Four Final Four Thoughts

4. The Gators have a huge target on their back. They open the Final Four against UCLA, the team they beat in the Championship Game last year. Then (if they win game one) they will play either Georgetown, a team they knocked out of the tournament last year, or Ohio State and . . . well . . . you know about Ohio State. Florida beat OSU for the national football championship a scant three months ago. To make the target larger, the Florida basketball team beat OSU in Gainesville on December 23--by over 20 points. At the time, though, Greg Oden was playing with an injured wrist. They want the Gators badly.

3. The early game on Saturday is Ohio State vs. Georgetown. That means that if both Florida and Ohio State make it to the Championship Game, Ohio State will have had an extra 3 or 4 hour lay-off. I know it bothers OSU when they get more time than the Gators to prepare for a Championship Game. I'm hoping it doesn't warp the outcome of the game.

2. The two Gator starting guards accounted for 44 of the Gators' 85 points on Sunday. My friend Bryan says they are average (at best!). The Gators have beaten the Kentucky Wildcats six straight times, the last time was in Rupp Arena when they were all geeked up to beat the Gators. My friend Bryan says we "barely" beat them. The Gators lost three SEC games this year. My friend Bryan says we lost to "numerous" SEC teams. That Gators have a 16 game tournament winning streak (including SEC and NCAA tournaments). My friend Bryan says we can't beat two good teams in three days. Also, Bryan's pretty sure that Donovan will leave the Gators to coach UK. You can see his post for yourself: My Wacky Friend Bryan.

1. All that said, I am nervous. The only football game the Gators lost last season happened when I was out of the country, in London. Sadly, I leave on Wednesday for Korea where--in what could turn out to be a cruel twist of fate--I will be rooming with my friend Bryan. I'm not superstitious or anything. But I might become so if we lose!

Congratulations to the Buckeyes, Hoyas, Bruins and Gators. Go Gators!