Florida Vs Ohio State Basketball National Championship 2007
The Leadup
The 2007 NCAA Basketball National Championship Game was a highly anticipated matchup between two of the top teams in the country: the Florida Gators and the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Gators were the defending national champions, having won the title the previous year, while the Buckeyes were led by freshman sensation Greg Oden, who was projected to be the first overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Florida had a stacked roster that included future NBA players Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Corey Brewer, as well as point guard Taurean Green and shooting guard Lee Humphrey. The Gators had won 33 straight games coming into the championship game and were looking to make history by becoming the first team to win back-to-back titles since Duke in 1992.
Ohio State, on the other hand, had a more balanced lineup that featured Oden, guard Mike Conley Jr., and swingman Ron Lewis as their top three scorers. The Buckeyes had finished the regular season with a record of 30-3 and had made it to the championship game by defeating Georgetown in the Final Four.
The Game
The game started off as a tightly contested battle, with both teams trading blows in the first few minutes. Florida took an early lead thanks to some hot shooting from Humphrey, who drained a couple of three-pointers to put the Gators up 11-6. Ohio State responded with a 7-0 run of their own, capped off by a three-pointer from Conley to give the Buckeyes a 13-11 lead.
From there, the game turned into a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to pull away. Florida got a boost from their big men, as Noah and Horford both made some key plays on the defensive end and finished some tough shots around the rim. Ohio State stayed in the game thanks to Oden, who was a force inside and drew several fouls on Florida's bigs.
With just under four minutes left in the first half, Florida went on a run to take a 38-29 lead. Brewer hit a three-pointer, Noah scored on a putback, and Humphrey knocked down another triple to cap off the spurt. Ohio State managed to cut the lead to six by halftime, but Florida had the momentum heading into the second half.
Florida started the second half strong, with Horford scoring on a layup and Brewer hitting another three to give the Gators a 49-38 lead. Ohio State battled back, though, with Conley and Lewis hitting some big shots to cut the lead to six with just over ten minutes left in the game.
That's when Oden took over. The 7-foot center scored on a dunk to cut the lead to four, then blocked a shot by Noah on the other end. Lewis hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 49-49, and Oden followed that up with another dunk to give Ohio State the lead.
Florida refused to back down, though, and responded with a quick 8-0 run to take a 57-51 lead with just over three minutes left in the game. Brewer hit another three, Horford scored on a putback, and Noah made a tough layup to cap off the run.
Ohio State kept fighting, but Florida was too much to handle down the stretch. The Gators made their free throws and got some key stops on defense to seal the victory. Florida won the game 84-75, becoming the first team in 15 years to win back-to-back national championships.
The Aftermath
The 2007 NCAA Basketball National Championship Game was a classic matchup between two great teams. Florida's trio of Noah, Horford, and Brewer proved to be too much for Ohio State to handle, as the Gators' big three combined for 57 points and 32 rebounds. Oden did his best to keep the Buckeyes in the game, finishing with 25 points and 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to bring home the title.
The game was a fitting end to an incredible season for both teams. Florida finished the year with a record of 35-5 and cemented their place as one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. Ohio State, meanwhile, showed that they were a force to be reckoned with and would go on to produce several more NBA players in the years to come.
Overall, the 2007 NCAA Basketball National Championship Game was a thrilling contest that showcased some of the best players in college basketball. It will go down in history as one of the most memorable championships of all time.