Ohio State earned its place in the NCAA Championship Game with defense. Quick hands, quicker feet, and the talent to convert opportunities afforded to them into points have set the Buckeyes apart from the masses this season, including a very good Georgetown team on Saturday. In what will be Oden’s collegiate swan song against Florida (perhaps Conley and Daequan Cook as well) Ohio State once again will need to defend with intensity for forty minutes.
A Florida Balance
Florida has a chance to repeat because Billy Donovan, in addition to assembling a talented group of athletes, has developed an extremely balanced team. On offense, all of its starters are competent scoring threats with four of them averaging nearly identical points per game. Moreover, the Gators make more than they miss, shooting a shocking 52.7% for the floor on the season.
The Gators also succeed because they are strong and aggressive in the frontcourt. In the December game agaisnt Ohio State, Joakim Noah, Chris Richard and Al Horford took the ball to Greg Oden with ferocity. Not intimidated by his accolades, his size or his presence, Florida’s big men intimidated Oden. While some consideration can be given to the state of Oden’s recovery from the oft-discussed wrist surgery, more credit should be given to Florida’s aggressiveness.
Like Ohio State, Florida knows how to defend, holding opponents to 62 points, 40% shooting overall and a meager 29% on threes. Against a talented UCLA team, Florida completely neutered Aaron Affalo and Darren Collision. They defend the post and with Taureen Green and the long arms of Cory Brewer, getting off three pointers is no small feat. Ohio State will need to reverse the ball with authority in order to find open spots beyond the arc. Making the extra pass tonight will be critical against an amped Gator team that’s deluded enough to think they’re playing against the world.
Ohio State’s All-American
Unlike the Georgetown game where Ohio State was able to excel without Oden on the floor, against Florida Oden needs to stay on the court and away from fouls of inexperience: lowering his shoulder into defenders and reaching with his hands rather than moving his feet on defense. Throughout the year, Ohio State has generally been able to hide the enormous drop off from Oden to Terwilliger through slight of hand and some skillful operation on the defensive end by quicks Conley Jr. and Butler.
Don’t expect Florida to let the Buckeyes off so easily should Oden hit the bench. As an AP All-American, as implausible and myopic as that seems to Hoopraker, Oden should be expected to provide an All-American game, one worthy of Walton or Ewing. Hoopraker would even take one resembling Joe Barry Carroll.
Make Some Shots
For Ohio State, with its defense pressure now a constant at this point in the season, the game will ultimately be decided by its trio of guards and whether they are comfortable shooting in the 52,000 seat Georgia Dome. In addition to any easy points the Buckeyes can get in transition, Jamar Butler, Ron Lewis and Conley Jr. will be relied upon to stretch the Florida defense much as Tennessee did in its bum rush against the Gators in a game most memorable for Pat Summit wearing a cheerleading outfit and singing Rocky Top.
Some timely dribble penetration by Conley Jr. would also keep the Gators from extending too far on the perimeter. In the first meeting with the Gators, Ohio State could barely hit the backboard while the Gators couldn’t miss, shooting nearly 74% in the second half. It’s unlikely either of those scenarios will repeat themselves tonight, which should make the game of two One Seeds going at each other, extremely competitive.
Bring A Hard Hat
Big Ten compatriot Purdue and head coach Matt Painter gave Florida its toughest game in the Tournament an inspiring blue collar, lunch pail, hard hat defense. Leading at halftime and nip and tuck during most of the second half, it took a late spurt by the deeper Gators, which included some classic post moves by Horford, to put away the Boilermakers. Much as Purdue did in the second round, Ohio State must be a tenacious and smart aggressor tonight on both ends of the floor. If they do, they’ll join the 1962 Buckeyes as National Champions. It’s right there for them.
Here’s to a great game. Go Big Ten, Go Bucks. Hear, Hear.
