European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 4, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 38 stars and stripes wednesday april 42007 Brewer Hor Ford pick up Slack for Noah gators by Joseph White the associated press Noah made a Bee line to his family to share some Champion ship hugs after the final Horn when some one stuck a microphone in front of him he was ready to proclaim a National party holi Day were going to do it big All Day All night Noah said the Gator boys know what in talking about even when Noah has a quiet game he int really quiet the final fours most outstanding player a year ago was a Spectator for much of the reverting in monday nights Mcaa championship game foul trouble limited him to eight Points in 21 minutes but front court teammates Corey Brewer and Al Hor Ford took up the Slack As Florida successfully defended its title with an 8475 Victory Over Ohio state the never been so nervous in my life be cause theres nothing you can do when youre sitting on the Bench said Noah a bundle of Energy who is hard to keep Calm even when Hes playing Greg Oden was just scoring Basket after Basket and he was just such a pres ence out there today and Hes so Tough to guard and we  double team him because of the outside shooters that they have i just feel like Corey made big plays and Horny made huge plays and i feel like it was a team Effort Noah had 16 Points and six blocks in the title Victory Over Urcla last year this year it was Brewers turn to win the most outstanding player award Brewer finished with 13 Points eight rebounds and three steals Hor Ford sometimes the forgotten big Man had 18 Points and 12 rebounds a mean feat Given that 7footer Oden was on the other team i feel like everybody contributed to this win Noah said and s what if s All about Hor Ford was 6for15 from the Field and 6for8 from the free throw line he also had two blocks and finished off the 3onl break that gave the gators a 12point Lead Midway through the second half Brewer hit one of the three pointers in a 90 run that put the gators in control late in Florida Corey Brewer poses with the Mcaa final four championship trophy after the gators 8475 Victory Over Ohio state at Georgia dome in Atlanta on monday Brewer won the most outstanding player award Eric the first half he went 4for12 from the Field but three of Las baskets were three pointers he also played Well on the perimeter helping hold Ohio state to 4for23 shooting from three Point Range our defense we Felt like we could just play straight up in the Post Brewer said Oden is a great player but twos cant really beat you if you can guard the three Point line defensively our team did Good we had each others Back All night we re bounded the Ball like we needed to to night t in the locker room Noah wore a Blue arid Orange beaded necklace adorned with Alligator figurines he wore Bis Cap Back Ward with the velcro strap dangling Over his forehead and of course there was no keeping him quiet i know that in 20 years if in Down Flat everybody in this locker room will have my Back because of moments like mis Noah said we will cherish this for the rest of our lives Odens big numbers not enough to carry Ohio state by Charles Odum the associated press Greg Oden walked to the Bench during a break in the first half of the Mcaa championship game he was greeted with a bit of sarcasm from his coach Thad Malta coach told me after the first Media timeout Welcome to the second part of the first half Oden said indeed playing most of the half and 38 minutes in the game was a View experience in the tournament for the Ohio state fresh Man after picking up two fouls in 3 minutes against Georgetown in the semifinal game Oden played in almost 30 minutes monday night before drawing Bis second foul against Florida he finished with four fouls but the last two came in the closing minutes in the end it didst matter Flor Ida easily beat the buckeyes 8475 despite the big Guys Best v game of the tournament in what might have been Odens final College game the Likely no 1 Overall pick in this years Aba draft led his team with 25 Points his second High r est total of the season 12 re Bounds and four blocked shots it really Doest matter Oden said Oden  beat Florida by himself but at least he beat the perception that he  stay on the floor in Mcaa tournament games we pretty much got every and anything out of Greg tonight guard Mike Conley or said he played a great game he helped us offensively and defensively but you know our team needed to play As Well As he was tonight Harry Ohio states David Lighty 23 drives past Florida Joakim Noah 13 during the first half of the National championship game at the Georgia dome in Atlanta on monday the buckeyes Greg Oden 20 watches by the Way Florida was playing that was the key afterwards Oden sat slumped at his locker drained by his Long stint on the floor and dejected after the buckeyes first loss after 22 straight victories were used to winning that what we know Oden said speak ing softly it just didst turn out that Way it kind of hurts asked about entering the Aba draft Oden said next question please Matta said he and Oden have not discussed the draft i think Gregory and i will sit Down when we get Back and kind of talk Matta said the great thing about him i know he Hast thought about it after running into foul trouble in four straight Mcaa tournament games severely limiting his playing time Oden finally was in fall time for this one and it was quite a show he played like a Veteran Shin ing on College basketballs biggest stage showing a Nice touch with Bis Hook shots and Power with two handed dunks and blocks the performance was primetime proof that Oden is As impressive As billed problem was his teammates  make their three Point ers and they  Stop Flori Das threes our game plan was not to leave their shooter Oden said they got a couple of open threes Oden had 11 Points and seven rebounds in the first half ending it with a two handed Jam Over Florida Over matched freshman Center mar Reese Speights Speights played late in the first half to protect Florida top inside players from fouls but Oden continued to pile on the Points in the second half when defended by starter Al Hor Ford and top Back up Chris Richard who finally fouled out Greg played a great game Ohio state senior Ron Lewis said he fought hard he did every thing he needed to do i think it was one of his Best performances staying out of foul trouble and doing the things he needed to do to help this basketball team Conley also a freshman added 20 Points with his slashing drives to the Basket Oden and Conley made the Al tournament team for the final four both Guys played exceptionally Well Matta said Greg really did a tremendous Job of scoring the Ball finishing the Ball they chose to go with single coverage when teams do that really the Dif Ference in the game is we need to make a couple More shots from the outside Ohio state was Only 4for23 on three pointers Florida was 10for18 speaking As Florida Confer Tifi led Celebration continued on the court Oden said its disappointing because this is what we want what they Are doing right now is what we wanted