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Florida, Oregon on doorstep of Final Four

Mar 25, 2007 - 3:10 PM Oregon (29-7) at Florida (32-5) 2:40 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Coach Billy Donovan and Florida are inching closer to where they finished last season.

The top-seeded Gators will try to punch their ticket for a return trip to the Final Four when they face third-seeded Oregon in the Midwest Regional final of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.

After winning the national title in 2006, Donovan was fortunate enough to have all five starters return for a chance to become the first program since Duke to win back-to-back titles.

"I'm excited for these guys and our team and our program to have the opportunity to play (Sunday) afternoon," Donovan said.

The low-post tandem of Al Horford and Joakim Noah controlled the paint for the Gators in Thursday's 65-57 triumph over No. 5 Bulter.

Corey Brewer enters the contest needing just six points to become Florida's all-time leader in scoring for the NCAA Tournament. Udonis Haslem currently hold the mark with 152 points.

Coach Ernie Kent has Oregon just one triumph away from its first Final Four appearance since capturing the national championship in 1939.

Freshmen Tajuan Porter drained eight 3-pointers en route scoring 33 points in the Ducks' 76-72 victory over seventh-seeded UNLV on Thursday.

Oregon, the Pac-10 Conference tournament champions, has been battle tested all season and is 7-2 against ranked opponents. It is the first time in school history the Ducks have defeated seven ranked teams in a season.