Can the Florida Gators repeat as NCAA Basketball champions?
A few weeks ago, it appeared the Florida Gators were a good bet to win the NCAA Tournament again. The Gators, who beat UCLA 73-57 last season at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis to win their first basketball crown, were rolling through their schedule, winners of 17 games in a row.
Then things changed.
Florida lost three of four games, all on the road (at Vanderbilt, LSU and Tennessee) and all by double digits. The poster boy for the Gators’ troubles was Joakim Noah. The son of tennis great Yannick Noah, Joakim turned down NBA millions as a likely top 2 pick to return for his junior season.
However, he has struggled much of this season, averaging 12.2 points and 8.1 rebounds. However, Noah, who likely now will not be picked
in the top 5 of the draft were he to come out, has fewer rebounds, blocks, steals and assists this season than last, not to mention is shooting a worse percentage from the field and the free-throw line.
But then things may have changed again.
On Sunday, Florida beat Kentucky 85-72 to cap its regular season. Noah seemed to play with much more enthusiasm, a staple of his game when he is on, and finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Florida actually became the first Southeastern Conference team to win six in a row against the Wildcats (only Notre Dame has won seven straight against UK).
UF coach Billy Donovan said no one really knows what kind of tremendous pressure Noah has played under tthis season, something most fans are unaware of. Noah is a constant target from fans and the media, both for his name and flair, and often is double-teamed in the post.
Another key in the Kentucky game was Florida’s 3-point shooting, which had been terrible in its recent losses. UF shot 9-of-17 against the Wildcats. Taurean Green also broke out of a slump, hitting 3-of-4 3-pointers and finishing with 17 points. Lee Humphrey, the Gators’ main 3-point weapon, was 3-of-7 from behind the arc, another good sign for Florida fans.
NCAA betting fans should also remember Florida struggled at the end of last season before hitting its stride in the SEC Tournament and then rolling to the NCAA crown.
And Al Horford is even better this season than last, averaging 13.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, and has passed Noah in the eyes of NBA scouts.
This team remains talented. UF has won the past two SEC Tournaments and has all its starters back from last year, not to mention having three players among the finalists the John R. Wooden Award as national player of the year (Noah, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green).
With Noah, Green and Horford likely to go to the NBA after this season, this will be this group’s last chance, so expect the players to be plenty motivated. But this team has a bulls-eye on its back as defending champion.
The Gators have a first-round bye in the SEC Tournament and will play Friday against the Auburn-Georgia winner.
So is this the turning point, or a sign of things to come? Get all your NCAA basketball lines in the Bodog Sportsbook, and see if the Gators are ready to repeat – currently, Florida is listed at 7/2 to win the 2006/2007 NCAA Men’s Championship!
BET on NCAA Basketball! New to Bodog? Bodog gives you free game previews and matchups, let you compare game lines, and place bets ranging from a single game bet to a multi-sport parlay.
NCAA Basketball Prediction: Look for Florida Gators to be strong again and dominate NCAA Basketball this season.
Tags: Florida Gators Basketball, Gators Basketball, Florida Basketball
Loading ...