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Ohio State and Florida may have met in the BCS Championship in football, but they shall soon meet again in the NCAA Tournament Final in men's basketball. Rivalries usually start this way, when top teams meet when the stakes are much greater. Florida will never become a rival as much as Michigan is Ohio State's rival, but could be a thorn in the Buckeyes side.

Florida is the team with the most tournament experience. They are the defending champs and four of the starting five could be lottery picks in the upcoming NBA draft. Joakim Noah was the tournament darling last year. He could be the Greg Oden neutralizer that most team lack. Al Horford and Corey Brewer will press most guards out of the gym and shoot the lights out. Taurean Green has been in a shooting slump, but he should break out of that by the time the tournament begins. Billy Donovan will have his team motivated and ready to have a good tournament run at a championship.

The Buckeyes are young and talented, but lack experience playing in a pressured atmosphere. Greg Oden, Daequan Cook, and Mike Conley Jr. are three fabulous freshmen who are going to make a name in the postseason. Many of Oden's proponents believed that Mike Conley Jr., who was Oden's high school teammate, was signed to Ohio State in order to sign Oden. I don't think this is true, because Conley has proven himself to be a blue-chip prospect by averaging in double-digits in points and having over 6 assists a game.

The Buckeyes and Gators are going to have a very heated match-up. If Oden stays out of foul trouble, Ohio State should make this a close game. Florida has too much experience and talent to be beaten by a group loaded with freshmen. Noah will be in the running for another M.O.P. award. He will raise his stock and possibly leapfrog a few people and regain a top 5 status in the NBA draft. Florida will win the NCAA tournament championship by beating Ohio State, 72-65.

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