Imagine being an Ohio State Buckeyes fan, losing to the Florida Gators twice in two different sports in less than three months. On January 7, the Florida Gators routed the Buckeyes in the football National Championship 41-14. Monday night the same result followed as the Gators defeated Ohio State again, this time taking the men’s basketball championship 84-75.
With the win, Florida became the first school to win the basketball and football national championships in the same calendar year.
Though I am not a Gators fan, I will give Florida credit for winning back to back titles in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Duke University won in 1991-1992.
With a gallant team effort and more poise than some NBA teams, Florida was able to overcome the coming out party of Buckeye freshman stand-out Greg Oden.
The Gators out shot a young Buckeye squad from behind the arc, nailing 10 of 18 threes compared to Ohio State who went 4 for 23.
That was the story of the game. The Gators’ veteran nucleus overcame the dominant performance of 18-year-old Oden.Corey Brewer was named Most Outstanding Player, with his defensive presence adding 13 points and eight rebounds.
I totally disagree with Brewer winning M.O.P. as Oden took the Gator frontcourt to school by scoring 25 points and snatching 12 rebounds, becoming one of the most dominating post players college basketball has seen since former Georgetown Hoya Patrick Ewing.
The Buckeye center definitely solidified himself as the No.1 pick in this year’s NBA draft.
The Memphis Grizzlies are now on the clock. Gator juniors Joakim Noah and Al Horford were dominated by Oden who blocked everything that came his way.
Horford had an OK game with a quiet 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Point guard Taurean Green is the only native Floridian in the starting line-up for the Gators, but maybe now the state of Florida will get the respect it deserves in providing athletes to every sport, not just football.
In the near future, look for Gator head coach Billy Donovan to take the Kentucky job.
He has nothing else to prove by making three Final Four appearances and winning two championships at Florida.
Back to FAMU athletics.
After 22 straight losses, the Rattler baseball team put itself back in the winning column by taking two of three games against North Carolina A&T University over the weekend. FAMU (3-28) (2-4) split a double header on Saturday defeating the visiting Aggies 8-4 in game one and dropping game two 11-7.
In game one, junior Cirilo Manego picked up his second victory of the season going nine innings and striking out six batters.At the plate, catcher Elvin Millan swung a hot bat, driving in two runs on three hits.
Sophomore Timothy Schalch also drove in three runs for the Rattlers.
The Rattlers took game three on Sunday by scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Congrats to freshman Joshua Rodriguez in picking up his first victory on the mound for the Rattlers.
Corey McFadden was three for five with a run batted in, and senior Stanley Gnat drove in three runs off of two hits.
I have a feeling that things are starting to look up for the young baseball team as conference play begins, and the team’s tough non-conference schedule should prepare it for the rest of its opponents.