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Noah, Florida take on UCLA in rematch of 2006 championship game

Mar 31, 2007 - 1:59 PM No. 2 UCLA (30-5) at No. 1 Florida (33-5) 8:47 pm EDT

GAINESVILLE, Florida (Ticker) -- Joakim Noah and Florida would like nothing more than to repeat history. UCLA would like to rewrite it.

In a rematch of last season's national championship game, Florida and UCLA meet Saturday in the NCAA Tournament national semifinals.

Florida enters the Final Four as the favorite to become the first team to repeat as national champions since Duke in 1992. But the Gators' first obstacle is UCLA, which is seeking its 12th title.

Last April, Florida won its first title with a convincing 73-57 victory over UCLA in the title game in Indianapolis.

In what was a dominating performance throughout, the Gators were too big, too long and took quick for the Bruins. Noah collected 16 points, nine rebounds and a championship-record nine blocks to earn the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.

With all five starters back, the Gators won another Southeastern Conference tournament title and have survived four games in the NCAA Tournament, winning their last three contests by single digits.

Florida has won 10 straight NCAA Tournament games and is 22-1 in March over the last three seasons. The Gators also are familiar with the Georgia Dome, winning the 2005 and 2007 SEC tournament titles here.

The top seed in the Midwest Region, the Gators have been getting production from both their frontcourt and backcourt in this year's NCAA Tournament.

Up front, the duo of Noah and Al Horford are combining for 26.8 points, 20.8 rebounds and 4.0 blocks in the tourney.

The backcourt pair of Lee Humphrey (seven) and Taurean Green (four) combined for 11 3-pointers as Florida booked its spot to Atlanta with an 85-77 victory over Oregon in the Midwest Region final.

While the Gators have more experience, the Bruins also boast plenty of talent.

Arron Afflalo, who shot just 3-of-10 in last year's title game, lightning quick point guard Darren Collison and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute are the key figures for UCLA, which is making back-to-back Final Four appearances for the first time since 1975.

Just like last March, the Bruins' record 17th Final Four appearance has to do with their suffocating defense. The second seed in the West Region, UCLA has allowed an average of 50.3 points in its four tournament games.

In the West Region final, Afflalo broke out of a shooting slump to score 15 of his 24 points in the second half as UCLA registered a 68-55 victory over top-seeded Kansas. The Bruins held the Jayhawks to 41 percent (23-of-56) shooting and forced 21 turnovers.

The winner of Saturday's contest will take on either Ohio State or Georgetown in Monday night's national championship game.