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.
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 76âÂÂ50 victory. In the 2nd round, Corey Brewer scored 23 points and Joakim Noah scored 17 points to rout Milwaukee with an 82âÂÂ60 victory. 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 57âÂÂ53 and advance to the Elite Eight. In the Elite Eight, Joakim Noah had a monster night by scoring 21 points which led to Florida beating Villanova 75âÂÂ62 and advancing to the Final Four. In their semifinal matchup against Cinderella team George Mason, Florida had a successful night from outside the arc and won 73âÂÂ58 for a trip to the title game.
UCLA entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the Oakland Regional. In the 1st round, UCLA routed Belmont with a 78âÂÂ44 victory in the battle of the Bruins. 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 62âÂÂ59 for a trip to Oakland for the Sweet 16. In the Sweet 16, UCLA finished the game with an 11âÂÂ0 run to complete a 17-point comeback for a 73âÂÂ71 win over Gonzaga. In the Elite Eight, Arron Afflalo scored 15 points to beat Memphis 50âÂÂ45 in the lowest scoring Regional Finals during the shot-clock era to send UCLA to the Final Four. In the national semifinal, UCLA shut down LSU 59âÂÂ45 to advance to the title game.