updated 11:04 a.m. ET April 4, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS - There go the Florida Gators again, runnin’ it up on their way to a national championship.

In basketball, believe it or not. Against UCLA, of all teams.

And with a tennis player’s son as the star.

Joakim Noah dominated the Bruins on Monday night with 16 points, nine rebounds and a record six blocks to key a 73-57 blowout 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.”

NCAA championship videos SNS 'Indescribable' feeling April 3: Florida players Joakim Noah, Lee Humphrey and Tauren Green talk about how they feel after winning the national championship. Donovan says Florida still might not be best Cheerleaders talking trash, Noah says Bitter end to great season for UCLA players UCLA coach: 'Our goal is to get back here'

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.

Lee Humphrey added 15 points, Al Horford 14 and Corey Brewer 11 for Florida.

UCLA (32-7) was on a defensive tear coming into the championship game, shutting down LSU’s Glen “Big Baby” Davis in the semifinals and allowing a total of 90 points in the last two games. Florida, though, was just too much to handle.

The Gators ran to a double-digit lead early and staved off every UCLA run.

Noah capped it off with a monster dunk with 1:09 left. When the buzzer sounded, he lay flat on his back at halfcourt and let the confetti rain on him. His teammates were in a pile a few feet away and Donovan was sharing hugs with his longtime assistant Anthony Grant.

The Gators won this by taking it right to UCLA early, looking inside to Noah, Brewer, Horford and senior Adrian Moss. Unafraid to make the extra pass, even in traffic down low, they finished with 21 assists, eight by point guard Taurean Green. More impressively, 10 came from their frontcourt.

MEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT RESULTS Championship game Florida 73, UCLA 57 Final Four games Florida 73, George Mason 58 UCLA 59, LSU 45

It couldn’t have been what UCLA coach Ben Howland expected after Florida’s 73-58 win over George Mason in the semis, a game the Gators won from outside and that Humphrey ended early in the second with three straight 3s.

The scrappy Humphrey, the lone junior in a starting lineup full of sophomores, did the honors again in this one, spotting up for open looks against a collapsing defense early in the second half.

His first 3, 80 seconds into the half, gave Florida a 39-25 lead and forced Howland to call timeout. A sloppy offensive possession ensued, then Humphrey came back with another 3.

After Ryan Hollins’ dunk, one of the few easy baskets for the Bruins, Brewer hit a 3 to make it 45-27 and prompt yet another Bruins TO.

There was no strategy to stop Noah. The 6-foot-11 forward dunked, swatted shots and dominated the game, much like his dad did during his magical run to the French Open title in 1983.

RAY GLIER ON COLLEGE BASKETBALL Pick Florida to repeat UCLA, North Carolina, LSU, Kansas top challengers

Noah shot 7-for-9 and also had three assists and a steal. When it was over, the kid ran to the stands to try to find his family.

“I’m so happy,” Yannick Noah said, wiping away tears from behind his sunglasses. “I’m so happy for him, but also for all of his friends. They deserve it. It’s a beautiful story.”

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