European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 26, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 30 stars and stripes monday March 26 2007 Mcaa  Midwest gators at Halfway Point in bid for repeat by Mark Long the associated press St Louis Florida Road through the Mcaa tournament has been bumper than expected the defending National champions re turned All five starters earned the Overall no 1 seed and got what Many considered a favourable draw in the Midwest regional but if s been far from easy for the gators and if there going to win consecutive Mcaa titles it seems they might have to do it the hard Way were going to do whatever it takes Center Al Hor Ford said Hor Ford had 16 Points seven rebounds and a key Block in the final minute to help Florida overcome another slow Start and hold off undersized Butler 6557 in the mid West regional on Friday night the gators trying to become the first team since Duke in 1992 to win Bac Toback titles advanced to sundays regional final against no 3 seed Oregon which beat univ 7672 teams Are going to play you a lot differ ent when youre the defending National champions and were aware of that Hor Ford said the gators trailed by As Many As nine Points and  find their Comfort zone against the scrappy bulldogs they took control in the final two minutes thanks mostly to Hor Ford the 6foot10 Junior converted a three Point play with left then blocked a shot with 163 seconds remaining playing from behind was nothing new for Florida at least not in this years tournament the gators who won six tournament games last year by an average of 16 Points have had several rough spots in the first three rounds they trailed no 16 seed Jackson state by five Points Early and were up just six at halftime before winning big they got be Hind by seven against Purdue in the first half and were Down 3329 Early in the Sec Ond Jeff Florida Taurean Green gets a hug from teammate Joakim Noah after a Basket during the first half of Friday nights Mcaa tournament game in St Louis to seeded Florida beat Butler 6557 to Advance to the Midwest regional championship game against Oregon Hor Ford was the difference maker against the boilermakers and he did most of the damage against fifth seeded Butler too it culminated with his Post move against Brandon Crone Hor Ford banged into him several times backing Down the whole Way then hit a Clos Range shot and Drew a foul Hor Ford made the free throw putting the gators ahead 5754 with to play he May have been even More impressive a few minutes later Florida led 6155 with 19 seconds remaining when Hor Ford blocked Julian bet Kos Layup attempt Al came up huge for us both ends of the court teammate Taurean Green said Hor Ford got plenty of help too Corey Brewer hit a Baseline jumper with remaining that made it 5954 Brewer later made two free throws and finished with 11 Points Green made five three pointers and had 17 Points Joakim Noah finished with 13 Points and nine rebounds and was 9forll from the free throw line Porter is Oregon Little big Man by Dave Skretta the associated press St Louis Little Tajuan Porter is standing mighty tall in this Mcaa tournament now its Florida Chance to Cut him Down to size Porter a 5foot6 freshman who no other big school wanted tied an Mcaa regional record with eight three pointers and finished with 33 Points Friday night As Ore gon withstood a frantic comeback to beat seventh seeded univ 7672 in the Mcaa tournament Midwest regional Porter had a great night obviously univ coach Lon Kruger said when a Guys that Quick and makes threes at that rate its a Tough combination the third seeded ducks advanced to play to seeded Florida a 6557 Winner Over Butler on sunday you get the feeling he was feeling Good ducks guard Aaron Brooks said of Porter Hes been doing it All year its not surprising to me i had a front Row seat the Best seat in the House Oregon Likely  be a game away from its first final four since winning it All in 1939 without the diminutive guard who hit four threes against Winthrop in the Sec Ond round to Send Oregon to St Louis Hes been doing it All year its not surprising to me i had a front Row seat the Best seat in the House f f Aaron Brooks Oregon guard that Hes playing at this level at All is an upset of sorts the Oregon coaching staff went to re Naissance High school in Detroit to scout guard Malik Hairston who had been get Ting attention from every top program an assistant coach spotted Porter two years younger than Hairston making shots from All Over the court he implored coach Ernie Kent to give him a Chance Porter jumped on the scholarship offer from Oregon the Only big name school to come calling now Hes become the Darling of a tournament lacking a True underdog he had a game of 10 threes and i took him out Kent said weve seen him play like that before nothing really goes through your mind Hes just a terrific player we thought he was going to be a special unique player at this level and he sure has been Hairston had 14 Points and 11 rebounds for the ducks Marty Leunen hit three three pointers and added 11 Points Oregon led by As Many As 18 but after Porter and Hairston hit Bac Toback threes to make it 6649 with to play univ began Chipping away Kevin Kruger and Michael Umeh combined for 13 Points during a 174 run that got the Runnin rebels within 7066 with 502 seconds to play the last three minutes we started to fight said Wendell White in los Lead ing scorer who managed Only nine Points on 4forll shooting i just wish we would have done that the whole game in los Joe Darger missed a three with 30 seconds to go but Umeh came Back with a three with 12 seconds left after a Quick foul Porter hit the first of two free throws to make it a five Point game Back came Darger this time hitting a three from the top of the key with 32 seconds left but the rebels  foul Ore gon guard Bryce Taylor until 09 seconds were left and he hit both free throws i would give everything for just two More minutes White said Noah and Hor Ford 3 inches taller than any Butler player made the most of their size advantage they Drew fouls regularly and were a combined 17for21 from the line they also had five blocks and Small spots of blood spattered across their shirts and shorts after the game remnants of the aggressive physical play we  do it without fouling and that what got us Butler coach Todd lick liter said if you tried to double you we rent comfortable doubling off people i think Hor Ford is a terrific passer if you Dou ble him off the catch Hes unselfish and he finds his teammates two players foul out and Mike Green had two Teeth knocked Loose by Noah but the bulldogs Hung Tough with tight defense and savvy play they dictated the Pace by milking the clock making Florida defend for Long possessions and get Ting open outside shots it worked too at least until the final min utes Pete Campbell led Butler with 14 Points Green finished with 12 and a Graves had 11 All in the second half Green and Graves though were a combined lfor9 from three Point Range and had five assists and four turnovers the bulldogs might have had a Chance late if not for three missed free throws uncharacteristic for Lickliter squad which made nine in a Row to Start the game Mike Green missed two with to play then Graves a 95 percent shooter missed one with remaining Butler got the rebound on Graves miss but made just one More Basket thereafter Florida was 6for6 from the Stripe in the final 35 seconds there a Heck of a team Campbell said they exploited some things and made things happen their posts Are pretty Good id seen them on to now i know How Good they Are firsthand added Mike Green we didst come Here just to give them a scare we wanted to win a loss is a loss it hurts de Kruger and Umeh finished with 15 Oregon Tajuan Porter looks for an open Points for univ Darger added 13 tag during fridays game against univ