History is usually written by the victors, but in college basketball, it’s often written by the guys who decided to stay in school just one more year. Looking back at the NCAA basketball finals 2007, it’s basically impossible to ignore the sheer gravity of that Florida Gators squad. They weren't just good. They were a juggernaut that seemed to be playing a completely different sport than everyone else.
We don't see this anymore. Seriously. The "Oh-Fours," as that Florida core was called, stayed together when every single scout in the NBA told them to leave after their 2006 title. Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, and Lee Humphrey—they all came back. It was a move that felt almost nostalgic even then, in an era where the "one and done" rule was just starting to bake into the culture of the sport.
The 2007 championship game in Atlanta wasn't just a basketball game; it was a coronation. Florida walked into the Georgia Dome and essentially told Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. that their time would have to wait. And honestly? It did.
The Night the Gators Became Legends
The setup for the NCAA basketball finals 2007 was a scriptwriter's dream. You had the defending champs, Florida, trying to do something that hadn't been done since Duke in 1991 and 1992—win back-to-back titles. On the other side, you had Ohio State, led by two of the most hyped freshmen in the history of the Big Ten. Greg Oden was supposed to be the next Bill Russell. Mike Conley Jr. was already showing the flashes of the floor general skills that would eventually make him a multi-time NBA All-Star.
People forget how physical this game was. It was a grind.
Florida won 84-75, but the score makes it look closer than the actual flow of the game felt. Every time Ohio State made a run, Lee Humphrey would inevitably drift to the corner and bury a three. Or Al Horford would snag a rebound that he had no business getting. It was a masterclass in chemistry. The Gators shot 10-of-18 from behind the arc. That's 55.6%. In a dome. If you know anything about college basketball, you know that shooting that well in a massive football stadium is basically a miracle.
Billy Donovan cemented his legacy that night. He took a group of guys who were already millionaires-in-waiting and kept them focused on a singular, unselfish goal. That’s rare. Like, "seeing a solar eclipse while winning the lottery" rare.
Greg Oden vs. The World
We have to talk about Greg Oden. In the NCAA basketball finals 2007, Oden was a monster. He finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds. He did it while playing with one hand, basically, because of a recurring wrist injury. Watching him navigate the double teams that Florida threw at him was fascinating. He was the best player on the floor, but he was playing against the best team in the country.
It’s a bit of a tragedy how Oden’s career turned out later with the injuries, because in that April 2007 game, he was terrifying. He looked like a man among boys, even though the "boys" he was playing against were future NBA starters.
Florida’s strategy was simple: let Oden get his, but shut down everyone else. It worked. Aside from Conley, who had 20, the rest of the Buckeyes struggled to find any rhythm. Ron Lewis, who had been a hero earlier in the tournament, couldn't get it going.
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The Legacy of the 2007 Tournament
What really sticks with me about the NCAA basketball finals 2007 is how it marked the end of an era. This was the last time we saw a group of top-tier talent stay together for three or four years. After this, the floodgates opened. Kevin Durant had already happened at Texas that same year, proving that a freshman could dominate the sport. Teams started chasing the "one and done" dragon.
Florida proved that continuity is a superpower.
When you look at the box score today, the names are still staggering.
- Al Horford: Still a vital piece of NBA playoff teams nearly two decades later.
- Joakim Noah: A future NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
- Corey Brewer: A guy who would eventually score 51 points in an NBA game.
- Mike Conley Jr.: The definition of a "pro's pro" who is still starting in the league.
This wasn't some fluke mid-major run. This was the highest level of basketball played by guys who genuinely liked each other.
Why the 2007 Final Still Matters
Most people look back at 2007 and think about the "Repeat." But there’s a deeper layer to it. It was the moment Billy Donovan's "04" recruiting class became immortal. They didn't just win; they defended a title with a target on their backs the size of a billboard.
Every road game they played that year was a sell-out. Every opposing crowd treated it like the Super Bowl. To maintain that level of intensity for five months is exhausting. Most teams crumble under that pressure. Florida thrived on it. They finished the season 35-5, and they saved their best basketball for the three weeks in March and April.
Key Statistical Anomalies from the 2007 Final
The shooting splits in the NCAA basketball finals 2007 tell a story of efficiency versus raw power.
Florida:
- FG%: 51.0
- 3PT%: 55.6
- Free Throws: 24-28 (85.7%)
Ohio State:
- FG%: 43.1
- 3PT%: 17.4
- Free Throws: 15-20 (75.0%)
You can't win a championship shooting 4-of-23 from the three-point line. You just can't. Ohio State was built to dominate the paint, but Florida’s ability to space the floor with Humphrey and Brewer made the Buckeyes' size a liability on the perimeter. It’s kinda the blueprint for how basketball changed over the next decade. The move toward the three-point line started right here.
The Taurean Green Factor
Nobody talks about Taurean Green enough. He was the engine. While Noah and Horford got the covers of Sports Illustrated, Green was the one handling the pressure of Mike Conley Jr. for 40 minutes. He stayed calm. He facilitated. He hit his free throws.
In the final minutes, when Ohio State was trying to scramble back into the game, Green was the one who kept the ball safe. It’s those small, "un-sexy" parts of the game that win titles.
How to Apply the 2007 Gators' Philosophy Today
If you’re a coach or even a business leader, there’s a lot to learn from that 2007 Florida run. It wasn't about having the best player—Ohio State arguably had that in Oden. It was about "Total Buy-In."
- Prioritize Chemistry Over Raw Talent: The Gators had talent, but their familiarity with each other’s tendencies was their real edge. They knew where Lee Humphrey would be before he even moved.
- Handle the Pressure of Being the Favorite: It’s easy to be the underdog. It’s hard to be the frontrunner. Florida embraced the villain role on the road and the hero role at home.
- Versatility Wins Championships: Florida could play fast, but they could also grind it out in the half-court. Being one-dimensional is a death sentence in the NCAA tournament.
Moving Forward: Watching for the Next Florida
The NCAA basketball finals 2007 gave us a template that is nearly impossible to replicate now. With the Transfer Portal and NIL, the idea of five starters staying together for three years feels like a fairy tale.
To really understand the impact of that game, go back and watch the final five minutes. Watch how Florida moved the ball. No one was hunting their own shot. They were hunting the best shot. That’s the legacy of the 2007 finals. It wasn't just a win; it was a perfect game.
If you're looking to dive deeper into college basketball history, start by analyzing the 2006-2007 Florida schedule. Look at how they handled the mid-season slump in February when they lost back-to-back games to Vanderbilt and LSU. It’ll show you exactly how they built the mental toughness required to walk into Atlanta and walk out as legends. Check out the archives of the Gainesville Sun or the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from that week for the local flavor of the era. You'll see just how much of a "pro" atmosphere surrounded that specific game.