Tennessee goes for its 7th NCAA women's championship against Rutgers.

I am not well versed in the women's game, but I do know Summit is a legendary Wooden-like coach and Candace Parker is the Oden of the women's tournament.

The high level athleticism the women bring today is incredible. There was always great shooting.

The Florida Gators become the first team to repeat as NCAA mens' basketball champions since the Duke Blue Devils won the title in 1991-92.

Three top flight starters, Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer, turned down the riches of the NBA for a chance to repeat as champions.

The Mighty Gators are a great TEAM. Greg Oden was the best player on the court. Florida was the best team we've seen since at least Duke.

Let's Go Gators!

Just another Monday night national championship matchup between the Mighty Florida Gators and THE Ohio State University. This one for the NCCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Oh by the way, Florida is looking to become the first repeat champion since Duke in 1991-92.

Who should Talk Left readers root for? Far be it from me to point you in a direction (Let's Go Gators!), but let me remind you what one of the Gator stars thinks of President George Bush:

He had to be talked into the Gators' White House visit last April. His disdain for President Bush was obvious when Noah dressed down for the occasion, shirttail flapping. . . . "I don't really agree with his views," Noah said of the President. "I don't really agree with what he stands for."

Just sayin' . . . Let's Go Gators!

The Mighty Gators dismantled UCLA tonight and have a chance to be the first repeat champion since Duke in 1992. The championship game will be a repeat of the football championship game, as Ohio State handled Georgetown 67-60, in a game marred by poor officiating (did not effect the outcome imo, but did effect the enjoyment of the game) but this time the Gators will be the clear favorite (Vegas has installed Florida as a 5 point favorite over the Buckeyes).

One more time -- Let's Go Gators!

Why should Talk Left readers root for the Florida Gators? Here's another reason why:

Some of Noah’s statements are nonverbal and are made off the court. When his championship team was invited to the White House this season, Noah at first was reluctant to go because he said he opposed President Bush and the war in Iraq.

Seriously though, Florida is an admirable team because it is a TEAM, evenly spreading the scoring among the 5 starters, averaging between 11 and 13 points per game each. The star at Florida is the TEAM, not Noah, not Horford, not Brewer, not Green, not Humphrey. You don't see that so much in this day of diaper dandies and sneaker contracts. Three of the players put a hold on the NBA in order to have another year of the college experience. That seemed pretty smart to me.

On the games, Florida is the best team, but the best team does not always win. UCLA is clearly much improved. It will be a close game. I think and hope the Gators will prevail. In the opening game, the matchup of Hibbert and Oden will be compelling. I think Georgetown is the better team and will win.

Tomorrow are the best Final Four matchups in quite sometime.

Ohio State faces Georgetown. This is a battle of the aircraft carriers, Oden v. Hibbert, of a kind that we have not seen since maybe Ewing v. Olajuwon in 1984. Jeff Green is outstanding, but so is Mike Conley. And Ron Lewis is super clutch. Should be a great one. I like Georgetown.

Florida v. UCLA. A rematch of last years championship game. A replay of last year's result would suit me just fine. But I do not expect it. This is a much better UCLA team. Do I think Florida should win? Yes. But it will not be a walkover, period. This game will be close.

Let's Go Gators!

P.S. Like Billy D., I will not allow the UK job be a distraction from my Final Four preparation. Heh.

When the cat's away . . . I'm gonna play a little. Let's Go Gators! Saturday is just 3 days away, my friends. And Pat Forde throws the Gators' Joakim Noah a little love:

There were times during this challenging season when Noah sought the counsel of his coach . . . Donovan offered a dose of perspective to his power forward.

"He would tell me, 'Would you give all of this up?'" Noah related. "And there's no way. There's no way. Sometimes this year I've taken things for granted. Sometimes you have to sit back and realize how many kids would love to be in this situation, winning an SEC championship for the third time, winning a national championship … getting to talk to all these people . . .

"We get so much love out there. It's overwhelming sometimes in Florida. But this is what it's all about. You've got to enjoy it. This stuff doesn't last forever."

Some reasons to love Jo on the flip.

Florida v. UCLA, a rematch of last year's Final. A heck of a game on paper.

Georgetown v. Ohio State. Hibbard v. Oden. Tremendous matchup.

Not to brag or anything, but I nailed all 4 Elite Eight games. In addition, I picked 3 out of 4 of the Final Four teams, Florida, UCLA, and Georgetown. I had Texas A&M coming out of the South region, but the miracle Buckeyes survived and then won handily over Memphis in the Regional Final.

Fresh from snubbing Jeb Bush snark, the defending champion Mighty Gators now take on the Oregon Furs Ducks and their dynamic under 6 foot team (see the exciting 5' 6"" Tajuan Porter) (just kidding), to continue their drive to repeat. I think the Gators should and will win the game. It is not clear how Oregon stops Florida's inside dominance. The Gators advance to a Finals rematch against UCLA.

You'll get sick of watching Michael Jordan's defining 1982 championship winning jumper and Fred Brown's ill fated "pass" to James Worthy in the pregame runup to the Georgetown-North Carolina game. This has the making of a great game. North Carolina has oodles and oodles of talent - Hansbrough, Wright, Lawson and a seeming cast of thousands. But I like Georgetwon to win today. I think Georgetown has the discipline, talent and frontline to not only stand up to Carolina, but to dominate them. Georgetown advances to face Ohio State.

I hit both games yesterday, having picked Ohio State and UCLA.

Today Kansas meets UCLA in what should be a fantastic matchup. UCLA has a terrific coach in Howland, play great defense and has big stars in Afflalo and Collison. Kansas probably has the most talent of any team left. Rush is a bigtime player. Self, the coach, is not all that however imo.

I pick UCLA to win.

In the other game, the miracle Buckeyes meet the no respect Memphis Tigers. I had A&M winning this region but they blew the Memphis game. I still don't respect Memphis. Ohio State has its one easy game.

Yesterday I was 4 3 for 4 in my picks, and what a breeze it was [I forgot I picked USC on the day after picking UNC earlier] . . . heh.

I was distracted yesterday and didn't write about last night's Sweet 16 games. And what games they were. Ohio State produced another miracle to stay alive. For the record, I picked Ohio State to win but the fact is Tennessee should have won so no glory there. Texas A&M lost a heartbreaker to Memphis, I had A&M in my Final Four. I think this is a break for Ohio State. They will beat Memphis and go tothe Final Four. Kansas survived a scare from SIU. They face UCLA, who beat Pitt, on Saturday. I like UCLA in that game.

Tonight the Gators play Butler. There is some history as those who follow this will have heard already. I am probably going to jinx my Gators but they should win this game easily. UNC faces USC in what should be the game of the night. I have picked UNC to win this game before. But I think USC can and will pull the upset tonight. In the other game, Georgetown will easily handle Vandy, which has had a great tourney. The matchup is terrible for Vandy imo. A hardnosed defensive team which is very patient offensively.

Add your March Madness thoughts here.

This latest report is not good news for baby boomers:

• Figure represents 10 percent increase over number five years ago
  • Aging baby boomers will cause Alzheimer's to skyrocket
  • Number of younger sufferers "drastically underreported," doctor says bq..bq

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, a 10 percent increase since the last Alzheimer's Association estimate five years ago -- and a count that supports the long-forecast dementia epidemic as the population grays.

Age is the biggest risk factor, and the report to be released Tuesday shows the nation is on track for skyrocketing Alzheimer's once the baby boomers start turning 65 in 2011. Already, one in eight people 65 and older have the mind-destroying illness, and nearly one in two people over 85.

Unless scientists discover a way to delay Alzheimer's brain attack, some 7.7 million people are expected to have the disease by 2030, the report says. By 2050, that toll could reach 16 million.