2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game explained

See also: 2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

2006 NCAA Tournament Championship Game
Type:ncg
Date:April 3, 2006
Year:2005-06
Visitor School:University of Florida
Visitor Name Short:Florida
Visitor Nickname:Gators
Visitor Record:32–6
Visitor Conference:SEC
Visitor Ap:11
Visitor Coaches:10
Visitor Coach:Billy Donovan
Visitor Per1:36
Visitor Per2:37
Home School:University of California, Los Angeles
Home Name Short:UCLA
Home Nickname:Bruins
Home Record:32–6
Home Conference:Pac-10
Home Ap:T-7
Home Coaches:8 [1]
Home Coach:Ben Howland
Home Per1:25
Home Per2:32
Arena:RCA Dome
City:Indianapolis, Indiana
Attendance:43,168
Referee:James Burr, John Cahill, Tony Greene
Mvp:Joakim Noah, Florida
Odds:Florida by 1
Us Network:CBS
Ratings:11.2
Us Announcers:Jim Nantz (play-by-play)
Billy Packer (color)
Dan Bonner (sideline)
Previous:2005
Next:2007

The 2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game was the finals of the 2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and it determined the national champion for the 2005-06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The game was played at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana and featured the Oakland Regional Champion, No. 2-seeded UCLA and the Minneapolis Regional Champion, No. 3-seeded Florida.

This was the last national championship game to feature a team from the Pac-12 Conference, which folded in 2024.

Participants

Florida Gators

See main article: 2005–06 Florida Gators men's basketball team. Florida entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed in the Minneapolis Regional. In the 1st round, Lee Humphrey scored 20 points, Joakim Noah scored 16 points, and Al Horford scored 14 points to lead Florida past South Alabama with a 76–50 victory.[2] In the 2nd round, Corey Brewer scored 23 points and Joakim Noah scored 17 points to rout Milwaukee with an 82–60 victory.[3] In the Sweet 16, Corey Brewer made a twisting falling down shot which became a three-point play with 27.5 seconds remaining to defeat Georgetown 57-53 and advance to the Elite Eight.[4] In the Elite Eight, Joakim Noah had a monster night by scoring 21 points which led to Florida beating Villanova 75-62 and advancing to the Final Four.[5] In their semifinal matchup against Cinderella team George Mason, Florida had a successful night from outside the arc and won 73-58 for a trip to the title game.[6]

UCLA Bruins

See main article: 2005–06 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team. UCLA entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the Oakland Regional. In the 1st round, UCLA routed Belmont with a 78–44 victory in the battle of the Bruins.[7] In the 2nd round, Jordan Farmar scored 18 points making five three-pointers which was supported by Arron Afflalo's 13 points and Ryan Hollins's 12 points to beat Alabama 62-59 for a trip to Oakland for the Sweet 16.[8] In the Sweet 16, UCLA finished the game with an 11–0 run to complete a 17-point comeback for a 73–71 win over Gonzaga.[9] In the Elite Eight, Arron Afflalo scored 15 points to beat Memphis 50–45 in the lowest scoring Regional Finals during the shot-clock era to send UCLA to the Final Four.[10] In the national semifinal, UCLA shut down LSU 59–45 to advance to the title game.[11]

Starting lineups

Florida Position UCLA
G Jordan Farmar 1
G Arron Afflalo
F Cedric Bozeman
F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
C Ryan Hollins 2<---† -->

[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2005-06 Men's College Basketball Rankings. ESPN. February 16, 2024.
  2. News: Humphrey nets 20, sparks Florida past South Alabama. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915034720/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000040. dead. September 15, 2016. ESPN.com. 16 March 2006. 11 May 2014.
  3. News: Brewer leads balanced attack as Florida routs UW-Milwaukee. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915035919/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000041. dead. September 15, 2016. ESPN.com. 18 March 2006. 11 May 2014.
  4. News: Brewer's late heroics have Gators feeling Elite. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915042425/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000045. dead. September 15, 2016. ESPN.com. 24 March 2006. 11 May 2014.
  5. News: Noah's monster night sends Florida to Final Four. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915041738/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000046. dead. September 15, 2016. ESPN.com. 26 March 2006. 11 May 2014.
  6. News: Florida's outside shooting vaults Gators into national title game. https://web.archive.org/web/20160915034246/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000062. dead. September 15, 2016. ESPN.com. 1 April 2006. 11 May 2014.
  7. News: UCLA routs Belmont in battle of the Bruins. https://web.archive.org/web/20201016194544/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000012. dead. October 16, 2020. ESPN.com. 16 March 2006. 11 May 2014.
  8. News: Farmar's five 3s have UCLA heading to Oakland. https://web.archive.org/web/20201016194700/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000013. dead. October 16, 2020. ESPN.com. 18 March 2006. 11 May 2014.
  9. News: UCLA scores final 11 points in stunning comeback over Gonzaga. https://web.archive.org/web/20190504032815/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000014. dead. May 4, 2019. ESPN.com. 23 March 2006. 11 May 2014.
  10. News: Afflalo, UCLA clamp down on Memphis, stamp Final Four ticket. https://web.archive.org/web/20190626202932/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000015. dead. June 26, 2019. ESPN.com. 25 March 2006. 11 May 2014.
  11. News: UCLA shuts down Baby, LSU in advancing to title game. https://web.archive.org/web/20201016193034/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=264000031. dead. October 16, 2020. ESPN.com. 1 April 2006. 11 May 2014.
  12. Web site: UCLA vs. Florida Box Score (Men), April 3, 2006 . Sports Reference . 29 March 2023.