The symmetry here is quite frightening. The first day of winter term here at the University of Oregon was January 8th, the day of the BCS National Championship Game. The first day of spring term is today, the day of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game. Both games pitted Florida against Ohio State. More than just coincidence? Well, it says that two institutions of higher learning are taking over the world. Other than that, yeah just coincidence.
As for the game tonight, I think we all know what we are going to see. The Gators seem like college basketball's version of the San Antonio Spurs. They make struggle at times, they may seem kind of disinterested for stretches, but they know how to win and make plays when it matters. I don't see any reason why that won't happen tonight. I have Florida winning this game in my bracket and, if you have been following throughout the tournament, you know that I stick with what I've put down. It's worked so far (have I mentioned that I picked the Final Four and its winner exactly right?).
As I said a couple of days ago, these are the two best teams in America. They've proven it over the course of the tournament. I've always said that, despite the shortcomings of the BCS, college football always comes closer to crowning a true national champion than college basketball. This year, the champion of college basketball will be the best team in the nation.
Greg Oden is going to be ridiculously critical to how this game goes. Ohio State was going to beat Georgetown even without the foul-ridden Oden because they were flat-out better. Oden needs to be on the floor so the Gators don't completely dominate on the inside. Noah and Horford will be Noah and Horford, the same guys they have been all year, and if Chris Richards shows up like he did against UCLA, it will be all over. But if Oden can stay on the floor and disrupt the inside play of Florida, block some shots, rebound, and keep the Gator D honest offensively, the Buckeyes have a chance. Problem is, I don't see that happening. The Gator big men are constantly active in all facets of the game, which will cause Oden to equal that activity. He has had trouble staying out of foul trouble all tournament, and this matchup does not lend itself to the breaking of that trend.
With Oden out, the back court is going to have to carry OSU, which they were able to do against the Hoyas. Conley was too quick, and even though they weren't lighting it up from the perimeter, it was obvious the penetrate and kick was creating open looks. I don't see them having this same success against the outstanding defense of the Gators. A lot has been said about Florida, but the most underrated aspect of this team is their team defense. They won't allow Conley to run all over the court like G-Town did.
Look, we can dissect this all we want, but it comes down to one irrefutable fact: the Gators are way too good. They have a champion's mentality. This is what they have been playing for, this is what they came back for. When everyone was freaking out about their late season struggles, they had their eyes on the ultimate prize and it's there for the taking tonight. The Buckeyes will come out jacked up with all of their youthful exuberance, but the Gators' focus and experience is what has been carrying them and what will carry them tonight. What's that you say? You want an exact score? Luckily I have come prepared. The pool that my bracket is in requires a total score for the title game in case of a tie. Florida 73, Ohio State 66. Thank you and good night.
By the way, they are headed to the bottom of the fifth at Safeco and King Felix is just smoking. Seven strikeouts, 1 hit, 64 pitches through five innings. The lineup has been predictably pitiful. Just pitiful. The only hit is by Jose Vidro, which is total fools gold. This is pretty much how the whole year will go. The offense does nothing so Felix has to win it by himself, he gives up a couple of runs and Hargrove panics and takes him out for no reason and inserts Chris Reitsma or some hack who gives up two or three more followed by two or three more from Arthur "I'm still pitching?" Rhodes and before you know it the opposition has put up eight, all the while the offense manages two or three runs on bloop hits, opponent's errors, and one line drive from Ibanez or Ichiro. I can't wait to watch this unfurl tonight, and every other night for the next six months. The good thing about baseball is everyday is a new day and a new chance for victory. The problem is I'm a Mariner fan so there is far less hope for me than for most.
Anyway, you heard my prediction for tonight. It should be a fantastic game to cap off one of the best college basketball seasons in years, mainly due to the presence of superstars as a result of the NBA's age limit. On another day, I will tout the genius of David Stern, but as for today, back to the hopelessness of Mariner baseball.
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