Florida Was Way, Way, Way Better Than Ohio State

If you watched the game, you certainly don't need me to tell you that. And I don't say that to rub it in to Buckeyes fans ... just the opposite, actually. It should be comforting. Not that any loss in a championship game is easy (and again, you know this), but it's not like this was a game that Ohio State blew. It wasn't a choke, it wasn't an off game, it was just the Florida Gators being damn near unbeatable.

Florida would have beaten anyone last night ... be it Georgetown, UCLA, Kansas, UNC, anyone. You could put together an All-Star team from those four schools, and they wouldn't have beaten Florida last night. The Gators were too good, too talented, too deep, too complete. Too perfect.

Think about the following things, and then think about the fact that they didn't matter:

• Greg Oden had 25 and 12, with four blocks. Didn't matter.
• Florida turned the ball over 15 times, Ohio State just 7. Didn't matter.
• Oden wasn't in foul trouble and played 38 minutes, his second-highest minute total this year. Didn't matter.
• Joakim Noah was 1-of-3 from the floor. Didn't matter.

All of those things happened, and Ohio State was never really in the game. That's pretty amazing. I don't know if anyone out there could have read those four stats before the game, and had any faith that the Gators were going to win.

A lot of people will say that three-point shooting was the major factor, and while that's true, it's not the entire truth. Ohio State was 4-of-23 from beyond the arc, and Florida was 10-of-18. But Florida's 10-of-18 happened for a reason, and that reason isn't just that Lee Humphrey, Taurean Green, and Corey Brewer can shoot.

It was because Al Horford commanded attention on the block, because Brewer sliced up the defense all night, because they got to loose balls, because they were quicker in transition, and because Ohio State's big men wouldn't/couldn't come out and help on the perimeter. Yes, the threes were a factor, but it wasn't happenstance. Billy Donovan wanted it that way, and the Gators earned those open looks. And by the same token, a lot of Ohio State's looks from three were not great looks, because of Florida's defensive versatility, and that they declined to not double team the post.

Florida was just all-around better, and had personnel, teamwork, experience, and ability that Ohio State couldn't handle. But don't feel bad about it, Buckeyes. No one could have.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

4-03-2007 @ 2:44AM

Matt Burris said...

That's what I've been saying all along. Not that Ohio State aren't that good, or the same with all the teams the Gators demolished in the SEC tourney, or even that 26-point dismantling of the Buckeyes earlier in the season. It's just that, as you pointed out, this team is a rare thing, good at all 5 positions (6 with Chris Richards) in both defense and offense.

As a life-long Gators, I feel extremely lucky to have seen this team in action for two years. Apparently a team this caliber is extremely rare, especially in this day and age.

4-03-2007 @ 3:43AM

osurocks123 said...

congrats to florida they were the better team!! But i am a die hard Buckeyes fan that has to say we will C you next year!! And hopefully with Greg Olden!! Go bucks!!

4-03-2007 @ 6:24AM

fl sux said...

fl got lucky just wate til next year when we got odden /deabler

4-20-2007 @ 1:24PM

Bsharp said...

Congratulations to the Gators. A great two year run from a fine team. That said, your arguments for Florida's vast superiority sound logical in words but you are pretending 3 point shooting is only about skill and strategy when we all know there is a luck factor. Some nights a team is cold shooting.

Ohio State had plenty of open looks, Gators were not in their face on every shot, they just sucked that night. Florida shot almost 60% from 3pt range while Ohio State shot 17%. That wasn't all due to the skill of the Gators. A small change would have changed the game. Consider: if Florida had shot a very good 8 of 18 from behind the arc and Ohio State had shot a very poor 6 of 23 then Ohio State would have won the game. When a team needs to shoot 60% from the arc to win, that is not total domination. Florida won on one aspect of the game.

4-03-2007 @ 9:50AM

jtjh said...

Two bloggers have now said OSU was never in the game. What game were you watching?

4-03-2007 @ 9:41AM

As a Buckeye fan I surely wanted OSU to win-however watching Greg Oden absolutely abuse any Florida post player who got near him was the highlight of the tourney for me. Why didnt the camera man zoom in on Noah when Oden stuffed the ball down his throat on a shot attempt like they always do when Noah screams after a made shot? He is one classy guy--his post game comments with his fingers clenched in gang symbol form represents the florida nation well---

4-03-2007 @ 11:49AM

Carmen said...

Great effort from both teams.

Congratulations Florida Gators! I enjoyed watching you this season. You really had it all together.

WAR EAGLE!

4-03-2007 @ 10:18AM

gatorgirl said...

The Florida Fab Front Five with ACE #6 (Chris)...way to go and to the rest of the team, Coach and assistants - a hearty congratulations on a job well done this year. I have believed in this team since last year and the years before but this team is very special. To the OSU bloggers/fans...we got you (again) for yet another National Championship and for those who didn't thing this team could do...well...the outcome of the game says it all. Try to take your defeat in stride because you did make it to the dance...I for one....will always remember this team and their unselfishness playing. They are all shining stars and I wish them well in the future! It's GREAT to be a FLORIDA GATOR and to be a part of THE GATOR NATION that just keeps on....Go Gators!

4-03-2007 @ 10:25AM

therhock25 said...

We are so quick to use the word GREAT!! Yes Florida is very good but when I think of great I don't think of Florida. It was the three point game that allowed them to win and that was it. Anyone who saw the game could see if the 3 pt shots weren't made it would have been a different ball game even dick said that much. I am not taking anything away from Florida, but c'mon...Great teams, lets start with Running Rebels, Fab 5, Duke, North Carolina, Indiana...those are great teams. It's not the great team that always win cause as an athelete myself I know any given game any team can beat someone. If Ohio would have beaten Florida would they have been a great team?

4-03-2007 @ 12:23PM

Jason said...

the bucks just had an off shooting night, florida's 3's were falling, and ohio state just couldn't answer from the outside, Noah was trash the whole game, brewer had a great game, but the real star of the game was Greg Oden by far

4-03-2007 @ 1:08PM

As expected, lots of bitter OSU fans posting excuses. Lots of sore losers. Instead of being proud of your team, you're insulting anyone and anything you can to make yourselves feel better. That's disrespecting your team's accomplishments.

I mean, really, you guys honestly believe the Gators won just because of superior 3-point shooting? Must've watched a different game than I did.

4-03-2007 @ 1:25PM

I agree with you Matt. OSU is always making excuses. Take the loss like the men you are supposed to be and move forward. And, if Florida had lost I'd still say they are a GREAT team....and since they did win...yes, a GREAT team.

4-03-2007 @ 2:11PM

RebelYell said...

I posed this question in another posting, but nobody seems willing to tackle the question.... Could these Gators beat the UNLV team from "90"-"92" that won the National title and went through the regular season undefeated, only to lose to Duke in the Final Four. Who would win the fantsy matchup between Florida's starting five and UNLV's that included Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, Anderson Hunt and George Ackles.

4-03-2007 @ 2:52PM

cindy alvarez said...

CONGRATULATIONS, G8RS!! The G8R Nation is lucky to share in your success. No one can take away your place in history. Some will try to diminish your "best of all time" value, but, as Coach Donovan has said, the Gator crew's friendships and coaching relationships have translated into somewhat magic, unselfish, team-oriented, game-winning play and will be difficult to match EVER. Really, past greats, no matter how special, are just that: past greats.

You talented kids got together with your coaching staff and figured out how to beach each opponent under a huge amount of scrutiny and critical assessment for every perceived flaw. What competitive spirit and focus! I might add that you managed to repetitively win even when your three-point shots weren't falling as planned, your guys were fouling, somebody was having an off day, or other plays and/or calls didn't go your way.

With your abilities it would be easy to individually "stat stuff," but in the end winning the game is the objective. Having five (Really, six 'cause Richard is beyond outstanding) go-to guys seems to me to be the true definition of a team.

I have had a great time watching you this season. You each have such special personalities. Corey, your smile is absolutely infectious! Joakim, keep being you no matter what. Love your passion. Taurean, I admire your steady nerves as the leader of the team. Al, you are an outrageously charming camera ham! :) Lee, enjoy your bragging rights, you all-time tournament record holder! Chris, you are the MOP of all time in the sixth man category. I sometimes forgot you WERE the sixth man. It was also great to see special contributions from G8R babies Hodge and Speights!! Can't wait to see more.

At the end of the day it's all about coaches and players enjoying each other, supporting and valuing each other, focusing on goals, taking the other teams' best shots, and fighting to the last buzzer in each game. Mission accomplished, Champs!!

C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S!

4-03-2007 @ 2:57PM

Number 13 Typo!

Maybe the G8Rs could beach each opponent too, (This is Florida) but BEATing each opponent is more likely! :) :)

4-03-2007 @ 3:13PM

Gator71 said...

Sorry, Buckeyes, but claims that OSU just had an off night and wasn't hitting its 3s, and that the Gators only won in one category and got lucky, won't wash. OSU had to fight back like crazy just to stay in this tournament--not once, but twice. Quite different for the National Chomps, which, BTW, understands TEAMWORK means band of brothers, not individual trees in a forest. Take your loss with grace and can the sour grapes with the other garbage.

4-03-2007 @ 5:38PM

Mr. San Diego said...

One word: Thugs

4-03-2007 @ 6:26PM

Buck I said...

What a joke. Florida wouldn't have won if Ohio State hadn't been given the shaft once again. The Buckeyes once again wer% given the longer lay-off, just like they did in football. Had OSU played the late game Saturday, they would have been in rythym for Monday's game. A committee needs to be formed to look into this.

4-03-2007 @ 9:05PM

thegr81 said...

i am disturbed by the poor sportsmanship OSU fans are showing in these blogs. your team just had a helluva season and came up one game short and instead of relishing in that, you wanna continue to toss around insults against the other team. its very sad but i guess thats how things are done up in the big 10. maybe yall can look at it in a different light. your school will go down in history as being one of only two schools to play for a NC in both major sports in the same fiscal year. OSU is an outstanding program and their fans have nothing to be ashamed of. we florida fans welcome the rivalry thats developing and we look forward to beating you again next year.

again congrats to ohio state but there's nothing greater than being a FLORIDA GATOR!!