ATLANTA - The scariest sign in the Georgia Dome on Monday night read: "Come Back As Seniors."

Wouldn't that be something - if Florida's four junior stars returned for their senior season?

No one expects it. But if they did, how could anyone bet against them winning a third consecutive national championship?

They defeated Ohio State 84-75 Monday night to become the first team since Duke in 1991-92 to win back-to-back NCAA tournaments.

"They've got to go down as one of the best teams to ever play this game," Florida coach Billy Donovan said.

As confetti fell from the Georgia Dome and the Florida fight song reverberated through the arena, this was no time to dispute the Gators' greatness.

Ohio State hung with the Gators for about 14 minutes of the first half. But after Ivan Harris' 3-pointer from the corner cut Florida's lead to two points, the Gators showed why they have ruled college basketball the last two seasons.

Maryville's Lee Humphrey - one of three Gators on the all-tournament team - followed with a 3, just over a leaping Mike Conley Jr. Corey Brewer, who was named the outstanding player of the Final Four, struck next with another 3. Then, Taurean Green added a third consecutive 3, upping Florida's lead to 11 and prompting a timeout signal from Ohio State coach Thad Matta.

The Buckeyes had proved their resiliency throughout the tournament, coming from 11 behind to beat Xavier and from 20 down to edge Tennessee. But neither of those teams had Florida's talent or tournament pedigree.

Outside shooting figured prominently in Ohio State's previous comebacks. Shooting over the Gators was an altogether different proposition. Front-line players Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Brewer repeatedly altered Ohio State attempts by rushing to the perimeter and raising their long arms in the face of the Buckeyes, who were only 4-for-23 on 3-point attempts.

Anytime Ohio State threatened a run, Florida answered with a 3.

After the Buckeyes cut a 14-point Florida advantage to nine early in the second half, Humphrey hit a 3. And when the Buckeyes cut the lead to six with 5:13 to play, Green responded with another 3.

The Gators, who made 10 of 18 3s, demonstrated their usual balance - offense and defense, inside and outside scoring, and key contributions from reserves combined with the outstanding play of their starters.

The theme will now change abruptly from winning to leaving for college basketball's preeminent program.

Who's coming back? Who isn't?

First, there's the uncertainty surrounding Donovan, who has been pursued not so subtly by the University of Kentucky. That's apt to be decided by the end of the week.

Next, there are all those talented juniors - Brewer, Horford, Noah and Green. Will they leave en masse for the NBA?

Green is the most likely to stay. Brewer is the most likely to leave.

Like Brewer, Noah and Horford are projected as high first-round NBA draft picks. But neither one needs NBA money to support his family.

Joakim's father, Yannick Noah, is a former successful pro tennis player who has become a rock star in France and has the money to show for it. Al's father, Tito Horford, is a former NBA player.

Even if none of the four juniors return for their senior year, their legacy is assured. They teamed with seniors Humphrey and key reserve Chris Richard to win 92 games in three seasons and are 68-11 the last two seasons. No other Florida team has won more than 29 games in a season.

These Gators will be best remembered for rising to the occasion. After finishing second in the SEC East in 2005-06, they won the SEC tournament before running through the NCAA tournament field in spectacular fashion. Only one of their six NCAA tournament games last year was decided by fewer than 15 points.

Picked No. 1 in preseason polls, the 2006-07 Gators were scrutinized and criticized when they didn't play up to a championship level during the regular season. They lost three of four SEC games by double-digit margins in late February.

Just when you wondered if the Gators were up to defending their championship, they beat Kentucky by 13 points in their last regular-season game. When they won three SEC tournament games by an average of 19.7 points, that February swoon was easily forgotten.

Their closest game in this NCAA tournament was seven points. In winning two national championships, their average margin of victory in 12 NCAA tournament games was 14.3.

It has been a dominant run. And Florida fans don't want it to end.

"One more year," they chanted at their famous junior class.

The rest of college basketball can only hope the Gators weren't listening.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.