If Oden can stay out of foul trouble tonight, he will face an even better frontcourt in Joakim Noah and Al Horford. Horford and Noah, although very experienced, have not faced a player as dominant as Oden. Noah will try and draw Oden toward the perimeter, opening up the lane for Horford.

Many teams backed off on pursuing Greg Oden when it was time for him to make a decision on a college.

Was it because they didnt believe he was a bona fide prospect? No, Oden was the most hyped center entering college since Patrick Ewing entered Georgetown in the early 80s.

The reason a lot of teams steered clear of Oden was because of one reason: you need another scholarship.

Oden, the center from Lawrence North, wanted to bring someone along: his teammate, Mike Conley Jr. Conley, whose father was an Olympian, was not considered to be a high major prospect, and thus many teams werent willing to spend four years of a scholarship so they could have Oden for one “ he is still expected to bolt for the NBA after his freshman season.

Everybody elses loss is Ohio States gain. With Oden out for the beginning of the year with a hand injury, the teams most consistent player is Mike Conley, who turned out not only to be worth a scholarship at OSU, but the teams MVP. Thad Matta hit the jackpot.

Billy Donovan hit the jackpot last year, when he led the Florida Gators to the national championship. His roster is littered with potential draft picks, while Donovan was expecting to start from scratch in the off season.

Not so fast.

Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Taurean Green and Corey Brewer all decided to return to school than test the deep waters of the NBA draft. It paid off.

After a serious slip late in the regular season in which they lost three of four, the Gators have won nine straight games en route to the NCAA championship game. The defending champions have a chance to do something that hasnt been done since the 91-92 Duke Blue Devils: repeat.

Many people were toting Roy Hibbert vs. Greg Oden as a potential legendary matchup. If it werent for foul trouble, it could have been.

If Oden can stay out of foul trouble tonight, he will face an even better frontcourt in Joakim Noah and Al Horford. Horford and Noah, although very experienced, have not faced a player as dominant as Oden. Noah will try and draw Oden toward the perimeter, opening up the lane for Horford.

If Thad Matta wants to win this game, hes going to have to set the big man down low and not move him outside at all. If Oden is in the block for the Buckeyes, its going to be tough to stop them.

Conley and Daequan Cook are going to have their hands full with senior guard Lee Humphrey of Florida. Humphrey, a three-point specialist, nailed four three-balls against the Bruins in the national semifinal on Saturday. Even more dangerous, however, will be Taurean Green, the point guard who had a down game against UCLA, but nevertheless is still dangerous.

Prediction: For the first time since the early 90s, a team will repeat as national champs. Florida has too many strengths, and as much as America hates to admit it, Gainesville is the place to go to school in the past year or so.

Joakim Noah may be the ugliest man alive with dance moves to make Mark Madsen blush, but his ability to spread the defense, namely Greg Oden, will expose the inside of Ohio State unlike any player has done against the Buckeyes this season.

Taurean Green will bounce back, regain his form, and prove why he had a 1.39 assist-to-turnover ratio in 2007.

Final Score: Florida 72, Ohio State 63

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