How Gators, Buckeyes match up

How Gators, Buckeyes match up
Yoni Cohen / Special to FOXSports.com

Enough about football history and basketball lore.

In the final game of the 2007 NCAA tournament, neither the Buckeyes' nor the Gators' football squads will be on the floor. Nor will the ghosts of basketball champions' past come back to haunt the Georgia Dome.
Both No. 1 seeds will look back to a December game in which Florida destroyed Ohio State in the second half. But past performance is no guarantee of future results. This year's trophy will go the coach, the players and the school that earns it on the hardwood Monday night.

Coaches' corner: Thad Matta—Billy Donovan. In his third season as Ohio State's head coach, Matta has taken the Buckeyes to his first national championship game. In his 11th season as Florida's head coach, Donovan has led the Gators to three title games. Florida lost the first in 2000 and won the second time around in 2006. Matta's clubs at Xavier and Ohio State have won by playing hard-nosed defense, protecting the defensive glass, and rarely sending opponents to the free-throw line. Donovan's teams at Florida have won with high-powered offense, particularly on the inside.

Center of attention: Greg Oden—Al Horford. The Buckeyes' freshman phenom is an imposing defender and a good rebounder. Typically bigger and stronger than the player(s) trying to guard him, Oden's greatest enemy is himself. Either foul trouble, fatigue or both typically limit his effectiveness. Long and strong, the Gators' junior will soon follow his father into the NBA. As was evident against UCLA, Horford is an excellent rebounder and a terrific passer. Though two inches shorter and 35 pounds lighter, Horford got the better of Oden in their prior meeting — in large part because Oden got himself into foul trouble.

Power play: Ivan Harris—Joakim Noah. The senior forward is Ohio State's weakest link. Not much of an offensive threat, Harris' saving grace is that he is among the Buckeyes' better 3-point shooters. In the NCAA tournament, he's made 5 of 8 attempts from long range. The Gators' junior beats opponents up and down the floor. Long and athletic, he blocks shots on defense and grabs rebounds on offense. Though Noah has this year been inconsistent, he is again playing well in the tournament and should create plenty of matchup problems for the much shorter Harris.

Fast forward: Ron Lewis—Corey Brewer. The 6-foot-4 Lewis shot poorly against Georgetown's 6-foot-8 DaJuan Summers on Saturday, much as he struggled against the 6-foot-9 Brewer in December. Before coming to Atlanta, however, Lewis was hot. He scored 22 against Memphis, 25 against Tennessee and 27 against Xavier, including a game-tying and season-saving 3-pointer with two seconds left. Brewer is the Gators' most versatile and consistent player, able to score from inside and out. Though error-prone, he turned the ball over only twice versus UCLA.

On guard: Jamar Butler—Lee Humphrey. Butler isn't particularly consistent, but can generate points from behind the arc or at the charity stripe. Humphrey is Florida's most dangerous weapon from long range, but doesn't often generate his own opportunities. When he's on, the Gators are next to impossible to defeat. Both are team players who know their respective roles. Butler distributed four assists in each of his last two games. Humphrey was sensational in the second half against UCLA, connecting on 3-of-4 3-pointers during a critical early second-half stretch.

To the point: Mike Conley Jr.—Taurean Green. Conley has been sensational in March, running Ohio State's offense with poise and precision. He makes great decisions and understands how he and his teammates can best take advantage of mismatches. In averaging 18 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his last four games, the freshman has played as if he was a senior. Green, however, had his best game of the season against Conley, scoring 24 in the Gators' win on 9-for-12 shooting from the field. Green will challenge Conley at both ends of the floor, thanks to his quickness and nearly 40 percent three point shooting.

In reserve: Othello Hunter and David Lighty—Chris Richard and Walter Hodge. Hunter and Lighty have given the Buckeyes valuable NCAA tournament minutes, but not much production. Richard allows Billy Donovan to throw another body at Greg Oden. Hodge won't do much on Monday night — unless Green gets into foul trouble. Neither team will win or lose because of its bench.

X-factors: If Oden gets in foul trouble, the title game won't be any more competitive than either semifinal. If Green and Lee Humphrey struggle from behind the arc, the Gators will be in for a long night. If the Buckeyes generate points off Gators' turnovers, they could expose Florida's Achilles' heel.

Stats to track: Rebounding and 3-point shooting. The Gators rely on extra opportunities and win by playing the nation's best perimeter defense. If the Buckeyes neutralize both of Florida's advantages, they'll have a fighting chance.

Quotes to note: Greg Oden, on the biggest difference between his game now and when he played Florida in December: "Back then, I was just getting involved with the offense and my teammates (were) getting used to me being out there on the floor. Now (that) we've been out there for a while, I feel more comfortable with them. I'm (also) in better basketball shape."

Billy Donovan, on how the Gators get ready for games: "Our guys are pretty good with preparation. When we watch a team play, 'It's not, okay, that's your guy.' We try to get our whole team to watch all their personnel because at any time, whether it's a missed shot, coming out of pressure (or) having to rotate, any one of five guys can be on anybody because I think that's the best way to try to take away open shots."

Prediction: Ohio State by three. Florida is bigger, quicker, stronger and older. That's why the Gators are a popular pick to repeat as national champs. Fair enough. But Florida is also less consistent that Ohio State. If the Gators fall, look for them to be undone by poor shooting, subpar ball control and a relatively foul-free Oden.