Call the NCAA title game the battle of the the Cameroon Crazies: Florida’s Joakim Noah and UCLA’s Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Their matchup should be one of Monday’s highlights, writes Skip Myslenski.
GUARDS
Cedric Bozeman is the Bruins’ 6-foot-6-inch senior statesman, their glue. He’ll face 6-8 Corey Brewer, an underpublicized but very dangerous Gator who can hit from the perimeter and create off the dribble. Arron Afflalo (16 ppg) and Jordan Farmar (13.3 ppg) are the Bruins’ leading scorers and should have an advantage against the Gators’ Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey. Farmar, the 6-2 point guard, is two inches taller than Green and a better shooter as well. Afflalo, at 6-5, is three inches taller than Humphrey, and that should help him control the Gators’ best outside shooter.
EDGE: UCLA
FORWARDS
The 6-11 Joakim Noah looms over the 6-7 Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and is both a better scorer and shot blocker. But Mbah a Moute, while undersized, is a relentless rebounder who also mixes it up and takes care of the dirty work down low.
EDGE: EVEN
CENTER
The Bruins’ 7-foot Ryan Hollins has a significant size advantage over the Gators’ 6-8 Al Horford, but Horford is more active. He not only can do some damage away from the rim, he also combines with Noah to give his team a tough last line of defense.
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EDGE: Gators
BENCH
The Bruins spent the year battling injuries, which means their bench is experienced and ready. The Gators’ does not go as deep, nor is it as talented.
EDGE: UCLA
INTANGIBLES
The Gators, unknown at season’s start, have a sense of destiny about them. The Bruins, after overcoming all of their injuries, have a sense of toughness about them.
EDGE: UCLA
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