Final Four Discussion

Don Ballard · Mar 25, 2007

Florida moves on to the Final Four! Congratulations to you Gator Fans.

Don

Gator Bill · Mar 25, 2007

Thanks Don, and if I didn't say so above congratulations to the Buckeye's as well.

And UCLA and If I were a betting man I would bet on North Carolina this game.

Gator Bill

Don Ballard · Mar 25, 2007

Gator Bill,

I had picked Georgetown in the final four. They are going to be tough to beat.

Looks like we both are going to have our hands full. Good luck at least for the first game. :lol:

Don

Gator Bill · Mar 25, 2007

I was really impressed with that Georgetown comeback. They are going to be tough.

The way I see things these four teams are pretty even and any of them could win.

Gator Bill

Terry O'Keefe · Mar 25, 2007

Well I had Georgetown as well going to the Final 4, I missed on UF. I thought they'd get upset by Maryland.

I'm not exactly sure how the scoring will go but it seems like the battle is between BuckeyeT and MCG and it all hinges on the outcome of the UF/UCLA game which MCG naturally has UF and BuckeyeT has UCLA. Both have Ohio State wining the other side of the bracket. If UF wins out MCG is likely the champ, if UCLA beats UF and Ohio State wins out I would think that BuckeyeT would win.

But either way congrats to the Gators and the Buckeyes!!

Terry

Gator Bill · Mar 25, 2007

Well let me say that I am rooting for MCG to ride the Gators for the win like I did last year.

Now if Tennessee had held on against Ohio State I would be in the hunt.

Motorcity Gator · Mar 25, 2007

Yes....congrats to BT and the Buckeyes.

I hope both come up just a tad short however... :wink:

Don Ballard · Mar 26, 2007

Last year we lost to Georgetown in the second round. Things are a bit different this year with Mike Conley, Jr and Greg Oden in the mix. They will be extremely difficult for us on the boards.

Oden has to stay out of foul trouble and we need to step up on our three point shooting.

I am tickled to death to be in the final four with such a young team.

Thad Matta has recruited well and we have classes in 2007 and 2008 in place.

Don

Tim Gentry · Mar 26, 2007

Final Four

<r>since none of my favorite teams are in this my only thoughts are that I am now in a ABF state of mind. Anybody but Florida. The thought of Florida winning back to back NCAA championships makes me feel...well... I'm also sick of looking at that kid Noah...whatever..with the. ...hair....geez... enough is enough. Hopefully UCLA takes them out right away. Just get this over and let's get back to football as soon as possible. By the way, only about 25 days till the Blue and Gold Game!!!! <E></E></r>

BuckeyeT · Mar 26, 2007

Don,

it is an extraordinary job by Coach Matta and his staff to take these kids to the conference championship and then to the Final Four. There was never any question about the talent but to have four freshmen in the first 7 and the dominant roles played by Oden and Conley is truly remarkable. If they advance no further, it has been a fantastic season for the staff and these kids.

As I said many times, I was not sure that these babies could get the job done in crunch time and wondered when they would play like freshmen. Our kids acted their age and lost their poise early against two fine teams in Xavier and again versus Tennesee but remarkably played outstanding ball down the stretch in both and Memphis. In contrast, the Tarheel diaper dandies melted down the stretch against G'town. That to me says alot about the job Matta and his staff have done.

Bill,

congrats to your Gators on making a return trip to the Final Four - a very, very difficult thing to do when playing all year and all tourney with a bullseye on their backs. A tribute to BillyD, his staff and kids.

Don Ballard · Mar 26, 2007

Buckeye Terry,

About the time I think I have figured this team out, they continue to surprise me.

I am much more confident in this team and what they have accomplished, each time they play.

They do puzzle me in that they seem to play just hard enough to win.

Whether that is a good omen or not, still remains a mystery to me!

Don

Terry O'Keefe · Mar 26, 2007

Go Buckeyes!! I have them to win in my Inside Texas bracket and I'm in 3rd place. If they beat Fla in the finals I'm the big cheese!!!

GaterzFan · Mar 29, 2007

Hmmm

Georgetown
Ohio State

UCLA
Florida

Georgetown
Ohio State

UCLA
Florida

GO UF

Sid · Mar 29, 2007

Ha ha! Clever.

GaterzFan · Mar 30, 2007

Final Four Features Fabulous Players

<r>From Scout.com: 

<QUOTE><s>

</s>
A team doesn't reach the Final Four without having a starting lineup loaded with quality players. Let's try to sort out the starters that Florida, Georgetown, Ohio State and UCLA will put on the floor Saturday night 
 
ATLANTA – Florida, Georgetown, Ohio State and UCLA didn’t arrive at this point of the season, just two victories removed from cutting down nets on the Georgia Dome on Monday night, by anything resembling fluke or accident. 
 
And each has an exceptional head coach manning the helm of squads that have won at least 30 games apiece. 
 
But the coaches would also tell you that getting this deep into a season is about the players. 
 
And each has a marvelous starting lineup. 
 
Let’s take a look at each of those starters and how one observer – yours truly – rates them: 
 
POINT GUARDS 
1. Mike Conley (6-1, Fr, Ohio State) 
Frank Says: He has everything a coach could dream of in a playmaker/point guard/floor leader – minus something beyond an average deep jump shot. It’s taken awhile but I think most analysts (of the TV, newspaper, Internet and NBA varieties) are finally catching on to the likelihood that he was the very best in the country at his position this season, Acie Law included. 
 
2. Taurean Green (6-0, Jr., Florida) 
Frank Says: It’s hard to knock his pedigree after leading the Gators to a national championship a year ago, clearly outplaying UCLA’s Jordan Farmar (a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers) in the final in Indianapolis. His assist-to-turnover ratio (3.6 to 2.3) isn’t exceptional and he’s not quite the pressure man-to-man defender that Conley and Darren Collison are. But he’s fearless, tough-minded and capable of scoring, via his underrated jump shot or his deceptive quickness on drives, anytime the Gators need a hoop. 
 
3. Darren Collison (6-0, So., UCLA) 
Frank Says: There wasn’t a quicker player in the country dribbling the ball this season and there isn’t anyone who put more pressure on the ball or who jumped into passing lanes as readily, defensively. And his jump shot has improved immensely over a year ago, when he got extensive time behind Farmar and alongside Farmar. But he is capable of getting a bit careless with the ball (he committed seven turnover in the West final against Kansas). 
 
4. Jonathan Wallace (6-1, Jr., Georgetown)) 
Frank Says: He shares playmaking duties with Jessie Sapp and Jeff Green within the framework of the Hoyas’ half-court offense. His jumper at the end of regulation kept the Hoyas’ season alive against North Carolina Sunday. 
 
SHOOTING GUARDS 
1. Arron Afflalo (6-4, Jr., UCLA) 
Frank Says: Most NBA talent evaluators aren’t convinced he would be a “definite” first-round choice if he enters the draft (as many expect him to do after being a first-team All-American and the Pacific 10 Conference Player of the Year). But that’s moot when it comes to analyzing his on-court performance for the Bruins this season. There is no one who is tougher, more determined or as absolutely fearless when it comes to guarding an opponent’s best offensive player or taking a shot with a game’s outcome on the line. 
 
2. Lee Humphrey (6-2, Sr., Florida) 
Frank Says: There isn’t a better “catch and shoot it” threat among the four teams that will take the Georgia Dome floor Saturday evening. He is one of the biggest reasons the Gators were able to make the Bruins pay for doubling the Florida post players a year ago, and the reason why UCLA Coach Ben Howland may have to think twice before doing it so consistently often this time around. 
 
3. Jamar Butler (6-2, Jr., Ohio State) 
Frank Says: He was the Buckeyes’ playmaker a year ago but is now part of the reason why OSU can surround Greg Oden with so many quality jump shooters. If defenders close out on him too early, he is more than clever, quick and strong enough to get into the lane and finish or pitch to an open teammate. 
 
4. Jessie Sapp (6-3, So., Georgetown) 
Frank Says: Again, he and Wallace could swap categories. He’s got a nice assist to turnover ratio (3.4 to 1.9) and doesn’t deviate from the things John Thompson III wants him to within the framework of the team’s half-court offense. He’s not a “pure shooter” but does knock in big jump shots. 
 
SMALL FORWARD 
1. Corey Brewer (6-8, Jr., Florida) 
Frank Says: Along with Jeff Green, he is one of the two most versatile players in the Final Four. His defense was magnificent against Arron Afflalo a year ago and he’ll need a similar effort this time around against a player who has thought long and hard about that Indianapolis night a year ago when he was 3 of 10 from the field. 
 
2. Ron Lewis (6-4, Sr., Ohio State) 
Frank Says: He and Afflalo are the two guys we’re most likely to see hit critical jump shots Saturday. He stretches the defense more than anyone (well, with the exception of Lee Humphrey) in the Final Four. He doesn’t drive it much but belly up to him and he’ll drive and slam. If the Buckeyes win a national title Monday night, the Buckeye Nation has the overtime-creating 3-pointer he hit against Xavier in Round 2 to thank. 
 
3. Josh Shipp (6-6, So., UCLA) 
Frank Says: He’s not the defender or ball-handler that Cedric Bozeman was for the Bruins at the position last season. But he gives Howland something the Bruins didn’t have a year ago: a third jump shooter on the floor at all times. He is also a physical rebounder and drives and finishes better than Bozeman did. 
 
4. DaJuan Summers (6-8, Fr., Georgetown) 
Frank Says: Absolutely loaded with “upside” – and he’s not too shabby right now. He shoots it, drives it and dunks it. Look for him to have a breakout sophomore season . . . an all-Big East season at the very least. 
 
POWER FORWARD 
1. Jeff Green (6-9, Jr., Georgetown) 
Frank Says: At least on the offensive end of the floor, he’s the best player in the Final Four. His offensive game has the maturity of 10-year NBA veteran. Posting up . . . driving . . . nailing shots from the corner . . . setting up teammates – dang! He is so good! 
 
2. Al Horford (6-9, Jr., Florida) 
Frank Says: He and Joakim Noah can play either post position for the Gators, but I’m listing Horford here. He has very reliable hands, there isn’t a sturdier player inside the lane and he could be the best defensive rebounder in the field. 
 
3. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (6-7, So., UCLA) 
Frank Says: He’s the best man-to-man post defender still suiting up for a college team this weekend. He is a big reason the Bruins’ traps are so daunting for opponents to deal with. He’s very quick to the ball as an offensive rebounder and is an effective “slasher” after one or two dribbles. His jump shot is often an adventure, though. 
 
4. Ivan Harris (6-7, Sr., Ohio State) 
Frank Says: He’s probably more comfortable on the perimeter, offensively, than in the low post area. And with Greg Oden and Othello Hunter around, Coach Thad Matta can let Harris play to his strengths (as a jump shooter and driver). 
 
CENTER 
1. Joakim Noah (6-11, Jr., Florida) 
Frank Says: He gets an ever-so-slight edge over Oden because, a) He’s got two years of college experience over him, and, b) he was the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four a year ago. No one plays with more energy. Watch him guard people 25 feet from the bucket – his quickness (at that size) borders on the stunning. 
 
2. Greg Oden (7-0, Fr., Ohio State) 
Frank Says: OK, Noah and Oden should be “1-A and 1-B”. If Oden stays out of foul trouble this weekend (something he hasn’t been able to do in the NCAA Tourney so far), I’ll probably be embarrassed as heck late Monday night that I didn’t list him in the top slot. 
 
3. Roy Hibbert (7-2, Jr., Georgetown) 
Frank Says: Not only is he one of the most improved big men in the country, I find it hard to imagine too many college players of any size or shape making the kind of progress he has since his freshman season. He’ll join Jeff Green as an NBA lottery selection in June, if both decide to bypass their final seasons as Hoyas. 
 
4. Lorenzo Mata (6-9, Jr., UCLA) 
Frank Says: He is much improved over last season and is a big part of why the Bruins have been overwhelming, at times, defensively. He has a better collection of scoring moves within 12 feet of the bucket than most realize. His free-throwing (38 percent) means he is usually off the floor if the Bruins are protecting a small lead late in a game. 

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Click to expand...

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<URL url="http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=168&p=2&c=631042"><s></s>http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=168&p=2&c=631042<e></e></URL></r>

Gator Bill · Mar 31, 2007

Thanks for the good read Gaterz.

Well here we are, decision time for the final game only a few hours away.

Me? I'm rooting for history and an Ohio State - Florida final.

I have to say this though, I think there is no clear favorite, if I was only in it for the money and someone said they would take any one team against the other 3 I would take the bet.

Also, this team of Gators has given us Gator fans a lot of pleasure the last two years. Win or not they are a special group.

Gator Bill

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