March 26, 2007
Get ready for the best party of them all, the Final Four in Hotlanta. The Georgia Dome will be rocking and rolling as the best three weeks in sports culminate with games featuring exciting matchups.
Let's start with Georgetown vs. Ohio State. Last year the Hoyas sent the Buckeyes packing in the second round of the big dance. Of course, that was a different Ohio State team since Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. were still in high school.
This time around, there is a great battle in the pivot between two of the nation's premier big men in Oden and Georgetown's Roy Hibbert. The Hoyas also rely on Big East Player of the Year Jeff Green, a consummate winner who made the game-winning basket against Vanderbilt in the Sweet 16.
Thad Matta and John Thompson III are two rising stars in the coaching profession. They are great leaders who have worked hard to get their respective teams to Atlanta.
In the end, I give the edge to the Buckeyes because of their stabilizer, senior guard Ron Lewis. He will be the difference maker, putting points on the board. He has enjoyed three straight 20-point performances in the tourney.
I feel Conley will do a great job controlling the game by running the offensive show. Unsung guys like Ivan Harris and Jamar Butler should step up and contribute.
In the other game, it's a rematch of the 2006 title tilt. UCLA and Florida tangle again and this will be a lot closer than last year's blowout city. The Bruins' backcourt of Arron Afflalo and Darren Collison makes great music together. Collison is the most improved player in America and he has been Mr. Clutch from the foul line in this tournament. Josh Shipp is tough on the wing and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Lorenzo Mata are tough, physical presences up front. The Ben Howland-led team is full of winners.
Florida has the premier starting lineup in the nation and all five guys are capable of making the big play. Al Horford and Joakim Noah will make the difference up front. Lee Humphrey can be lethal shooting the three while Taurean Green can flat-out handle the rock. Don't forget about Mr. Versatility, Corey Brewer in the lineup. Chris Richard is capable of contributing off the bench.
I am going with the Gators to survive and advance in a tight one.
That will set up a final that reminds some of the national football championship game. This time around, Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer won't be drawing up the plays, baby! This is not football, my friends, but rather Donovan vs. Matta on the sidelines. Florida has shown a sense of purpose in its effort to be the first back-to-back men's hoop champion since Duke in 1991 and '92. It will be mission accomplished as the Gators will celebrate, cutting down the nets in Atlanta.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.
