European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 26, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 30 stars and strips monday March 26 2007 Mcaa tournament Midwest regional three Down three to go Byma Klong the associated press St Louis Florida Road through the Mcaa tournament has been bumper than expected the defending National champions returned All five starters earned the Overall no 1 seed and got what Many considered a favor Able draw in the Midwest Region Al but its 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 re Bounds and a key Block in the final minute to help Florida Over come another slow Start and hold off undersized Butler 6557 in the Midwest regional on Friday night the gators trying to be come 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 different when youre the de fending 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 Uve Point play with left then blocked a shot with 163 seconds remaining playing from behind was Noth ing new for Florida at least not in this years tournament the gators who won six tour 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 Florida beat Butler 6557 to Advance to the Midwest final lament games last year by an average of 16 Points have had sever Al rough spots in the first three rounds they trailed no 16 seed Jack son state by five Points Early and were up just six at halftime be fore winning big they got behind by seven against Purdue in the first half and were Down 3329 Early in the second Hor Ford was the differ enc maker against the boiler makers and he did most of the damage against fifth seeded but Ler 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 be Kos Layup at tempt Al came up huge for us again on 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 joints Joakim Noah finished with 13 Points and nine rebounds and was 9forll from the free throw line 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 foul ing and that what got us but Ler coach Todd Lickliter said if you tried to double you we rent comfortable doubling off people i think Hor Ford is a terrific passer if you double him off the catch Hes unselfish and he finds his teammates butter had two players foul out and Mike Green had two Teeth knocked Loose by Noah but the bulldogs Hung Tough with tight de sense and savvy play they dictated the Pace by milking the clock making Florida defend for Long possessions and getting open out Side shots it worked too at least until the final minutes Pete Campbell led Butler with 14 Points Green finished with 12 and a Graves had 11 All i 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 per cent shooter missed one with remaining Butler got the re bound on Graves miss but made just one More Basket thereafter South regional Porter is Oregon Little big Man by Dave Skretta the associated press St Louis Little Tajuan por Ter 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 Oregon 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 feel ing Good ducks guard Aaron Brooks said of Porter Hes been doing it All year its not Surpris ing to me i had a front Row seat the Best seat in the House ii Hes been doing it All year its not surprising to me i had a front Row seat the Best seat in the Housew Aaron Brooks Oregon guard big name school to come calling now Hes become the Darling of a tournament lacking a True under dog he had a game of 10 threes and i took him out Kent said weve seen him play like that be fore 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 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 win Throp in the second round to Send Oregon to St Louis that Hes playing at this level at All is an upset of sorts the Oregon coaching staff went to Renaissance High school in Detroit to scout guard Malik Hairston who had been getting at Tention from every top program an assistant coach spotted Porter two years younger than hair Ston making shots from All Over the court he implored coach Ernie Kent to give him a Chance Porter jumped on the scholar ship offer from Oregon the Only Kevin Kruger and Michael Umeh combined for 13 Points Dur ing a 174 run that got the run Nin rebels within 7066 with 502 seconds to play the last three minutes we started to fight said Wendell White in los leading 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 Oregon 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 j Kruger and Umeh finished with 15 Points for univ Darger added 13 Mcaa Odens late efforts Issue Mcaa from Back Page when Oden caught a pass spun and scored with his left hand against Joey Dorsey the Buck eyes were up 7164 and in solid control with about five minutes left by then Ohio state fans who anguished through big comebacks and crucial Las Sec Ond shots the last two games were breathing easily possibly even wondering How much longer  get to savor Oden in Scarlet and White they made their thoughts on the subject Clear by chanting one More year during the Post game net cutting ceremony they later hollered two More games which could bring the buckeyes their second basketball title and first since the 1960 club that featured John Havlicek Jerry Lucas and a backup named Bob Knight j Conley son of a former olym Pic Star and Odens High school teammate set the Pace for the f buckeyes with hard charging j drives from the Start he scored 19 Points and led Ohio state to its most Points of the season he also was selected the outstanding player in the Region Lewis continued his steady tournament play with 22 Points and six rebounds Jamar Butler added 12 Points the buckeyes made 51 percent of their shots and were 35for41 from the foul line denying Memphis any Chance to get Back in the game Down the stretch the tigers Hung in Early by shooting 7for10 on three Point ers in the first half a surprising Start considering they began last years regional finals loss to Urcla ofor14 behind the arc they  keep it up however Memphis made Only three in 12 tries after the break and was also Hurt when Douglas Roberts got into foul trouble Jeremy Hunt led the tigers with 26 Points 17 in the first half Douglas Roberts scored 14 will in Kemp 12 and Antonio Ander son had 10 Points and a suture Over his right Eyebrow after catch ing an Elbow from teammate Rob Ert Dozier in the first half Dorsey who said Friday he was Goliath and Oden was the Little Man had four rebounds and no Points in 19 minutes he also Drew four fouls i thought wed have a Little bet Ter matchup inside Calipari said i thought it would be More competitive Oden scored the games first Basket on a left handed flick Over Dorsey Midway through the first half he slipped around dorseys hefty backup and threw Down a Dunk so hard that he practically did a Chin up on the rim he opened the second half with More dazzling plays spinning around Dorsey for another easy score then grabbing a rebound and leading a fast break that ended with an alleys of Dunk by Lewis