturday April 5, with the National Championship game to tip-off on Monday April 7.