The Florida Gators won the NCAA men's championship last night, blowing out the UCLA Bruins 73-57.Joakim Noah dominated the Bruins on Monday night with 16 points, nine rebounds and a record six blocks for Florida's first title in that other sport.
``It's like I'm in a cloud,'' Noah said. ``Not only does this feel good, but it smells good and it tastes good. I can't even describe it.''
The Gators and all their fans would certainly agree, especially after watching this runaway - a pick-your-score kind of game that was decided early.
Many thought it couldn't be done 10 years ago when Billy Donovan took over a basketball program that lived well in the shadows of Steve Spurrier's brash, high-flying football juggernaut.
Now, Spurrier is long gone and the Gators have as many national championships in hoops as they do in football.
``It's undescribable,'' said Noah, who now will decide whether to turn pro, ``better than I've ever felt in my life.''
For 40 lopsided minutes, the Gators (33-6) were too big, too long and too quick for UCLA, which came up a win short of its 12th national title on a night when 95-year-old former coach John Wooden watched from a hospital bed in LA. He was admitted for an undisclosed illness that was said not to be serious, but the Bruins didn't try to use that distraction as an excuse.
``Our heart and everything we do on the floor is always a tribute to him, whether he's healthy or not,'' UCLA guard Arron Afflalo said.
Florida and Noah, voted most outstanding player in the Final Four, won by putting on a thorough display of versatility and unselfishness, a trademark of this team all season.
Source: sportsillustrated.netscape.cnn.com
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