Last Dance, Last Chance: NCAA Championship Preview

The memories of January 8, 2007, are still fresh in the minds of Gators and Buckeyes fan all across the country.

 

On Monday, they get to do it again.

 

Almost three months after Billy Donovan watched Urban Meyer clinch crystal and Thad Matta helped console Jim Tressel, it's the hoops coaches' turn to take a shot at glory. Here's how we got here—and what we have to look forward to on Monday night.

Georgetown vs. Ohio State

Last week, I said it was going to take more than the Buckeyes' version of Shaq and D-Wade (Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr.) to get them to the national championship game. Turns out the dynamic duo did all right for themselves.

Oden was nonexistent in the first half after getting into early foul trouble. After the intermission, though, he scored 13 points (his total for the night) to help the Buckeyes hold off a late rally by the Hoyas. Conley finished with 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds .

The result: Ohio State 67, Georgetown 60. The Buckeyes' win streak continues, and they move one step closer to fulfilling their destiny...again.

Unfortunately, their opponents might have something to say about it.

UCLA vs. Florida

Going into the Final Four, there were at least two factors working against Florida. The first was the grudge harbored by the Bruins, who hadn't forgotten last year's 73-57 rout in the national championship game. Then there were the rumors about Billy Donovan going to Kentucky, which some observers thought would throw the Gators off their game.

The bad news for everyone else: The Gators weren't done dancing.

With Aaron Afflalo, Lorenzo Mata, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute all in foul trouble, the Bruins couldn't hang with the defending champs. UCLA's defense did manage to hold the Gators in check early on, but it wasn't enough to keep Billy Donovan's team from advancing to its second consecutive national title game. The result: Florida 76, UCLA 66—with the Gators looking to make history...again.

(1) Ohio State Buckeyes vs. (1) Florida Gators

Atlanta, are you ready? After December in Gainesville and January in Glendale, the Gators are looking to make it three wins in four months against the Buckeyes. Greg Oden hasn't been as effective as his team wants him to be, but Mike Conley Jr. has helped pick up the slack. On the other side of the court, Al Horford has been a force down low, while Corey Brewer and Lee Humphrey have dominated beyond the arc.

 

How Ohio State Wins: It's got to be a dogfight. Horford and Oden don't like each other, and Conley and Joakim Noah won't be exchanging Christmas cards anytime soon. The Buckeyes win if Conley's got his A-game and Oden stays out of foul trouble. The Buckeyes also have to contain the Gators' perimeter threats if they want to avoid a repeat of December. If all goes well, in the words of my brother...God Loves The Buckeyes!

 

How Florida Wins: The Gators spent the entire season picking opponents apart, and they'll need more of the same on Monday night. Noah's got to play like there's no tomorrow.  Brewer and "Three" Humphrey have to shoot the lights out. Horford and Chris Richard have to dominate the paint. Getting Oden in foul trouble wouldn't hurt either. And the Gators have got to shut down Conley. The Buckeyes proved they can win without their Shaq, but can they do it without their Wade too? If not, get ready to see Noah at the head of another Soul Train line.

 

My prediction? I believe that Ohio State is capable of getting it done, but they'll have to overcome their inconsistency. And let's not forget that the Buckeyes are trying to win a national championship with a 7-foot freshman and his partner in crime from high school.

 

The Gators held Oden in check three months ago, and they'll look to do it again in Atlanta. Florida also has the home-court advantage, and doesn't rely on any one player to win games.

 

In the tournament, the Gators have faced teams who threatened early before buckling late. The Buckeyes won two games they should have lost (against Xavier and Tennessee), and you've got to wonder how much luck they've got left in the tank.

 

As for Monday: Expect a nail-biter. The game will be decided in the first four minutes of the second half, with one team pulling away late. And get ready to strike up the band Joakim—because every Gator fan will be getting jiggy with it by the end of the night.

 

Pick: Florida 78, Ohio State 64

 

For now, grab your face paint, stock up on the beer, and brace yourself for the party. If history's any indication, it's going to be a rager...