Final Four preview in Florida?

The college basketball season is off and running and we’ll see one of our first big postseason previews on Saturday when Ohio State heads to Gainesville to face defending national champion Florida. Tipoff is 4 p.m. (EST) on CBS.
Oh, and the same two teams are meeting for the football title in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 8.

Many think Ohio State is the best men’s basketball team in the country with super freshman Greg Oden finally playing. Oden missed the Buckeyes first seven games due to offseason wrist surgery. But he’s played the last four games and looks to have shaken off much of the rust, despite playing with a cast on his right hand. The 7-foot center scored 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds on Wednesday in a 75-56 win over Iowa State.

Ohio State is 10-1 on the season, the only loss a 98-89 defeat at then-No. 7 North Carolina while Oden was still out. The Buckeyes are currently ranked third in the country. Backup guard Daequan Cook leads the team in scoring with 16 per game with Oden right behind at 15.5 per game.

Greg Oden

Fifth-ranked Florida is 10-2 on the young season, but the Gators could be missing Al Horford for the showdown with Ohio State. Horford, son of former NBA player Tito Horford, is suffering from a sprained ankle and has missed Florida’s last two games. Horford leads the team with 13 points and eight rebounds per game. Gators forward Joakim Noah will have to shoulder the load if Horford can’t play.

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