Monday, April 02, 2007
Gator Bait...again?
By John Chandler
ATLANTA- Ron Lewis, I hope you know what you're doing.
On the eve of the National Championship game, nothing makes a coach cringe more than a little bulletin board material. And Thad Matta sat four seats down from his senior guard, listening to words that surely found their way under a thumbtack in the Florida Gators locker room.
Asked to decsribe the opponent, several Buckeyes used the words great and excellent... Lewis just shrugged his shoulders and said Florida was good. When asked if his standards of great were a little off kilter, he ranked his own team as great and the Gators, again, as good.
In minutes, Big Shot Ron became Big Mouth Ron.
In the same press conference room, an hour later, media salivated at the chance to tell Gator players about Ron's analysis. Let's just say Joakim Noah and company were a little miffed.
To wrestle the championship away from Florida, Ohio State will need every little edge it can find. Lewis didn't help that cause.
Here's a breakdown of tonight's Title game:
Florida vs. OSU, Round 3
Thad Matta wouldn't touch the football story; he's a coach, that's his job. But since Ohio State drew a date with Florida for the basketball championship, Buckeye football players have sent their hoops classmates text messages, reminding them about the revenge factor. Meanwhile, Florida's football players have done the same, urging the Gators to finish the job that football started with a 41-14 bashing of the Bucks back in January.
Sorry coach, but the football factor can't be ignored.
Foul Play
Greg Oden will get into foul trouble early. I can just feel it. Oden was strapped with two fouls in 3 minutes against Georgetown on Saturday, and has logged four fouls in four straight tournament games. Matched up against the aggressive Florida frontcourt, it's hard not to anticipate a few whistles as Oden tries to stay with them.
Making His Point
Mike Conley, Jr. has done wonders for his stock in this tournament. His 15 point effort against the Hoyas was game breaking, and his feel for the offense has people talking in Atlanta. This freshman doesn't sweat the moment, since he's used to playing in pressure games. Remember, Conley and Oden have played in their fair share of big games. Sure, we're talking state and AAU championships, not National championships, but to these guys it all seems the same.
Cook-ing Up Something Good
If I'm picking someone to make an impact from out of left, it's Daequan Cook. His March stat line has been one to forget up to this point, for a player who packs so much potential explosiveness. The trouble with Cook, he doesn't know when to stop shooting. At some point, the shots have to drop for a guy capable of dropping 20 on any night.
An-Noah-ying
Joakim Noah brings energy and attitude to Florida's lineup. He also bring a whole lot of trash talk. Said Cook, "Anybody’s annoying yelling in your ear."
Prediction Time
Forget what happened on December 23rd in Gainesville. Oden was still shooting left handed free throws, and the Buckeyes are 25-1 since. This will be a close game tonight, and a good one. I'm inclined to give the Gators a slight edge, based on their talent, but there's something about the Buckeyes. They're playing great defensively since the second half against Memphis, and if the refs swallow the whistles early, I feel a party raging deep into the night in Buckeye Nation.
Ohio State 64, Florida 61... Lewis backs up his big mouth by hitting his biggest shot in the final seconds.
ATLANTA- Ron Lewis, I hope you know what you're doing.
On the eve of the National Championship game, nothing makes a coach cringe more than a little bulletin board material. And Thad Matta sat four seats down from his senior guard, listening to words that surely found their way under a thumbtack in the Florida Gators locker room.
Asked to decsribe the opponent, several Buckeyes used the words great and excellent... Lewis just shrugged his shoulders and said Florida was good. When asked if his standards of great were a little off kilter, he ranked his own team as great and the Gators, again, as good.
In minutes, Big Shot Ron became Big Mouth Ron.
In the same press conference room, an hour later, media salivated at the chance to tell Gator players about Ron's analysis. Let's just say Joakim Noah and company were a little miffed.
To wrestle the championship away from Florida, Ohio State will need every little edge it can find. Lewis didn't help that cause.
Here's a breakdown of tonight's Title game:
Florida vs. OSU, Round 3
Thad Matta wouldn't touch the football story; he's a coach, that's his job. But since Ohio State drew a date with Florida for the basketball championship, Buckeye football players have sent their hoops classmates text messages, reminding them about the revenge factor. Meanwhile, Florida's football players have done the same, urging the Gators to finish the job that football started with a 41-14 bashing of the Bucks back in January.
Sorry coach, but the football factor can't be ignored.
Foul Play
Greg Oden will get into foul trouble early. I can just feel it. Oden was strapped with two fouls in 3 minutes against Georgetown on Saturday, and has logged four fouls in four straight tournament games. Matched up against the aggressive Florida frontcourt, it's hard not to anticipate a few whistles as Oden tries to stay with them.
Making His Point
Mike Conley, Jr. has done wonders for his stock in this tournament. His 15 point effort against the Hoyas was game breaking, and his feel for the offense has people talking in Atlanta. This freshman doesn't sweat the moment, since he's used to playing in pressure games. Remember, Conley and Oden have played in their fair share of big games. Sure, we're talking state and AAU championships, not National championships, but to these guys it all seems the same.
Cook-ing Up Something Good
If I'm picking someone to make an impact from out of left, it's Daequan Cook. His March stat line has been one to forget up to this point, for a player who packs so much potential explosiveness. The trouble with Cook, he doesn't know when to stop shooting. At some point, the shots have to drop for a guy capable of dropping 20 on any night.
An-Noah-ying
Joakim Noah brings energy and attitude to Florida's lineup. He also bring a whole lot of trash talk. Said Cook, "Anybody’s annoying yelling in your ear."
Prediction Time
Forget what happened on December 23rd in Gainesville. Oden was still shooting left handed free throws, and the Buckeyes are 25-1 since. This will be a close game tonight, and a good one. I'm inclined to give the Gators a slight edge, based on their talent, but there's something about the Buckeyes. They're playing great defensively since the second half against Memphis, and if the refs swallow the whistles early, I feel a party raging deep into the night in Buckeye Nation.
Ohio State 64, Florida 61... Lewis backs up his big mouth by hitting his biggest shot in the final seconds.
Posted at 7:39 AM
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