In 2006, the Florida Gators beat the UCLA Bruins 73-57 to win the 68th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. The win marked the Gators first title and Gators center Joakim Noah was named tournament MVP. The 2021 NCAA tournament is currently in full swing. Unfortunately, the no. 7 seed Gators have already been upset by the no. 15 seed Oral Roberts in the second round. The no. 11 seed Bruins have made it to the final four where they will be facing the no. 1 seed, Gonzaga. Noah entered the 2007 NBA Draft and was selected with the 9th pick by the Chicago Bulls. A sturdy center and talented defensive player, Noah helped the Bulls reach the playoffs seven times between 2007-2016, and has played several memorable games. In 2011, Noah recorded his first triple-double and the first by a Bulls center since 1977. In that game, Noah recorded 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. In 2013, Noah secured another triple-double securing 23 points, 21 boards, and 11 blocks. To date, only 44 NBA players have blocked 10 or more shots in a game. Noah’s other accolades include All-NBA First Team (2014), 3x NBA All-Defensive Team selections, and 2x NBA All-Star. Noah last played in the NBA with the Clippers in 2020.
Today in Sports History: April 3
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