Florida players, coach don’t discuss the future

The ball had been tossed high into the air, the confetti had littered the court and the four Florida juniors who had returned for precisely this moment stood alongside their jubilant coach on a platform inside the Georgia Dome.

“It’s great ... to be ... a Florida Gator!” orange-clad fans bellowed as the Gators celebrated their 84-75 victory over Ohio State on Monday night in the NCAA championship game.

Yes, but for how long?

Coach Billy Donovan is considered the top target of Kentucky’s coaching search, and juniors Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green could all make themselves eligible for the NBA draft after completing their mission to lead the Gators to a second national title in a row.

“Right now, I don’t know what we are going to do,” said Noah, who finished with eight points in 21 foul-plagued minutes and spent much of the game cheering from the bench. “I feel like it is all about enjoying this moment right now.”

Noah and his fellow juniors were besieged with chants of “One more year!” during their on-court celebration. Brewer, selected the game’s most outstanding player after collecting 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals, said he “couldn’t even tell you right now” what the future holds for the junior class.

“I’m just so happy we just won the national championship,” he said. “Hasn’t crossed my mind about anything else.”

Asked where his future lies, Donovan said, “Right here at the University of Florida.... I think all that stuff will be addressed. Now’s not the time to address it, as it wasn’t when it got asked over the last week. It’s all about these kids, our program and what happened.”

Donovan said he hoped the decision of his players to return for their junior season influences others who might feel compelled to chase NBA riches.

“If Greg Oden is out there and really in his heart he wants to go back to Ohio State, he should do what he wants to do,” Donovan said. “If any of those guys feel like, ‘Hey, listen, I got the opportunity to leave, but I really want to stay,’ look at what happened with Brewer, Noah, Horford, Taurean Green ... it all worked out for them.”

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Ohio State Coach Thad Matta said he didn’t know whether to expect Oden to return for his sophomore season.

“I have no idea,” he said. “My gut, I really don’t know. I think Gregory and I will sit down when we get back [home] and kind of talk.... I couldn’t even give you a percentage right now because we’ve never discussed it.”

Buckeyes standout freshman guard Mike Conley Jr. said this week that he “definitely” would return for his sophomore season.

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Florida has won 12 consecutive NCAA tournament games, tying it with Cincinnati (1960-63) and Kentucky (1945-52) for third place in tournament history. Duke won 13 consecutive tournament games from 1991 to ’93 and UCLA holds the record with 38 from 1964 to ’74.... Florida is the only school to win national titles in basketball and football in the same academic year. The only previous team to win a college football national championship and reach the Final Four was Notre Dame in 1977-78.

ben.bolch@latimes.com