Colleges

Gators thinking big

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published April 1, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS - Joakim Noah is so emotional and outgoing that sometimes he has to be reminded to calm down. Al Horford is so low-key, reserved and serious that his sophomore teammates refer to him as "the father" of the group.

Yet on the court, the polar opposites have become one of the most athletic frontcourt duos in the nation. The two have combined for 151 blocked shots, the highest two-man total in UF history and second most of any Florida team. They have developed an uncanny on-court chemistry that has helped lead Florida to its first Final Four since 2000.

"I think they complement each other so well," assistant coach Anthony Grant said. "They are almost the same, when you really think about it. ... Their work ethic and their unselfishness is unique."

During the NCAA Tournament, Noah is averaging 17.3 points and 10 rebounds. Horford is averaging 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds, but it's their all-around ability that is so valuable.

"They are different types of players, yet they complement each other as well," Florida coach Billy Donovan said.

When Florida plays George Mason tonight at the RCA Dome in the first NCAA Tournament semifinal, the two will try to continue a trend of dominating inside the paint that has made them must-see viewing for opponents' preparation.

"We have to contain their big guys," Patriots guard-forward Folarin Campbell said. "They are really strong inside. We have been working on mimicking their shots and staying out of foul trouble."

Today's game also will be a test for the Gators' big men. George Mason forward Jai Lewis is 6 feet 7, 275 pounds. During their surprising NCAA Tournament run, the Patriots have defeated teams with taller frontcourts, including No. 1 seed Connecticut last weekend.

"To me, size doesn't really mean anything," Noah said.

Actually, it has meant everything for Florida. Burned in the past because it lacked size and strength inside, Horford and Noah (along with reserves junior Chris Richard and senior Adrian Moss) have beefed up a lineup that is also laden with guards and forwards who can shoot from the outside.

At 6-11 (actually 7 feet, according to Horford), Noah has the ability to alter shots before he touches them. He has 19 blocks in the past four games and has set a Florida NCAA Tournament record with five blocks in three different games. Horford, at 6-9, is a phenomenal rebounder who can shoot and run. "All-around skilled big men," Moss said.

"Horford is a guy who is very unusual that you'll find a young man that has his basketball instincts that are way beyond his years," CBS analyst Billy Packer said. "He goes back and he beats the press. He knows when he gets a rebound what to do with it. When he gets the ball in the low post and there are double teams, he knows that he doesn't have to force something up."

When Horford, 19, and Noah, 21, arrived in Gainesville two years ago, they would play pickup games with teammates, then go one-on-one with each other.

"It's their relationship off the court that affects them on the floor because they are two peas in a pod," assistant coach Larry Shyatt said. "They are almost contrasting styles, yet on the floor they are one and the same and they like that, they accept that. ... One is more of a skill guy, one is more finesse. One is more of a "I used to be a point guard guy,' which is Jo. And the other guy is "I used to be a back-to-the-basket guy and now I'm learning this style.' And their get-along ability is what makes them what they are right now."

Aside from rebounding and shot-blocking, Horford and Noah have agility and athletic ability. Both can run the point on the fastbreak, running down the court with the quickest guards, able to break a press and dish assists.

"Their big guys handle the ball so well with pressure that really helps their guards because there's always an outlet," Villanova coach Jay Wright said after his team lost to the Gators on Sunday. "... And even if they are not blocking shots, they have a tremendous ability to use their length to change or alter shots."

Noah played a total of two minutes in the NCAA Tournament last season. This year, he has started every tournament game and is averaging 33.5 minutes. But Grant said the time Noah spent on the bench - and his work during the offseason - made him the player he is today.

"Really the big jump that Jo has made hasn't been physical, it's been more mental," said Grant, who is in his 10th year as a UF assistant. "Sitting and watching and learning how important it is to pay attention to details and pay attention to scouting reports, that made a big difference for him. Both Al and Jo, ... their desire to get better and their tolerance for work has been tremendous and it's good to see them reaping the rewards for that."

[Last modified April 1, 2006, 00:56:12]