Championship Game let down

In what had to be one of the most boring, unexciting championship games ever, Florida beat UCLA by a score of 73 - 57. They beat UCLA by using a balanced scoring attack having four starters reach double figures in points. The relentless defense that UCLA used to get to the Championship wasn’t evident on this night as they couldn’t stop the inside scoring of Noah and Horford combined with clutch shooting of little used Adrian Moss.

When I say that this game lacked the late drama that is normally associated with this game I really mean it. For all intensive purposes, this game was over at the 17:31 mark in the first half. That’s when Florida took the lead for good at 6 – 4 with a layup by Horford. Florida led by 11 at the half and at one point in the second half had a 20 point cushion at 55 – 35.

In what was a mere formality, Florida F Joakim Noah was named the Final Four’s most outstanding player. He set a National Championship game record with 7 blocks, the previous record was 5, a mark he tied in just the first half.

This is Florida’s first National Title in basketball, looks like there are no longer just a football powerhouse. Also need to send out congrats to former Clemson HC Larry Shyatt, an assistant on Billy Donovan’s coaching staff.

Championship Game Blowouts
30	UNLV 103, Duke 73	1990
23	UCLA 78, North Carolina 55	1968
21	UCLA 87, Memphis State 66	1973
20	Ohio State 75, California 55	1960
20	UCLA 92, Purdue 72	1969
20	Duke 71, Michigan 51	1992
18	Indiana 60, Kansas 42	1940
18	Indiana 86, Michigan 68	1976
17	Kansas 80, St. John's 63	1952
16	Kentucky 58, Baylor 42	1948
16	La Salle 92, Bradley 76	1954
16	Florida 73, UCLA 57	2006
15	Stanford 53, Dartmouth 38	1942
15	UCLA 98, Duke 83	1964