The NCAA Tournament is reaching its climax, and on April 5th, we get an all-SEC Final Four showdown: Auburn vs. Florida. For Bruce Pearl and the Tigers, this one won’t be as straightforward as their win over Michigan State. Florida comes in as a slight favorite (anywhere between 2-5 points) and has already beaten Auburn once this season—a 90-81 victory back in early February when the Tigers were ranked No. 1. That night, Florida didn’t flinch. Why would they now? Just ask Bruce Pearl!

Ahead of this high-stakes matchup,Tiger’s head coach had some words about the man coaching on the other sideline—Todd Golden. “Don’t let that sheepish look fool you, he’s the real deal,” Pearl told CBS Sports.

That’s no empty compliment. Golden isn’t even 40 yet, and here he is, leading Florida to the Final Four. This is Auburn’s second trip under Pearl, but it’s Golden’s first as a head coach. And right now, at the matchup, none would know him better than the Auburn coach.

Pearl once coached Golden when he played for Team USA in the Maccabiah Games. Years later, Golden even spent time as an assistant under Pearl at Auburn from 2014-2016. Now, the mentor and mentee face off with a shot at the national title game on the line. In Golden’s words, “We’ve come a long way from the 2015-16 season… It was us against Mississippi State. Kind of at the bottom of the league. Fast forward 10 or 11 years and both of us have our teams in the Final Four.”

If Auburn wants to keep its title hopes alive, it’ll have to overcome more than just a strong Florida team. Big man Johni Broome’s injury looms large, and the Tigers are stepping into a much tougher battle than they had against Michigan State.

The Spartans’ offense struggled, making Auburn’s defense look better than it actually was. Florida, though, is a different beast. The Gators shot 43.9% from the field in their Elite Eight win over Texas Tech, while Michigan State barely cracked 34%. Florida also thrives from beyond the arc, hitting 37.5% of their three-pointers—so Auburn won’t be able to clog the paint like it did last round.

Then, there’s free-throw shooting—one of Auburn’s biggest weaknesses. Against Michigan State, the Tigers shot just 55% from the line (11-of-20). That wasn’t an issue because the Spartans weren’t aggressive enough to draw fouls. Florida? They’re the opposite. Not only have the Gators been in officiating crosshairs thrice now, but they also torched Texas Tech at the stripe, sinking 25-of-27 (92.6%). If Auburn keeps fouling, Florida will punish.

Why Todd Golden vs Bruce Pearl is not an ordinary game?

This is a battle of two teams who refuse to back down, led by two coaches with a history. It’s also a chance for Florida to reclaim national glory—they haven’t won a championship since the Billy Donovan era. Auburn, on the other hand, is still hunting for its first title.

So, teacher vs. student. Veteran vs. rising star. The SEC’s best going head-to-head. But don’t mistake Auburn for an underdog. For the Tigers, it all comes down to defense. While Auburn had its ups and downs on that end during the regular season, the tournament has been a different story. They’ve tightened the screws, holding opponents to under one point per possession and locking down the three-point line—something they’ll need to do again against a Florida team that loves to fire from deep.

At the heart of Auburn’s defensive resurgence? Johni Broome. The All-American forward and Naismith National Player of the Year finalist has been dominant on both ends of the floor. With 21 double-doubles this season, he’s been the engine of this Auburn squad. If you need proof of Broome’s toughness, just look at the Elite Eight. He fought through injury, returned to the floor, and in the game’s biggest moment, buried a clutch three-pointer to send Michigan State home.

Now, as they prepare for Florida, Broome’s health is a major factor. If he’s at full strength, he’ll be the key to slowing down the Gators’ high-powered offense. The stakes couldn’t be higher. A trip to the national championship is on the line.