MBB OGT: NCAA Tournament Championship -- (1) FLORIDA v (1) Houston -- April 7, 2025 -- 8:50 PM [CBS]

I had to wake up at 4:30am to watch the last 10 minutes of the game before work (I'm in Montenegro). My heart rate jumped quite a bit, but it was absolutely worth it! GO GATORS!

 

I'm at my gate in Austin. Going to be awake for 36 hours. It was worth it to watch this team for the entire final four. I'm still wide awake. Man. I'll cherish these memories with my dad who is also an alum.

 

You and all who were there carried our hopes and dreams with you!

 

finally just made myself go lay down at 1245- laid there - the last time I saw on the clock was 120- then my wife's alarm went off at 530- she had been up since 5 but forgot to turn of her alarm - it is okay- she was in bed at 915 and is still working but I am retired so if I want I can go back to bed

 

I went to bed right before tip-off. My son, also a believer in superstition, had texted to remind me NOT TO WATCH, and that he would text me if it was OK for me to do so.

He sent me a picture - he was wearing his Gators BB jersey (signed by the 2011 team) to a big sports bar...IN HOUSTON (He's there for a business trip; he lives here in Knoxville near me.)

Text at 10:11 PM: "Not Good"

Oh, well, I thought. I'll find out in the morning. A little after 11, my phone is going off and I answer to hear him screaming "WOOOOO!" He's not small, and growing up a Gator in Knoxville, he WILL respond to slights against his team! I urged him not to get in a fight, but he said there fans are NOTHING like SEC fans; passive, boring.

I went downstairs, made a Negroni in my F glasses, and watched highlights.

He called later from his hotel to recap the game for me. Great night.

 

THIS is the essence of a man that never gives up on his team...Post 698 of the Game Thread. Hint: It wasn't going well at this point; UF had 32 points.

 

wow! that is bonkers! Kudos to you for the commitment to your superstitions. With sports…. I’m the same. But there is no way I’d be able to turn the tv off and go to bed! That’s next level superstitious. Lol!

 

I didn't see Ollie in any of the shots of the bench or in the celebrations after the game. Does anyone know if he was there and if not, why?

 

Ollie was there for Auburn. Didn’t see him either….

 

I thought that Sharp would have a clean look at the 3, but Walt came flying outta the stratosphere for the block attempt!
And just like that, UH was cooked.

 

Very unselfish Bunch. I'm not sure about the other teams but Florida was a tight group who celebrated the success of others.
A true TEAM.

 

Very impressive too that he had the presence of mind to not foul him

 

Are we a blue blood yet?

Nope, Orange and Blue, baby, Orange and BLUE!

 

Someone made an observation elsewhere that WCJr blocked a 3 attempt by Sharpe at the 18 minute mark of the 2d half and the memory of that might have caused Sharpe to double-clutch in the end.

 

I have a nightmare vision in my head of Sharp pump faking, Walt flies by, and Sharp side steps and puts up a 3 that wins the game at the buzzer. Too think we were one shot away from losing and instead are National Champs. Crazy.

 

As me ole Da' would say, "If IFs and BUTs were candy & nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas."

Point made elsewhere: It seems WCJr blocked a Sharpe 3 earlier in the 2d half; it's probable Sharpe overly-anticipated a repeat.