People are starting to talk about the Ohio State/Florida matchup on the hardwood as well. The Buckeyes will travel to Gainesville tomorrow to take on the #5 Gators team, a team without perhaps their most important player - Al Horford.
Fox Sports's Jeff Goodman had these things to say about the Horford-less Gators going up against one of the most dangerous players in the country tomorrow, Ohio State's Greg Oden:
That's 10 fouls to throw at Oden, but it may not be enough.
Joakim Noah is one of the nation's top big men, but putting the 6-foot-10, 225-pound long and energetic junior against the 280-pound Oden is like throwing Sugar Ray Leonard in the ring with Larry Holmes. Noah is giving up about 50 pounds and would be manhandled, despite the fact that Oden is still recovering to an injury to his shooting wrist.
"I don't know if you play him one-on-one or double-team him," Donovan said. "It's a dilemma."
Here's a little help, Billy. Double Oden -- or else throw in the towel.
Then again, Oden still isn't close to 100 percent after off-season wrist surgery that sidelined him for the first seven games of the season.
One reminder is the fact that Oden continues to shoot free throws lefty. Matta said that Oden actually shot without the cast on his right hand for the first time on Wednesday, but that he'll still sport the cast on Saturday.
Oden has somehow managed to average 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4 blocks per game despite trying to minimize the use of his right hand.
The Buckeyes will definitely be the favorite in this game now that Horford is %100 out, but it still is going to be an exceptional game to watch and perhaps one of the most exciting games in Gainesville since Kentucky in 2003 (in my opinion, at least). It is going to be fun to watch Greg Oden in person that's for sure.
One positive for Ohio State coming into this game is that they have played at a hostile environment on the road, falling to highly ranked UNC in Chapel Hill. The Gators toughest test this season was in Las Vegas against Kansas, a game in which they looked disconnected and downright slow in the paint and on defense. Plus many were down on the team after a very sloppy performance against Stetson on Wednesday.
Anyways, I'll still be rooting my heart (and lungs) out for the Gators tomorrow afternoon, but I'm well aware it will take a great performance to send Ohio State back to Columbus with a loss.