The outbreak of COVID-19 has taken over the sports world with the professional sports in suspension and the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament. So, Sixers Wire will bring back some of the best moments of March Madness for the current Philadelphia 76ers.
This will be the final edition of this look back in the college history of the Sixers and it gets wrapped up with Al Horford and the 2007 Florida Gators putting the finishing touches on a repeat. Their challenger in the 2007 title game was Greg Oden and the Ohio State Buckeyes and it was a terrific matchup from beginning to end.
April 2, 2007
The Gators were poised to repeat, but the Buckeyes were not going to make things easy for them. While Florida was obviously laced with NBA talent, Ohio State had Oden who was destined to be the number 1 pick in the upcoming draft while Mike Conley Jr. and Daequan Cook were headed to the NBA as well. This would not be an easy repeat attempt.
Florida and Ohio State exchanged blows early before Corey Brewer and Taurean Green drilled back-to-back triples to take a 33-22 lead and eventually a 40-20 halftime lead. Ohio State pulled to within 42-36 early in the second half, but Florida responded to take a 61-47 lead. At that point, Horford and Joakim Noah were too much for Ohio State and Florida went on to repeat 84-75.
Horford led Florida with 18 points and 12 rebounds, Green had 16 points and six assists, and Brewer had 13 and eight rebounds. For Ohio State, Oden had 25 points and 12 rebounds and Conley had 20 points and six assists.
It’s very rare to see a team repeat as champions in college basketball due to so much roster turnover and guys leaving for the NBA, but the Gators sacrificed and they stayed. they became the first team to repeat since 1992. Coach Billy Donovan told reporters afterward:
I think this team should go down as one of the best teams in college basketball history. Not as the most talented, and not on style points — but because they encompassed what the word ‘team’ means.
After it was all over, it was time to prepare for the NBA Draft. Horford went third overall to the Atlanta Hawks, Brewer went seventh to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Noah was selected ninth by the Chicago Bulls, and Green went 52nd to the Portland Trail Blazers. Even reserve Chris Richard was selected in the second round by the Timberwolves.
This was a special group and it will be remembered as one of the best in college hoops history. [lawrence-related id=29132,29124,29115]