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.