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Florida vs. UCLA

UCLA's Arron Afflalo likely will see a lot of Florida's Corey Brewer. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review
UCLA's Arron Afflalo likely will see a lot of Florida's Corey Brewer. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Time: 5:47 p.m. PDT

TV: CBS

The buzz: The best offensive team at the Final Four (Florida) against the best defensive team at the Final Four (UCLA). As good as UCLA is on defense, the Bruins lack size up front. The Gators overpowered them in last season’s title game and that has to worry UCLA coaches. UCLA needs center Lorenzo Mata and reserve forward Alfred Aboya to avoid foul trouble and stay on the floor. If those guys sit for an extended period, UCLA is going to get buried. Conversely, UCLA hopes its starting backcourt – which provides the vast majority of its offense – can use its size against UF’s shorter guards. How much zone defense will Florida play? The Gators will use forward Corey Brewer on Bruins guard Arron Afflalo. That leaves UF’s Lee Humphrey on Josh Shipp, and that’s a bad matchup for Florida because of Shipp’s size and strength. Also worth keeping an eye on is how Florida point guard Taurean Green – who can get mighty sloppy with the ball – contends with the defense of jet-quick UCLA point guard Darren Collison. Worth noting: Florida is the only team at the Final Four that has more turnovers than assists in the tourney – and UCLA thrives in transition off turnovers. But when UCLA has to run its halfcourt offense, the Bruins suffer because their big guys don’t provide much offense.

Florida starters

Player ………………… Ht./Wt. … Year …. Key stats

F Corey Brewer … . 6-9 / 185 … Jr… . 13.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.9 spg

F/C Al Horford … . 6-10 / 245 . . Jr…. 13.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg

F/C Joakim Noah . . 6-11 / 230 …Jr… . 12.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg

G Taurean Green . . 6-0 / 177 … Jr… . 13.3 ppg, 3.6 apg

G Lee Humphrey … 6-2 / 192 . . Sr… . 10.1 ppg, 45.5 3-pt FG%

Key reserves

Player …………………. Ht./Wt. …… Year … Key stats

G Walter Hodge … . 6-0 / 170 … . So…. 5.8 ppg, 54.6 FG%

F/C Chris Richard … 6-9 / 255 … Sr… . 5.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg

UCLA starters

Player …………………….. Ht./Wt …….. Year ….. Key stats

F Luc Mbah a Moute … 6-8 / 230 …So… . . 8.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg

C Lorenzo Mata … … . 6-9 / 220 … Jr… . 6.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg

G Arron Afflalo … … . . 6-5 / 215 … Jr… . 16.9 ppg, 37.7 3-pt FG%

G Darren Collison … … 6-1 / 165 … So… . . 12.8 ppg, 5.7 apg

G Josh Shipp … … … . 6-5 / 220 … So… . . 13.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg

Key reserves

Player …………………….. Ht./Wt. ….. Year … Key stats

F Alfred Aboya … … . 6-8 / 235 … So… . . 4.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg

G Michael Roll … … . 6-5 / 200 … So… . . 4.9 ppg, 36.3 3-pt FG%

G Russell Westbrook … 6-3 / 187 …Fr… . . 3.4 ppg, 9.1 mpg