GATORS NOTEBOOK

Noah Gets To Enjoy The Last Laugh

By BRETT MCMURPHY

Published: Mar 4, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - On his way to being named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, University of Florida sophomore C Joakim Noah took a moment to wink at the UCLA dance team.

"Actually, they were talking a lot of trash," Noah said. "I mean it was like crazy. Like OK, fans.

"I mean, it hurts when you have beautiful girls out there just telling you how ugly you are and stuff. I just had to focus on the game. When somebody is screaming all that stuff at you, you know, the best thing I could do was just blow a kiss bye and maybe they like me."

Noah had 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a championship record six blocks against the Bruins.

"It's just - you're like in a cloud," Noah said. "Not only does it feel good, it smells good, it tastes good."

FATHER KNOWS BEST: William Donovan, father of UF coach Billy Donovan, said before Monday's final against UCLA his son had a good feel for the game.

"I could tell being with him, I really sensed a quiet confidence and calm," William Donovan said. "Maybe it was because of the [Final Four] trip six years ago. He's had some ups and downs, but it's culminating with up."

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE: As the Gators gathered on the elevated stage at midcourt in the RCA Dome, associate coach Anthony Grant grabbed Athletic Director Jeremy Foley, who wanted to remain on the floor.

Grant, though, wanted to make sure Foley was on stage for the trophy presentation.

"I told him he was the reason it happened," Grant said. "He put it all together. He was the first one to talk to us about winning a [national] championship."

Grant, a former Miami prep coach, also was proud to be a part of not only UF's first national title, but also the state's first NCAA basketball title.

"I'm numb," Grant said. "We brought the first title to the university and to the state of Florida. Everyone's proud of that."

SEC-OND TO NONE: SEC commissioner Mike Slive was especially proud his so-called football conference had a pretty good basketball run - Florida winning the men's title, LSU making both the men's and women's Final Four and South Carolina's men winning the NIT.

"For those who feel you have to go deep into the tournament to validate [your success], this does that," Slive said. "But we've been doing this for a long time."

BACK FOR AN ENCORE? There's been speculation whether Noah, Al Horford or Corey Brewer will return next season. Louisville coach Rick Pitino, who is Donovan's mentor and close friend, believes they should.

"I think they'll come back because they should," Pitino said. "One more year and they'll be ready for the next level."

Pitino said Donovan has elevated UF to a new level.

"Is Florida a basketball school?" Pitino said as the Gators celebrated. "Look around you. This is the stuff of fairytales. Of course Florida's a basketball school."

GATOR BITES: UF will hold another championship celebration Friday at 7 p.m. at the O'Connell Center with video highlights, UF's band and cheerleaders. On Thursday, Florida players and coaches will travel to Washington to visit the White House and meet President Bush. ... Billy Donovan became the third person to play in a Final Four as a player (at Providence) and win a championship as a coach. The others: Dean Smith and Bobby Knight. ... Florida's margin of victory (16) was the largest in a final since Duke beat Michigan 71-51 in 1992 and tied for the 10th largest all-time. ... Shelley Meyer, wife of UF football coach Urban Meyer, hugged Donovan's wife, Christine, outside the locker room early Tuesday. "How does it feel," Shelley Meyer asked? "Surreal," Christine Donovan said.