Gators Go Back For Seconds
Florida Repeats As NCAA Basketball Champions With 84-75 Win Over Ohio State
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Florida's Joakim Noah (13) and Al Horford block a shot by Ohio State guard Mike Conley Jr. (1) during the second half of the Final Four basketball championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, April 2, 2007. (AP)
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Florida coach Billy Donovan and his team hold up the NCAA Final Four championship trophy following their 84-75 victory over Ohio State at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, April 2, 2007. (AP)
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Florida's Joakim Noah (13) talks to reporters as he celebrates his team's 84-75 victory over Ohio State in the Final Four basketball championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, April 2, 2007. (AP)
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Fans celebrate the Gators 84-75 victory over Ohio State in the Final Four basketball championship at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, April 2, 2007. (AP)
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Florida's Al Horford shows off a piece of the net following his team's 84-75 victory over Ohio State in the Final Four basketball championship game in Atlanta, April 2, 2007. (AP)
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Mission accomplished for Florida.
The Gators were too much to handle once again Monday night, keeping their stranglehold on the college basketball world with an 84-75 victory over Ohio State for their second straight national championship.
Al Horford had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Taurean Green had 16 and Greg Oden's 25 points and 12 rebounds weren't enough for Ohio State (35-4) to stop the Gators (35-5) from completing the quest they set on when all the starters delayed their NBA plans for a try at another title.
"It feels great. This is what we came back to school for," Florida guard Corey Brewer said. "This is what we're all about at the University of Florida, winning championships. We're No. 1 again, two in a row, back-to-back. That's what we do."
They celebrated with the usual Gator chomps and took a chomp out of NCAA history, too — becoming the first team to repeat since Duke in 1991-92, the first ever to go back-to-back with the same starting five and adding their name to the debate about the best teams of all time.
Best athletic programs of all time, too.
This win completes a 2007 championship-game sweep of the Buckeyes in the two biggest college sports — men's hoops and football. Florida, a 41-14 winner in the football title game in January, remains the only program in history to hold both championships at the same time.
The celebration looked much the same as last year. Lots of jersey tugging, jumping onto press row and Joakim Noah running into the stands to hug it out with loved ones.
Billy Donovan added another gold star to his resume, which figures to command more than his current $1.7 million next season, whether he returns to Florida or bolts for a possible job offer at Kentucky.
"I'm so proud of these guys," Donovan said. "We've had to win different ways and with the expectations, and I think you really have to look at this team, and I'm not saying they are the best team, but you have to look at them and say they are one of the best teams to play this game."
By Eddie Pells © MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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