It'll be just the fifth time since seeding began in 1979 that a pair of No. 1
seeds have met for the national title.
The two teams are familiar with one another after the Gators annihilated Ohio State, 86-60, on Dec. 23 in Gainesville just a handful of games into Greg Oden's
career.
Oden was virtually a non-factor while Gators junior forward Al Horford was
the X-factor. Oden finished with seven points and six boards in 28 fairly
unimpressive minutes, but he was still wearing a brace on his right wrist.
After Florida coach Billy Donovan said that Horford was all but ruled out of
the game a couple days prior because of a sprained ankle, he hobbled his way to
a gutsy 11-point, 11-rebound effort in 28 minutes.
But this game won't be played in Gainesville. It'll be on a neutral court and
that will make a major difference.
"That was their second road game," Florida coach Billy Donovan
said. "Oden was obviously still recovering and the game was played on Dec.
23. They were still young kids."
"They're no longer a young basketball team," added Donovan.
The Buckeyes have only lost a trio of games all season — and all three came
on the road against elite teams. One came against the Gators, one was without
Oden in Chapel Hill against North Carolina and the last loss Thad Matta &
Co. suffered was back on Jan. 9 at Wisconsin.
The Gators, who have won 11 straight NCAA tournament games, finally looked
like themselves on Saturday night in their complete — and repeat —
domination of the UCLA Bruins. Corey Brewer and Lee Humphrey made key shots from
the perimeter and the Gators were active on the glass. They outrebounded UCLA,
43-26, on Saturday night and shut down the Bruins' leading scorer, Arron Afflalo,
when it mattered.
The Buckeyes managed to get past Georgetown despite foul trouble from Oden.
Mike Conley Jr., was as solid as solid can be and Ohio State clamped down
defensively on Jeff Green and the Hoyas.
This is the matchup that everyone wanted.
It's the best team in America looking to become the first team to pull the
repeat since Duke did it in 1991-92 against Oden — the freshman man-child who
came into Columbus as the most-hyped kid in the collegiate ranks in the last
decade.
Does it get any better than this?
It's Noah vs. Oden. Two guys that weren't even supposed to be here right now.
Noah could have been the No. 1 overall pick if he left a year ago after cutting
down the nets while Oden would be in the league right now if not for the NBA
implementing a new age limit on preps to pros.
Noah is the most emotional big man in the nation. Oden is the most
emotionless big man in the country.
Conley and Ron Lewis against the underrated Gators backcourt of Taurean Green
and Lee Humphrey.
It's the fiery Donovan, with all the rumors flying around whether this could
be his last game in Gainesville, going up against the mild-mannered Matta.
There's no shortage of storylines. No shortage of talent, either.
That's why it's got all the makings of a championship game for the ages.