Bruins Blocked

Gators Chomp UCLA 73 – 57

Cutting down the nets after winning the NCAA National Championship game is a dream come true for just about every young boy in America (except for those named Lebron and Kobe).  That dream became a reality for the players of the 2006 NCAA National Champion University of Florida Gators.  The Gators chomped their way into the history books by defeating the UCLA Bruins 73 – 57.  Florida, a three point favorite coming into Monday’s championship game, placed their championship stamp on college basketball history for the first time, winning their first basketball title in school and state history.  The Oakland region representative UCLA Bruins succumbed to the style of aggressive play that they had thrived on throughout the regular season and the tournament.  The Gators played a patient yet attacking style of game and literally pummeled the Bruins for the entire 40 minutes.Bruins D, Devastated
The UCLA Bruins came into Monday’s national championship game having held three of its last four opponents to under 60 points and less than 38% shooting from the field.  The dominating defense that propelled the Bruins into the championship game was non-existent against Florida.  The Bruins, fresh off a landslide victory over the LSU Tigers in the regional semifinal, seemed overmatched and overwhelmed against a very tall and very well prepared Florida team.  The Bruins defense was shredded for two dozen slam dunks, allowed 44.8% shooting from the field, 33% from the three point line, and 4 Gators scoring in double figures.  A team that usually depends on creating turnovers to power their engine, UCLA stalled out only causing six turnovers in their lost against the Gators.  The more defensively aggressive and prepared team in this game definitely was Florida, not only blocking eights shots as a team, they also effectively intimidated and frustrated the Bruin powers of Aaron Afflalo and Luc Richard Mbah A Moute.  Afflalo and Mbah A Moute, who combined for over 30 points in the LSU game, had the clamps put on them in this one only managing to combine for 16 points on 6 of 19 shooting.  Even though the UCLA Bruins came into this championship match up as what many called a defensive juggernaut, the Florida Gators team had not allowed a single tournament opponent to score over 62 points.  Who is the defensive juggernaut now?

Joakim Noah’s Arc
Florida sophomore sensation Joakim Noah wasn’t always in the forefront of college basketball hysteria. He started his collegiate career riding the pined pony behind then Florida superstars David Lee and Matt Walsh.  Coming into the 2005-06 season the Gators weren’t expected to make much of a splash in the SEC, let alone make a deep run into the postseason.  However, Florida came out of the gates strong, starting the season on a 17 game winning streak.  Leading the way, basket by basket, or two by two if you will, was Joakim Noah.  Noah, the son of 1980’s tennis star Frenchman Yannick Noah, burst onto the scene as the physical and emotional leader of this Gator team.  The New York born Joakim, averaged 16.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.6 blocks during the regular season leading Florida to a 28 – 6 record and a number three seed in the tourney.  During Monday’s game Noah dominated the Bruin big men, scoring 16 points, snagging nine boards, and setting a new record for blocks in a championship game with six.  Joakim also capped off the night by being named the Most Outstanding Player of the game.

Three NBA Ready Gators
While watching Florida get closer and closer to the championship with every blocked Bruin shot, I saw three NBA caliber prospects on the Gator frontline.  Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Corey Brewer all exhibited the necessary tools to be impact players on the next level.  Noah, a 6 foot 11inch forward, has the body, inside presence, nimbleness, and basketball intelligence to be a NBA Draft lottery pick.  Some may question his ability to score away from the rim and shoot the outside jump shot, but I pose this question: how many 18 foot jumpers have you seen Ben Wallace hit this year?  I rest my case.  Al Horford was not as heralded or recognized as Noah, yet this 6 foot 9 inch forward/center averaged 11.2 points and 7.1 rebounds on the year while sharing the paint with Joakim Noah.  He is a big, strong kid with a high basketball IQ and a daunting tenacity to play defense.  Corey Brewer, the most versatile of the group, probably wouldn’t be drafted as high as his teammates if they all declared for the draft, but he would have the most to offer.  Brewer, a 6 foot 8 inch guard/forward most reminds you of former Wake Forest now Dallas Maverick swingman Josh Howard.  Brewer, like Howard, has the uncanny ability to defend and score the ball both with great success.  Though these three Gators are NBA ready, I don’t think that they have had their fill of “the Swamp.”