Gainesville, Fla ? Florida forward Joakim Noah walked around campus early this week with a stack of fan mail.

Anything in there from Kentucky?

“No, that (would be) hate mail,” Noah said. “It’s a little different. I’m pretty much hated everywhere except for Gainesville. That’s just the way it is I guess.”

The 6-foot-11 junior gets more attention than any of his teammates on the road – most of it negative. He’s sure to get harassed when the top-ranked Gators (22-2, 9-0 Southeastern Conference) play at No. 20 Kentucky (18-5, 7-2) on Saturday.

How does he feel about it?

“I love it,” Noah said.

He also feeds off it.

Noah has played a pivotal role in raising Florida’s energy level the last two seasons, especially away from home. He yells, screams, thumps his chest after big baskets and waves his arms at the crowd. Although his actions usually get himself and his teammates hyped, he also riles opposing fans and draws their ire.

“It’s crazy the level they’ve taken it,” center Al Horford said. “He’s gotten it the worst out of anyone I’ve seen. It relieves pressure from some of us, but there’s a lot of pressure on him.”

At Kentucky last year, fans chanted, “Noah’s a girl.”

At Vanderbilt last season and at Auburn last month, they mocked him with cries of “ugly.”

At Florida State in December, one sign read, “Noah got mono from kissing Brewer,” a reference to Noah showing symptoms of mononucleosis while teammate and roommate Corey Brewer sat out two games with the viral infection.

What has been the worst?

“When they start talking about your mom and your girlfriend,” said Noah, whose mother, Cecilia Rhode, was named Miss Sweden in 1978. “They wouldn’t say that to my face. It’s so easy to just talk trash when you’re in the crowd. It’s fine. It’s part of the game.”

Noah checked his Facebook page last weekend and found countless groups created just to tease and criticize him.

“I got a lot of Kentucky hate mail right now,” Noah said. “I don’t know what it is. I’m getting a lot of attention, though.”

But why?

Maybe it’s because of his famous father, former tennis star Yannick Noah.

Maybe it’s because he was named Most Outstanding Player of the Minneapolis Regional and the Final Four last year.

Maybe it has something to do with his awkward shooting style or his chest-pounding antics.

Then again, maybe it’s the ponytail.

“Just look at him,” Brewer said. “He’s outspoken and he’s the best target if you look at our team. Who would you target? I think he feeds off it.”

Noah is averaging 13 points and 8.2 rebounds this season, and has a team-high 43 blocks. Although his numbers are slightly better at home, he believes it has nothing to do with the persistent ribbing he endures on the road.

“It’s such a circus,” Noah said. “It really feels like that.”

Having one player receive the brunt of the attention is nothing new for coach Billy Donovan. After all, he believes former player Matt Walsh – with his curly blonde hair and headband – was harassed more than Noah.

“Different guys on your team are going to get attention on the road,” Donovan said. “I don’t think it’s anything totally out of control. I think he’s handled it well. I think he’s been pretty focused, just trying to go out there and play.”

Noah often jokes that opposing fans hurt his feelings. In reality, though, the added attention makes the game more enjoyable – especially if the Gators win and silence the hecklers.

Noah has been known to respond to them – sometimes with smiles, winks or nods. He even mocked UCLA fans sitting near the court in last year’s championship game by blowing kisses to the Bruins dancers.

“He enjoys it,” Brewer said. “He might not say it, but it gets his mojo going.”