Final Four Thread

The Seer · Post by **The Seer** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:31 am

UCLA = Florida's byotch

Sky · Post by **Sky** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:35 am

T REX wrote:I have always said Brewer is the key. He played great defense on Affalo.

One down and one to go.

Think about it Trixie, you are going to lose your bid at back to back championships and your coach in the same week...I feel bad for you, :wink:

The Seer · Post by **The Seer** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:47 am

Can't see Fla losing Monday.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:04 am

It' so eerily similar to Duke 15 years ago. Duke was the defending champ and they played a Michigan team earlier in the reg season that was really young. UF did the same w/ Ohio State earlier this year. Duke and Michigan met again in the Finals later that year. Same for this year w/ UF and Ohio State.

I see Ohio State keeping it close in the first half but UF pulling away in the 2nd.

L45B · Post by **L45B** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:35 am

^^ Very eerie comparison indeed. I thought the same thing after the games were over.

Hopefully it will mirror '95 instead, when Arkansas was trying to repeat but lost to a UCLA team that was nearly down & out earlier in the tourney.

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:20 pm

I think it will be a good hard fought game.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:36 pm

The championship game hard fought? You might be going a little too far out on the limb with that analysis.

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:32 pm

In my office pool it is between myself(UF winning) and another gent(OSU winning).....winner take all.

Sky · Post by **Sky** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:11 pm

You ready to lose that signature Tuesday morning?

The Seer · Post by **The Seer** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:48 am

Take gaytors and the points.

lock.

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:03 am

Cicero wrote:It' so eerily similar to Duke 15 years ago. Duke was the defending champ and they played a Michigan team earlier in the reg season that was really young. UF did the same w/ Ohio State earlier this year. Duke and Michigan met again in the Finals later that year. Same for this year w/ UF and Ohio State.

I see Ohio State keeping it close in the first half but UF pulling away in the 2nd.

umich played duke tough at home that year (3 point loss?) and got blown away in the finals. ohio state was blown out early on the road and _____________________ in the finals.

L45B · Post by **L45B** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:09 am

If this game is officiated the way all of tOSU's other tourney games were, then Florida is gonna have way too much depth to lose this one. Oden has to be on the floor more than half the game for the Bucks to have any kind of chance. Thus far, he hasn't been due to the bullshit ticky tack officiating that is college basketball.

The Georgetown game really pissed me off to be honest. I told a friend of mine before the game started that all the Hibbert-Oden talk was a waste of time. I was right-- neither were on the floor much of the game (sorry, not trying to sound like Jon or anything). I think the refs did a huge disservice to all the non-fans of the final four teams who bought tickets specifically to see that match up. Somehow though, Georgetown never went on a huge run while Oden was on the bench. That simply won't happen Monday night if Oden is watching from the sideline. The Gators just have too many ways to score.

At any rate, despite the glaring similarites of the '92 championship game, I'm picking with my heart:

tOSU 79
UF 77

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:19 pm

I dont know why they are even playing the game. From what everyone is saying on TV, UF is going to beat tOSU's ass. Fuck 'em. tOSU has played better over the course of the tournament.

tOSU 83
UF 80

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:24 pm

Cicero wrote:tOSU has played better over the course of the tournament.

I've been pimping the Buckeyes the whole tourney but it's laughable at best to say they've been playing better than UF has in the tourney.

The FF has been very lucrative for me thus far as it was easy to see that tO$U +1 and UF -3 were stone cold lead pipe locks. I'm with Seer on this game, UF -4.5 looks to be an extremely safe bet. The only chance tO$U has is to make the game a track meet and somehow get the likes of Noah and Horford tired down the stretch. The only two places tO$U has an edge at are at PG, where I'd take Conley over Green, and depth. For tO$U to win they'll need to play small ball and pray. If the game is a straight up match then UF wins and wins BIG.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:16 pm

Shine wrote:The only chance tO$U has is to make the game a track meet and somehow get the likes of Noah and Horford tired down the stretch.

I disagree. I believe Noah could be taken off his game by placing male swimsuit models in the front row, or possibly some of the members of New Kids on the Block.

L45B · Post by **L45B** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:47 pm

Dinsdale wrote:I disagree. I believe Noah could be taken off his game by placing male swimsuit models in the front row...

Even better, dress them in Oregon's football unis.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:47 pm

Shine,

UF hasnt played 2 great halves of basketball in any of the 5 games. Their best game was against Oregon, but Oregon didnt have much help inside and they still kept it close. The first half against UCLA was ugly basketball by both teams.

tOSU struggled early on, but the last two games against two talented #2 seeds, they were in control for most of the game.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:48 pm

I can't, for the life of me, understand why OSU isn't even getting a shot by some people to win this game. Yeah, it's a rrrrreal stretch to think a 1 seed might actually edge another 1 seed to win the whole thing. Christ, this isn't George Mason. They played a good chunk of the season maintaining the top ranked spot, and have won how many games in a row now?

OSU 79
UF 77

The Seer · Post by **The Seer** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:03 pm

UF - 79

OSU - 69

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:24 pm

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:I can't, for the life of me, understand why OSU isn't even getting a shot by some people to win this game. Yeah, it's a rrrrreal stretch to think a 1 seed might actually edge another 1 seed to win the whole thing. Christ, this isn't George Mason. They played a good chunk of the season maintaining the top ranked spot, and have won how many games in a row now?

OSU 79
UF 77

I agree, to an extent. I fully understand why nearly everyone is picking UF to win, but to call it a "historic upset" if tO$U should win (as I've seen at least 1 major internet site refer to a tO$U victory) is silly. As you say they were the #1 ranked team at the end of the season, they've won 22 in a row heading into the game tonight and they only lost 3 games all year. All on the road to teams that were ranked in the top 5 of the country most of the year.

If these teams played 1 year from now with all the same players they have now I'd pick tO$U to win and win going away. Another year for the tO$U frosh to develop makes them the much better team due to depth and Oden getting that much more dominant. But as is, you've got the defending champs who brought back everyone 1 game away from history. I just can't seem them not getting the job done BUT I do acknowledge that tO$U can win the game. In addition to the up-tempo aspect I've mentioned the other key for the Buckeyes to win is Conley getting Green into foul trouble (possible).

I'd also like to see tO$U throw a lineup at stretches of: Oden, Hunter, Cook/Lighty, Lewis and Conley to force Brewer off of Lewis and give Lewis the matchup with Humphrey, one I think he could exploit. Not to mention having 2 true bigs in the lineup gives tO$U a much better chance to guard the UF bigs straight up and eliminate the clean outside looks the Gators routinely get from the doubles inside.

Sissyroo- UF has been playing on cruise control for long stretches but when they turn the switch to the ON position they've been dominant. My guess is that the championship game will eliminate the cruise factor.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:31 am

Florida 84, Ohio State 78
Most Outstanding Player: Corey Brewer

Florida go only 6 deep so they can't get into foul trouble like Georgetown did and expect to win. I don't see this being a game where the stars are being cancelled out or neutralized...I see the difference being the secondary scorers making the difference. Brewer has been their x-factor and Green and Humphrey provide scoring from the perimeter. Another key contributor has been Richards, who had 16 against UCLA. I see a more balanced attack from the Gators and if Oden gets into foul trouble early...it'll allow the Gators to dominate the low post and kill them on the glass like they did against the Bruins on Saturday. The Gators did a great job at holding UCLA to one-and-done possessions. I see the Gators as the team on a mission. Some of the guys will probably leave early for the draft and I can only imagine that they will play this game tonight because it literally could be their last college game and they would leave school as two-time champions.

King Crimson · Post by **King Crimson** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:32 am

as a bet, I like UF and the points. seems like a much better play. however, i would not be shocked to see tOSU win the game.

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:39 am

one thing i won't miss about bars in columbus.

one wanker walks in and yells," OH"

then the rest yell some shit, i thought they yelled,"IO"

was very drunk during my visit, so they could of been yelling otherr shit with that chant.

Florida will have some problems with Oden, if he comes out and dominates. this is his #1 or #2 overall game.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:36 am

Brewer reminds me of Tayshaun Prince on the defensive end.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:43 am

Oh, that jump shot by Noah.

~shudder~

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:51 am

OSU not looking very sharp out the gate. This 6 point lead could turn to 20 quickly. At least Oden is staying out of foul trouble.

RadioFan · Post by **RadioFan** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:54 am

Conley is throwing up bricks from the outside, after 2 fouls. He's the key if tOSU hopes to win this game, not Oden.

Shoalzie wrote:Most Outstanding Player: Corey Brewer

Yep.

Good game so far.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:03 am

RadioFan wrote:Conley is throwing up bricks from the outside, after 2 fouls. He's the key if tOSU hopes to win this game, not Oden.

They need to slow things down and establish a half court game if they want to hang with UF. If this turns into a track meet, OSU will go down fast. OSU can play that if they have to, but they don't want to...especially against UF.

RadioFan · Post by **RadioFan** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:05 am

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:They need to establish a half court game if they want to hang with UF. If this turns into a track meet, OSU will go down fast.

Yep. So far, tOSU looks tentative, like they're afraid of the officials. They need to snap out of that shit and start grinding down low.

buckeye_in_sc · Post by **buckeye_in_sc** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:38 am

well...everytime tOSU got close FLA had an answer...tOSU was cold from the 3 point line and that is where it hurt the most...Oden was a beast and played damn near 40 minutes...

when it was 66-60 I thought they could make a run but a big 3 and then it is essentially ball game...

again props gators for a well played game and an incredible run...

I also echo BtH's thoughts...two schools, playing for the National Title twice...WOW...awesome athletes and programs in both areas...

congrats again FLA...

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:44 am

Stop it........congrats to you for being right there in both sports. UF is king of college athletics right now. It's a great time to be a Florida Gator.......this success is pretty much unprecedented. Trying to cope. We are truly lucky to witness something like this at one school.

Sky · Post by **Sky** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:03 am

T REX, I ran my mouth and I really thought this was it. I thought we were going to turn it around. I thought it would have been payback for the basketball teams loss in December and maybe a little for the fans who suffered through Jan 8th. It wasn't. You were by far the more superior team.

Like you said, enjoy an unprecedented ammout of success. I still hate Florida but I also know we were beaten by a far superior team.

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:09 am

Am I the only one that thought the refs protected Oden?

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:20 am

Christ, you're getting all these props and you still can't stop acting like a bitch.

And SECHonk wonders why they're universally looked down upon.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:23 am

T REX wrote:Am I the only one that thought the refs protected Oden?

Take your titles and be happy...Oden still played well in spite of your conspiracy theory. Be thankful your guards could hit key shots.

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:23 am

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Christ, you're getting all these props and you still can't stop acting like a bitch.

And SECHonk wonders why they're universally looked down upon.

Fuck off! It's a legitimate question. I am hardly being a dick about it. Just because we won I am supposed to act a certain way and not bring up certain topics? Are you fucking kidding me? STFU!

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:26 am

You're a pathetic piece of shit. Be grateful with your victory and shut your fucking hole.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:31 am

Oden might've gotten a little more room to roam tonight but you won the game. This was a completely different game from the one in Gainesville when you consider Oden has the use of both his hands and Conley has gotten dramatically better throughout the year. The Bucks didn't play their best game but gave the Gators a battle. Be prepared for a mass exodus similar to that of what we saw at Carolina a couple years ago when that team was pretty much gutted after they beat the Illini.

buckeye_in_sc · Post by **buckeye_in_sc** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:03 am

You know throw all the ref shit and stuff out the window and you got this...

FLA hit the open 3's when they needed to and tOSU took too many rushed shots (at least I thought)...granted a lot of 3's were deece looks but they didn't slow the game down by using the shot clock (usually 1 or 2 passes then chuck and duck) and Oden was tired at the end of the game...I mean if tOSU shoots even a respectable 8 or 9 of 23 from 3 pt land and you have a different champion...but it is what it is...

some people may say that tOSU got blown out...I thought it was a well played game...did Oden get a little more room maybe but Noah and company got a lot of room against teams like Oregon and what not...but I am not hear to debate officiating...

simple fact FLA won, tOSU lost... which in turn means FLA 2 tOSU 0...

but hey...I got next year right even without Oden...Conley, Cook (I Hope), Butler, and a pretty deece recruiting class...I am not going to nitpick Matta or what not I am holding my head up and thinking damn even though FLA got us...we played for TWO national titles this year...WOW!

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:50 pm

T REX wrote:Am I the only one that thought the refs protected Oden?

No, I'm sure lots of other whiney Gator fans feel the same way. The UF big men were called for a lot of fouls because Oden was DA MAN last night. The tO$U guards were called for a lot of fouls because the Gator backcourt was DA SHIT last night. It's really that simple. It's a shame that officiating has become SUCH a widely discussed topic in every single fucking game all year by all fans.

Props to the Gators though, history will look kindly upon what you accomplished.