There is no staring down when both men hover above 7-feet. Instead, Georgetown center Roy Hibbert eagerly awaits his well-publicized match up against Ohio State’s Greg Oden in Saturday’s Final Four semifinal witha sense of wonderment.
“I can’t wait to play [Oden],” Hibbert said. “I want to see what he can do.”
There are few encounters more exciting in sports than a battle of big men, especially 7-footers. It’s like watching giants play among mere mortals. Seven feet is a benchmark seldom seen and even less so with two in the same game of national consequence.
It has been more than 10 years since 7-footers — Oklahoma State’s Bryant Reeves and UCLA’s George Zidek — met in the 1995 Final Four. Another decade back since St. John’s Bill Wennington faced Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing in the 1985 national semifinal.
Now Hibbert (7-2) meets Oden (7-foot). Neither may truly decide the game given their talented teammates, but they’ll surely be the center of public attention and the focus of every play on both ends.
“They take up a lot of space in the middle,” Hoyas guard Jonathan Wallace said. “It’s going to be rough down there.”
Oden is considered the better player — a man-child who’s the NBA’s No. 1 pick come June. Hibbert is a first-rounder if deciding to leave early, too. He’s not saying yet, but the smart money is the junior departs, especially if he outplays Oden.
Oden is a first-team All-American, averaging 15.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Hibbert is still progressing from a pigeon-toed prep player who couldn’t even manage one pushup when arriving at Georgetown three years ago. Hibbert’s 12.7 points and 6.9 rebounds are only a partial barometer, though. It’s those blocked shots opponents mostly fear.
Hibbert has occasional met fellow 7-footers. It’s actually easier picking on someone his own size, says the man with size 18 shoes.
“I like it a lot to go head-to-head and play great basketball,” Hibbert said. “Guarding smaller guys is a lot tougher.”
Coach John Thompson III knows the Hoyas’ hunt for their first national title since 1984 depends on far more than Hibbert. Georgetown must play better perimeter defense after allowing opponents to convert one-third of their 3-pointers in the tournament. Forward Jeff Green is still the top scorer, Patrick Ewing a fellow defensive stopper.
“The stories are on the two [centers], but the teams are so much more than that,” Thompson said. “[Ohio State has] too many ways to beat you to focus on Greg.”
Maybe, but all eyes will be on the big men. After all, they’re easy to spot.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
