Ray Glier

Is Florida like Duke’s repeat champions of 1991-1992, or is it like Duke’s one-on-done nucleus of 2001-2002?

Can the Gators keep it together like Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner in 1992 or are they like Jason Williams and Carlos Boozer, who were taken out by a lesser team in 2002?

Just remember the one-and-done stories of UConn and Gonzaga in 2006 when you consider Florida’s chances of repeating in 2007 with the same cast that won in 2006. One bad game, one two-minute lapse, and it means an exit.

Remember, too, that injuries happen. Indiana might have had back-to-back titles in 1975 and 1976 if Scott May had not been injured in ’75 with the Hoosiers rolling toward a title.

Stuff happens.

So before it does, we will anoint Florida as the team to beat in 2007 after Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Al Horford declared Friday they will return for their junior years.

The Gators also bring back point guard Taurean Green, who blew past UCLA’s defense to fuel the rout of the Bruins in the championship game. Florida also gets back Lee Humphrey, the sharp-shooting guard.

Everyone else is a challenger to Florida in 2007. And who are the challengers?

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UCLA is a significant threat. The Bruins arrived a year early in 2006 because of the quick work of point guard Jordan Farmar and shooting guard Arron Afflalo. They are superb players who can defend and score.

UCLA will take a big jump in offense when forward Josh Shipp returns after leaving the lineup in January with a hip injury. The Bruins also return 6-foot-8 Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who averaged nine points and eight rebounds per game.

LSU, another Final Four team, has a chance to be good again because the Tigers will return a hungry Glen Davis, who is not expected to declare for the draft. Davis likes to eat, but he is hungry to make himself into a first-round pick and will lose weight and gain status.

The Tigers will have two other starters back and could return point guard Tack Minor, who sat out most of the 2006 season with an injury.

North Carolina is another challenger. Freshman Tyler Hansbrough, an All-ACC pick as a freshman, said he is coming back for his sophomore season.

Carolina also returns 6-foot-8 Reyshawn Terry, who averaged 14 points a game. A bigger reason for a chance to win a title is one of the best recruiting classes since Michigan’s Fab 5.

Brandan Wright of Brentwood, Tenn., a 6-foot-9 power forward, is rated the best at his position. Tywon Lawson, a 5-foot-11 point guard at Oak Hill Academy, is being rated among the best at his position. Wayne Ellington, a 6-foot-4 combo guard, is also rated high at his position.

When you add Hansbrough and Terry, along with holdover guards Bobby Frasor, Wes Miller, and Danny Green it is easy to see Carolina in the mix with UCLA and Florida.

Ohio State is the other contender thanks to the NBA’s ban on high school seniors. Center Greg Oden was the likely No. 1 pick in the draft, but now he will be an inside force in the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes bring in point guard Mike Conley who is good enough to get time as lead guard with veteran Jamar Butler. Another highly rated freshman, guard Daequan Cook, played on the same AAU team with Oden and Conley, so the familiarity is going to help Ohio State.

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Senior forward Ron Lewis and junior college forward Othello Hunter will give the Buckeyes a strong inside presence.

You know about Kansas after a terrific season with its freshmen Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush, and Julian Wright. Rush, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, insists he will be back, so KU has a chance to get right back to 25 wins and be lead dog in the conference.

Texas probably will lose center LaMarcus Aldridge to the draft, but point guard Daniel Gibson and forward P.J. Tucker are returning. The Longhorns will add forward Kevin Durant, who is labeled the second-best high school player in the country behind Ohio State’s Oden.

Texas A&M has its team back, and that is significant when you consider the Aggies were within four seconds of beating LSU in the second round.

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