GatOrlando

Thanks Jon!! One more to go, but the last one is going to be the toughest one. Houston is a nightmare on the defensive side, they just don't give you space or second chance options. Florida averages around thirteen offensive rebounds a game which allows them to hit quick uncontested threes. Houston won't allow that. Duke is just an offensive juggernaut with their big guards and depth. Flagg won't be stopped, the scariest part is he's great defensively as well. There isn't a weakness I can see, which is why they were my pick. Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. Whoever wins will be the best. Florida has been overlooked most of the year, they'll have a chance to prove that point on Monday. I am surprised that they made this run, but there is no such thing as being happy to be there. You never know if you'll ever get back to this point. You gotta make it count. As 30Duck said about still hating Florida for that '07 elite 8 loss. That was a super good Oregon team that could've won you a second title. But it just didn't go that way, the margin of a miss to a championship is super thin. I feel that way about the '14 Gator team that lost to UCONN.

Joakim Noah was hated by everyone during his time with Florida. Kentucky fans in general really disliked him and said some really nasty things regarding his appearance and family. The '05-'06 Gators started out unranked much like this years team, four about four years straight the Gators couldn't get out of the first weekend. But that '05-'06 team started 11-0 and didn't look back for two years. I see similarities to this year's squad, the main difference is Golden built this squad through the portal. Clayton, Richard and Condon were all guys that started their careers elsewhere. I can't see them letting Duke get up early and come back, which has been the Gators run this far. Duke has too much depth and scoring. If it is Duke on Monday, the Gators better be the ones jumping out early, much like they did in the SEC tournament. Duke has the best player, but Florida has the length and depth to make him take tough shots all night. You can't stop him, you just have to make him work on the defensive side to wear him out.

So status quo for them. At least all that money they stole....I mean earned, was put to good use.

Meanwhile Oregon State and Washington State are winning.......... Pity party articles?

Today I've been convinced the Muppets were going to be Olympic ambassadors, that Mars has been found to have salvageable minerals & oil by the Rover, and that Miami was an actual threat to win the CFP. You might as well sell me some beachfront property in Nebraska. I'd probably buy a boat to go along with it.

Thanks Jon. We'll need Condon to break through finally like he did back in February. Florida hasn't played great at all this tournament. Twelve turnovers in the first half to Maryland, and the inability to break full court press is concerning. You bring up really good points on expansion. I think there's an offer already lined up. Clemson and North Carolina have been open about their distaste for the ACC as well. To me that's telling. Notre Dame has an open offer, but they'll stay independent until they have no choice.

One thing to watch out for is the B1G trying to expand into Texas, Florida , and Georgia. Oregon came and got five star Dallas Wilson out of the Sunshine State before the young man had a family event that brought him back home. But the SEC doesn't really want or need Florida State, however they may be forced to take them to keep the B1G out of the state. If Ohio State and Oregon can recruit our guys now, imagine when the B1G Network is regular viewing for one of the the largest universities in the state. As a Gator fan I really don't want FSU in the SEC, but it looks like the B1G wants to plant a flag in Texas and Florida by the year 2030. My best guess is TCU or Texas Tech, and FSU or Miami. I've told everyone that Oregon is a real threat. I've told them how the fans really care about their teams and they better not let them get a foothold in Florida. If FSU joins the B1G and Duck Nation ever comes in for the game, I think the rest of the South will finally believe me. The Duck brand is strong and growing. I see more Duck fans in Arizona than USC or UCLA combined. Most of the people I've met since moving to Arizona have come from California. Figure that one out.

In the Elite 8 we have every #1 seed still alive. We have three #2 seeds, and one #3 seed. The last time we had all #1 seeds make the Final Four was 2008. Kansas beat Memphis in that thrilling overtime game to win everything. Much has been made of the lack of surprises, much of that is because of the transfer portal. Walter Clayton has Steph Curry range, he wasn't a Gator recruit though. Golden sniped him two years ago. Kentucky rebuilt their entire starting five from the portal. Now you have a program like Drake losing their head coach for the second straight season as well. So if you can't keep your players, and you can't keep your coach. The whole advantage of having experience is negated. The Calipari days of 5 McDonalds freshman starting is dead. Now Kentucky will just let Drake or McNeese State be their farm teams.

Notre Dame is B1G in hockey. That's an interesting thing I found out.

Let them wade into those irrelevant waters. I think the passion, success, and money are reasons why Oregon will continue to recruit at an elite level.

When they hate you, it's a sign that deep down they respect you imo. I mean Oregon went undefeated but the fans only stormed the field once all year. Why? The opponent. Washington has a lot of wins as a program, but I don't see them as a storm the field opponent. The fact that Oregon is in their head with the 70 point game, or the Plum > Ionescu just shows you own a space in their head. I personally want to see fans engage in these emotional (not violent or hateful) actions against my team because it means they're good enough to take up that space. USC fans are just to blase to really care. They think their team should win, and outside of Notre Dame, Michigan or Ohio State, they really don't see anybody on their level. To them you have to have multiple championships and a 60 year plus run of being "elite". They'll keep up that arrogance no matter what. Oregon is a better program, and has been a top five program for two decades now. I think it's time to pay attention.

As a country in whole, we have some really scary things that have been mothballed up. More than a few Marines have jokingly said the "Chair Force" is the sleeping Lion of the military. We're already seeing the effects of drone technology. "Off we go go into the wild...." I won't finish the song. I had to "sing" the credo a couple times in front a crowd. I could've made a killing by selling them ear plugs before my performance.

USC fans don't have the passion to maintain anything beyond a synthetic flaming candle in my experience. There's a misconception in SEC land that there aren't any fans on the West coast that care as much about college football as they do in the South. I don't find that to be true with Oregon fans. USC "fans" have the Lakers, Dodgers, Rams, Kings and their social media acclaim status to spend their free time on. Miami "fans" are the same. Maybe it's because they are private schools. I just feel like Oregon fans would show up to watch the Ducks during a seven win season. USC fans would check out and go watch the Lakers or Kardashians.

Jon, you do a better job than most of the guys we see on television every week. I keep hearing about this being the year Penn State gets it done because of the parallels to the last two National Champions. I have an issue with that though. Michigan broke their losing streak to Ohio State and had three consecutive B1G titles and two undefeated seasons before winning the whole thing in 2023. Ohio State under Ryan Day has never won less than 11 games (except 2020). They had an undefeated 2019 and 2020 season to go along with two straight B1G titles. They made one National Championship game appearance and lost two nail biters to Clemson and Georgia before winning it all in 2024. What has Penn State done in the last four years to make you believe they are at that level? Have they beaten Michigan or Ohio State? Nope. Have they beaten anybody that is really on their level as far as talent and brand prestige? They won two playoff games against two G5 rosters(SMU was first year ACC in a really weak ACC). Yeah they made the B1G title game, but they never led. I never thought they were going to win that game. Oregon was up two scores just about the entire way. So other than experience, and the fact Harbaugh and Day won their first titles after years of knocking on the door, and people want to put Franklin at that level because.... I don't see it. I think James Franklin is a good coach. I think Drew Allar has all the tools to be a NFL QB. I really like their running back room with two thousand yard rushers. The defense is there minus Abdul Carter. Look at the coaching staff after nabbing Jim Knowles. But I don't trust them in big moments because outside of 2017, they haven't won anything or beaten anybody they shouldn't have. I hope they do get it done because they have great fans. If anybody takes Charles up on traveling to that game up in Happy Valley, you're in for a treat. Great environment. I just don't buy the comparison yet.

We should direct our like or dislike towards the name on the front, not the back. Hopefully the injury doesn't affect her future long term.

Jon, I thought we were good!! Just kidding. I gotta tell you UCONN didn't worry me. I was more concerned with Saint Johns, but they're gone now. UCONN may not be as good as their back to back championship teams, but they put Florida on the ropes. I'm hoping that's the scare game instead of the guys thinking they only were pushed because they didn't show up. I trust in Golden to keep them on their toes. Much respect to Hurley and that program. That's the third or fourth head coach that's won a championship at UCONN since the year 2000.

I actually think this is a great thing CFB could do. Colorado has discussed doing it with multiple schools. Would it be a scrimmage like the NFL does, or would it be like a pre season game? I can't imagine coaches wanting full contact in a meaningless game. We could see if any walk-ons have the goods. Maybe earn themselves a scholarship.

I gotta tell you that is one Unicorn I wouldn't want to see coming down the field with me as the only obstacle to score. I played high school ball as a DB but since we were in Florida I knew I had no hope in guarding some of the guys I saw on film. Unfortunately we didn't have anybody better which is why I learned to have a five second memory. It didn't help me with any of my relationships though. Women always remember the first time they did anything with anybody.

His physical skills and size are identical to a certain WR that gave the Ducks nightmares in Pasadena. I can't imagine having a guy like that being able to hit the hole as hard as Blount, but he might just be a unicorn.

He's already 6’3 and 220 pounds. This guy could be a nightmare matchup on the outside.

Seems like the Ducks keep rolling. "According to On3, the four-star prospect will kick off his visits with Texas A&M. After a visit to College Station, Johnson-Cook will pay some time to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Johnson-Cook also plans to visit the Georgia Bulldogs, but has not solidified a date. The Bulldogs are the first SEC team to offer the high school junior. As for the Ducks, Johnson-Cook has also not decided a time, but he plans for Oregon to be the fourth team on his spring tour. Though originally recruited by now-Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who left the Ducks for the Buckeyes, Johnson-Cook received an offer on behalf of assistant head coach and running backs' coach Ra'Shaad Samples last September." 5-Star Texas Recruit Schedules Visits To Oregon Ducks, Ohio State, Georgia Bulldogs WWW.SI.COM The spring season not only brings high hopes for the upcoming football season, but also a number of recruiting visits...

That same year Billy Donovan left to be the coach of the Orlando Magic before deciding to reverse course. I think it was also the year Bobby Petrino to quit mid season, leaving the Atlanta Falcons to coach Arkansas. That same year Lane Kiffin was fired by Oakland, and went on to coach Tennessee for one year before leaving in the middle of the night to go to USC. 2007 was an odd year in general. The undefeated Patriots losing on the most improbable pass. Stanford winning as a 42 point underdog. West Virginia choking in their final game vs Pitt. USF getting to number two in the polls before losing it the next week.The smartphone was unveiled. Don't even get me started on the GEICO Cavemen getting their own show.

I think it was clear that Oregon was thinking the rematch would be similar to the original. Unfortunately like most sequels it just really never lived up to that. Ohio State came into that game angry. They felt like October was a huge miss on their part. Add to that the fact they had to hear how horrible they were after losing to Michigan and having to see Oregon win the B1G in their first year. I think they felt like the only way to get their reputation back was by beating the heck out of the new kids.

I hope you're right!! There's been a common theme in three of the losses this year and really the one blowout to Tennessee, but Florida was never in that game. Kentucky, Missouri and Georgia all blitzed out to twenty points leads in the first fifteen minutes. Florida crawled back but ran out of steam. Golden likes to implement a fast pace the first ten minutes of each half and then slow it down to rely on and defense and rebounding. But if the guys aren't making quick and crisp passes and missing on the outside it leaves them open to the other team to push the ball with a man advantage because the forwards are usually in position for rebounds. The problem with missed threes is the ball bounces out further than the forwards are positioned. Florida is built on structure on defense. The wings are long and can switch onto multiple guys. They are sound on positioning for offensive rebounds down low, but the quick pace throws that out of whack with missed jumpers from beyond the arc. Saint Johns worries me because Pitino is the master of the game plan that Golden uses. They have the perfect quick strike runners and are very disciplined on assignments. Florida can't afford two pass possessions against a team like that.

I still can't believe the SEC got 14 teams in. Oklahoma and Texas really got the benefit of the doubt. I guess Finebaum can crow about the SEC bring the best basketball league unless they flame out. Personally I think Duke is the best team right now, but Flagg needs to play for them to win it all. That guy is amazing. As far as the Gators. We have a 7 foot 9 freshman that doesn't need a ladder to cut the nets. Who's the tallest Duck player ever?