Western Courier

Issue date: 4/2/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: MCT Gators' forward Corey Brewer will look to lead his team to back-to-back titles for the first time since Duke in 1991 and 1992.

Media Credit: MCT Florida's Al Horford (top) and Joakin Noah (bottom) try to block Josh Shipp's shot in its 76-66 national semi-final victory over UCLA on Saturday.

Florida versus Ohio State for the National Championship - that sounds familiar. Let's just hope this NCAA final will make up for the boring Gator-dominated BCS game from January.

This game has all the makings for a classic, and this could very well be one of those defining games that displays a heap of future stars. By my count, I see seven potential first-round picks in this game, so this one should be fun.

In Florida, you have the defending National Champs. They've been here before, and they all came back specifically for this purpose. This team has it all. In the backcourt, junior Taurean Green runs the show, while gunner senior Lee Humphrey extends teams out with a range that extends to about the half-court line.

At 6-feet-9-inches, junior Corey Brewer is an athletic freak on the perimeter. He has it all, from ball-handling to defense, and creates match-up nightmares for most teams. Juniors Al Horford and Joakim Noah round out the stacked five down low. The 6-foot-10-inch Horford is probably the most polished offensive post player in the nation, while Noah provides the emotional spark plug.

Florida is a difficult team for anyone to match up against, but the Buckeyes aren't anyone. Freshman Mike Conley Jr. runs the point like a vet and is the reason why Ohio State has gotten this far. Ron Lewis has been outstanding as well - the guy just doesn't miss when the game is on the line. And then there is Greg Oden, who, despite foul issues all March, has lived up to the hype.

As good as this game will be, I'm taking the experience in Florida. They are just too good and too smart to not expose the Buckeyes' weaknesses. Watch for Oden to be in foul trouble once again and for Florida to use its size to over-match the Buckeyes.

Florida will win by a touchdown and repeat as national champs.

Joakim Noah will compile yet another group of annoying outbursts.

Billy Donavon will leave for Kentucky 10 days later.

And finally, a mass exodus to the NBA by Brewer, Noah and Horford will mark the downfall of Gator basketball. Gainsville will then return to being solely a football school and the world will return to its natural order.

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