2007 NCAA Championship game thread

<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">vs.</span>
<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#FF0000">2007 NCAA Championship</span></span>
April 2, 2007 - 9:21 ET
Game on CBS</div>

<span style="color:#FF0000">Ohio State Buckeyes</span> <span style="color:#000000">(35-3)</span>
Projected Starters
C: <span style="color:#FF0000">Greg Oden</span>
F: <span style="color:#FF0000">Ivan Harris</span>
G: <span style="color:#FF0000">Ron Lewis</span>
G: <span style="color:#FF0000">Jamar Butler</span>
G: <span style="color:#FF0000">Mike Conley Jr.</span>
Key Reserves: <span style="color:#FF0000">Daequan Cook, David Lighty, Othello Hunter, Matt Terwilliger</span>

<span style="color:#0000FF">Florida Gators</span> <span style="color:#FF8C00">(34-5)</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">Projected Starters</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">F:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Joakim Noah</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">F:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Al Horford</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">F:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Corey Brewer</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">G:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Lee Humphrey</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">G:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Taurean Green</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">Key Reserves:</span> <span style="color:#0000FF">Chris Richard, Walter Hodge, Dan Werner</span>

<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Star Watch</span>

<span style="color:#FF0000">Greg Oden</span>
Season Stats: 15.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.3 bpg

<span style="color:#FF0000">Mike Conley Jr.</span>
Season Stats: 11.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 6.1 apg, 2.2 spg

<span style="color:#FF0000">Ron Lewis</span>
Season Stats: 12.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 apg

<span style="color:#0000FF">Al Horford</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">Season Stats: 13.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.8 bpg</span>

<span style="color:#0000FF">Joakim Noah</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">Season Stats: 12.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.8 bpg</span>

<span style="color:#0000FF">Corey Brewer</span>
<span style="color:#FF8C00">Season Stats: 13.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.8 spg</span>

<div align="center"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Key Matchup</span>
vs.
<span style="color:#FF0000">Greg Oden</span> vs. <span style="color:#0000FF">Al Horford</span>
Horford did an excellent job on Oden the last time these two teams squared off. He's an excellent defensive player and he uses his body well. However, Oden wasn't as good, nor was he as healthy as he is right now. Last time, he was only using one hand, and just getting into the swing of things. I think it definitely should be very interesting to see how he responds to that tonight.</div>

CB32's Prediction: Ohio State... hopefully!

 

Should be a great championship game. I can only see Florida winning this, they were here last year and dominated UCLA. This year they have their full roster back. If OSU wants to win this Ron Lewis and Mike Conley JR. need to have great games from the perimeter and Oden has to play the paint on the defensive end. Florida will have no easy baskets in the paint with Oden there.

Really the X-factor for Florida is Corey Brewer. He will play a huge role in wether Florida wins this game. When I watch Corey Brewer I see the younger Larry Hughes, a great defensive stopper who can also contribute on the offensive end of the court.

The key matchup between Horford and Oden should be a great matchup to watch.

Nice game thread.

 

Florida has too much experience, in my opinion. But I am looking forward to see how the Buckeyes respond to the ass kicking they received at the hands of the Gators last time they played.My Prediction: 79-66 Florida

 

Florida is too good. Oden is probably going to get in foul trouble like he always does, and FLA is just too good to let them win without Oden.My prediction: Florida 73 Ohio State 67

 

I think Florida will win. They are just more experienced, and they will probably play better in this type of setting. They have a ton of offensive threats, and Horford, Noah, and Brewer are all spectacular on the defensive end.Conley and Oden will have to have spectacular nights, or else I think Florida will become toe first team to repeat since Duke back in the early 90's.

 

I want Ohio St. to win...this way, Greg Oden might say to himself "ive accompished the most here, lets move on"...and he'll enter the draft...or it might backfire and pull a Joakim Noah and stick around another year.Either way, I think Ohio St. will win.

 

I hope to god that Oden embarassed JOKEim Noah. I picked OSU at the beginning of the year (which makes no sense as I picked Kansas in my bracket (all of my friends had OSU so I had to go different)), and I wanna stick to my guns. I'd absolutely love to see that freshmen trio of Conley Oden and Cook absolutely bomb Florida.

 

I'm worried. I picked Ohio State to win it all, but at this point, I'm very nervous (I want to win money!). If Ohio State wins, I win my pool and get a TON of money. However, Florida is definitely the safer pick. More experience, more chemistry, more talent, and more balance. We'll see, but I have to stick to Ohio State.

 

I'm expecting a win for Florida for a couple of reasons:Ron Lewis will be pretty much a non factor in this. Ron Lewis has a hard time matching up against tall lengthy defensive guys, like Dajuan Summers from Georgetown and Brewer. Their length and defensive abilities always force him into bad shooting night.Taurean Green should be able to take it back at Conley in just the same way that Conley takes it at him. He will play him tough defensively, as well as push it back in his face on the offensive end.As for Oden, the Gators have three big bodies that can bang with Oden to rotate spining at him. They will start with Horford to tire him out, and attempt to get him into foul trouble, which he is very prone to do. Then Richards will come in and bang with him, then Noah will switch over. They got more than enough to send at Oden to tire him out, that is assuming he does not get into foul trouble early which is something he is very known to do. He is a hell of a shot blocker, but he gets to carried away and gets into foul trouble easily. I think he will try to press, and get into foul trouble early tonight. The 4 is where I expect to see the Gators really tear up Ohio State. Noah or Horford, whichever is being played by Harris the most should have a field day. He is much shorter, will have a harder time guarding whoever he gets.Florida is pretty much bigger, stronger, faster, and more experienced. They have been in this situation before and won, and I see it happening again this year against Ohio State.

 

Refs are fu*kin up the game....IMO

 

I realize that Ohio State is down by 11 at the half, I realize Florida is playing pretty well, but I have to say this: to all the people who say "Oden doesn't have enough heart/passion on the court"... watch this game. He clearly "wants it" and he has been EXTREMELY aggressive.

 

meeeeeeeeh I think I fell in love with Mike Conley Jr. after that ridiculous bounce pass. Love the way OSU is playing though, wanna see a big comeback from them.

 

Greg Oden has missed a couple of easy shots but it's obvious how much he changes shots on defense. He has done a great job staying out of foul trouble, running the floor, and altering shots. Florida's big men have been pretty unimpressive. They can't do much else than rebound in this game. Corey Brewer has been playing great. He has been assertive on both sides of the floor and is playing very hard desite almost no breathers. Lee Humphrey is also doing pretty well and is playing surprisingly great defense.

 

can we all agree Billy Packer is 'rooting' for Florida.he won't let go of the "Oden isn't coming out on the high screens" like he's found a great big secret and now he's on about the calls only going against Florida's big men although Oden has kept his distance and only gone up for blocks...yeesh this guy is a dick.

 

Ohio State lost both championships this year to Florida... you gotta love it! :nasty:

 

Very happy to see Ohio State lose again...just not a fan. Horford'll look great in a Suns jersey next year as a replacement for Kurt Thomas. I may be one of the few, but I think Oden should stay at OSU. That's for a different discussion later on, but I just think that would really benefit him.

 

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

Oden was the ONLY Buckeye that played well tonight. Oden was great, but everybody else had an off night. They were chucking and bricking from 3 and they fumbled SO MANY loose balls. Oh well. I also think Thad Matta is an idiot for not resting Oden at ALL in the 2nd half.

But you definitely have to tip your hat to the Florida Gators, I am very happy for all of them. They are a great team, they have great players, great balance, great leadership, great chemistry, great fans, and a great coach. Winning back to back nowadays it tough, just like Billy Donovan said. I tip my hat to them and I'm very happy for those kids and Donovan.

My only problem is the fact that I did not win my pool. I might get 2nd place prize money though, so we'll see how that turns out, but I won't get the big bucks.

 

OMG!!!!!!!!!!! I hate Florida! Damn! back to back. god that sucked

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Amare320 @ Apr 2 2007, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo</div>:HAHAHA:I thought everybody knew OSU was going to win? :dribble: