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Bill from Tampa silences a Carolina fan

Post-game thoughts
by BFT

Gainful employment (which these days is a very good thing to have) precluded me from watching Florida State’s semi-final game with North Carolina. Not to worry though, I would watch my recording of it later when I got home from the shows (more on that later).

With a television in the green room of the theater and me being the basketball fanatic I am I knew I was bound to find out the final score watching the other games between shows which I promptly did as I tuned in to the FSU post game press conference.

Just looking at that score I could pretty much surmise what happened. Maybe not the exact details of how it got that way, but a pretty good idea of the flow of the game. In other words Toney Douglas scored a whole bunch of points, somebody else made a big play or two, and that stellar defense stepped up once again when needed to get the stops at the end to grind out yet another close win for the ‘Noles.

We’ve seen that scenario before many times from the Seminoles as recently as the day before when Derwin Kitchen made that layup against Georgia Tech (little did I know Derwin was a big factor at the end of this game as well).

Sure enough, when I was able to sit down and watch my recording that’s just about what occurred. Toney scored 27 points with two free throws to give FSU the lead. Derwin converted those free throws, Chris Singleton had two huge baskets from the right wing, and Devidas Dulkys with a key pass to Derwin who cans the three.

And then there was that defense that harassed Tyler Hansbrough into a turnover and unlike the runner by Ty Lawson to beat the ‘Noles in Tallahassee, there were hands in the faces of Wayne Ellington and Danny Green on those last three point attempts.

That kind of quickly sums up why Florida State is for the first time in school history will play for the ACC tournament title. Man, that sounds neat to say.

The only thing that would be better is if FSU went out and beat Duke for the title. And you know what, they very well could do it.

But for me personally the most fun for me after learning of the score and while watching the Maryland/Duke game was a conversation with a faux Tar Heel fan (I say that because any Tar Heel fan worth their salt is going to know who and when their team is playing on any given day).

So the conversation went something like this. Noticing the game was on, the North Carolina fan says “It won’t matter who wins this game. The Tar Heels are going to win it anyway.”

Shaking my head and informing him that that was NOT going to happen I replied to his question as to who I thought would win it saying, “Well it won’t be North Carolina as they just lost to Florida State.”

Insert stunned silence here.

Boy, did I enjoy that conversation.

Now as to the recording. A huge thank you goes to Mrs. BFT who, upon arriving home, discovered the game was not on ESPN as the TV guide indicated and found the station the game was actually on and recorded the last 10:45 of the game for me. Yup, she’s a keeper.

And a huge booooooooooo hissssssssssss to the SEC tournament who as you know is in Tampa and because of that prompted a blackout of the ACC tournament on ESPN in this market.

With yet another matinee on Sunday, I hope to arrive home with more good news. And oh yes, a complete recording of the game this time.

Noles slip by Tech, advance to semi-final showdown with Heels

by Bill from Tampa

Derwin Kitchen said in the post game he felt he had struggled all game long. A little over a half minute earlier Kitchen had grabbed the rebound off a missed Lewis Clinch three pointer. Attempting to head up the far sideline he could not keep his balance and fell turning the ball over.

That miscue allowed Zack Peacock to connect on a turnaround jumper giving Georgia Tech a 62-61 lead with thirty seconds left.

But all it took was one play and 2.2 seconds to erase all that from Kitchen’s mind.

Toney Douglas called a timeout with 9.9 seconds remaining after getting triple teamed along the sideline. Luke Loucks passed to Kitchen coming off a screen by Chris Singleton. The JUCO transfer drove in from the left side past Alade Aminu and scored with an up and under layup plus being fouled on the play.

Iman Shumpert’s last second attempt to tie the game clanged off the rim and for the first time since 1992 Florida State moves into the semi-final round of the ACC tournament by defeating the Yellow Jackets 64-62.

Asked afterwards if Douglas was a decoy on the play Leonard Hamilton said “In reality that is an out of bounds play where we have four options. A lob to Solomon, a pass to Toney, a screen for Derwin, and a pop out for Chris. It just so happened that Derwin was open on that play.”

Whatever the first option was, Loucks picked the right one.

Said Kitchen in the press conference “As soon as Luke got me the ball I saw that my man was trailing me. I was able to take it in and was able to make the basket and get the foul.”

Douglas called it a great read by Loucks.

Shumpert on the final shot of the game was harassed by Jordon DeMercy after crossing the timeline and nearly lost the ball, was unable to get a three pointer off and hurried an off balance shot from the circle.

Florida State led almost the entire game with the Yellow Jackets having just two leads in the game, an opening 2-0 start and Peacock’s basket.

The ‘Noles led by as many as nine in the first half and held a 33-27 halftime lead.

Georgia Tech made a run at the Seminoles mostly via their defense. A pressing and trapping defense in the second half caused numerous turnovers (19 total) and missed shots.

“They pressed and trapped and forced us into turnovers”, said Hamilton. “The funny thing though is we prepared for that all week.”

Deckerhoff fields basketball questions and dodges one about football

Mean Gene went live Thursday in an ACC chatroom and gave on-line readers their money's worth.

Q: Toney Douglas is from Atlanta. Do you expect a big game from him against Georgia Tech?
Gene: FSU will be successful in this Tournament if the Georgia Contingent plays well. That includes Toney, Chris Singleton and Jordan Demercy. Those three Georgia natives can have a big impact if they avoid the emotions of playing in front of family and friends and just play.

Q: What do you think of the Noles season as a whole?
Gene:  23 wins in the regular season matches the best record since Dave Cowens played at FSU in the 1969-70 season. Ten conference wins, the first time since '93. I would say this has been a great season.

Q: Does FSU have the chance to go dancing this year?
Gene: Can we go dancing? Absolutely! The only question is what songs we will dance to. It's been 11 years since we danced and to be honest I don't think the team cares where we play. We would play in Antartica if that is where they sent us.

Q: Do you have any favorite memories from past ACC Tourneys?
Gene: Beating NC State in the first ACC tournament game that we played.  

Q: Can you talk about how the NCAA sanctions will hurt the football program?
Gene: The answer would be HEY! its ACC Tournament time. The Noles are #4 Seed and with one win will be in the semi-finals of the ACC Tournament for the first time since 1992. Let's forget about the NCAA sanctions and think about the NCAA Tournament, because we are going dancing for the first time in 11 years.

Early bird sneak preview of opponent no. 3: The BYU Cougars

Remember this name: Max Hall returns at QB for his final season in Provo. His 2008 stats looked like career numbers for most QBs: 3957 yards and 35 TDs, leading the Cougars to sixth in the nation in pass offense.

Hall will miss his leading receiver in Austin Collie, who leaves early for the NFL. But BYU returns Dennis Pitta, a 6-5, 250 lb. tight end who snagged 83 passes (that's right, a TE) for 1083 yards and six touchdowns. Add to that McKay Jacobson -- also recruited by FSU -- a wide receiver and kick return specialist just back from his Mormon mission. Jacobson is a former high school track star who's arguably the fastest guy on the team.

At running back, Harvey Unga is the main man. Unga had 1153 yards last year, his second thousand yard season, and 11 TDs. Word is that he'll finish his career as BYU's all-time leading rusher.

On defense BYU returns eight starters. The big stud on D is senior lineman Jan Jorgensen, who's on the preliminary watch list for the 2009 Lombardi Award. Get this: Jorgensen is the Mountain West Conference's all-time sacks leader -- and he still has a season to go. The 6-3, 274-pounder terrorized opponents with 24 sacks during his first three years as a Cougar. Last year's BYU defense dropped off a bit, finishing at 59th in the country. This season the Cougars hope to repeat their '07 effort that earned them a spot in the top ten in total D.

No longer Kings of the Mountain (West). Up until last season BYU had pretty much owned the Mountain West Conference. They won the title four times and were undefeated in league play three times. But suddenly the Cougars are locked in a three team race for the title, as TCU and Utah steal the national limelight. Last year BYU went 10 - 3, but they lost to the Horned Frogs and Utes on the road. At least this year, they play both of those teams at home -- after the Sept. 19th game with FSU.

Noles riding 23 - 8 momentum into the ATL

Sunday's win against Va. Tech ensured FSU it's best record in over 30 years and fourth seed in the ACC tourney. Keep tuned for a pre-tourney preview by Bill from Tampa, but in the meantime here are post game comments from the guy who should be ACC Player of the Year and his biggest fan.

"A wonderful game tonight for me and for our team. Knowing that my last game in the Civic Center, I went all out." -  Toney Douglas

"The thing that separates Tony from people who might have had great years is the fact that he's taken six first-year players and he's given them the leadership. Most teams who've been where we are have not had to do it with as many youngsters being as involved in the success of the team as we have." - Leonard Hamilton

FSU dodges main pain of NCAA wrath, but good luck on that appeal, T.K.

Losing a handful of football scholarships?

No accusations of lack of institutional control?

No ban on TV or bowl games?

Whew. We'll gladly take it. After all the strum and drang and suspense of the last year -- the equivalent of your Mom's ominous warning of "just wait until your father gets home" -- it's a veritable slap on the wrist. Well, except for the potential game forfeits and the place in history it might cost Bobby Bowden.

T.K. and Spetman are puffing up their chests about the "injustice" and hint at appealing the loss of those hard-earned victories. Problem is, these things rarely go very well (like you'd expect a break from the cold-hearted NCAA disciplinarians?).

Back in 1985, former U. of F. prez Marshall Criser cried foul and appealed the reptiles' loss of far more scholarships than the Noles. He should have saved his breath.

The NCAA recently upheld New Mexico's penalty of scholarship reductions -- also more painful than Florida State's punishment.

In 2003, Michigan did win an appeal on the NCAA's ban of its post season play in basketball. It was the first winning appeal in a five year period.

NCAA brings down the gavel at 3pm today

Press Conference today at 3pm to finally announce the bad news. The St. Pete Times has some inside info of what to expect:

- FSU must vacate all wins in which 61 student-athletes in 10 sports – football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s track and field, baseball, softball and men’s golf – competed while ineligible during 2006 and 2007. Student-athletes would also lose any individual records.

- The school may have to give up its 2007 men’s outdoor track and field national title, the second of three straight, and NCAA Tournament appearances by the women’s basketball team and softball team.

- Expect a four year probation (through March 5, 2013), and Fla. State will receive a public reprimand.

- FSU has 15 days to appeal the penalties.

- The ACC could add penalties of its own.

- If the football team loses W's, Bobby Bowden would fall far behind JoPa in the Winningest Coach derby -- probably too far to ever catch up with his elder colleague at Penn State.

For fans who live and die with the Noles, how about Doak as a final resting place?

Always wanted a luxury box overlooking Bobby Bowden Field? You may soon have your chance -- though not quite the box you had in mind.

The Florida Legislature in its infinite wisdom is actually considering a bill that would allow Florida's 11 state universities to build structures for the ashes of alumni.

The technical name for it is a columbarium. The, uh, innovative idea started in Hogtown where reptile athletic officials -- always on the lookout for new ways to fund Urban's bottomless compensation package -- started toying with a Crypts on Credit program for fans in the Grim Reaper's on-deck circle.

But they soon discovered that state law requires cemeteries be at least 30 acres. So it was either expand Benny Hill Stadium again, complete with the Mick Huber "Oh, My!" Memorial Chapel, or get their chums in the legislature to whip something up.

Hence, the introduction of a new bill that would allow universities to build a columbarium of five acres or less. So sometime in the not so distant future, punts may not be the only things blown dead at Doak S. Campbell.

Close but no cigar for the Seminoles

by Bill from Tampa

What it came down to was Duke made the plays at the end and Florida State didn’t.

In a game that saw sixteen lead changes, Duke managed to grab two offensive rebounds on one possession finished off by a three pointer by Gerald Henderson to give Duke the lead for good en route to an 84-81 win over the Seminoles.

In a battle between candidates for ACC Player of the Year, Toney Douglas had just given the Seminoles a 76-74 lead after connecting on a three pointer from the right wing prior to Henderson’s shot. While Douglas outscored Henderson 27-21, Douglas missed four straight shots in the last ninety seconds.

Henderson however grabbed the rebound from a missed Douglas three ball and took it the distance plus was fouled on the play by Solomon Alabi. The three point play with just 34 seconds left gave the Blue Devils a working margin, 82-76, that was just too much for the ‘Noles to overcome with so little time remaining.

It was a far cry offensively from the game earlier in the season where 33 combined points were scored in the first half in the January game. FSU held the lead for more than 12 minutes of the first half taking a 40-34 lead to the locker room.

But the Seminoles came out after the half somewhat sloppy with two early turnovers and forced Leonard Hamilton to call two timeouts within the first 2:30.

Duke meanwhile went on a 21-12 run to take a 55-52 lead at the 11:59 mark.

Hamilton said afterwards, “I felt we lost our defensive focus in the beginning of the second half. We allowed them to attack the basket with dribble drives and failed to contain the perimeter. Therein lies the reason to a bitter defeat.”

“There were a couple of stretches where we didn’t play well and that cost us the game.”

After holding Duke to just 31% from the floor in the first twenty minutes, Duke scorched the ‘Noles at a 49% clip in the second half.

Another aspect in the second half that contributed to the win was turnovers with Duke taking much better care of the ball. After committing six in the first half, the Blue Devils had just one miscue in the second.

2010 blue chip QB making a big impression on Florida State -- and vice-versa

Jimbo has Blake Sims on his speed dial. The dual-threat QB for Gainesville (Georgia) High says he talks to Fisher often. And with a highlight reel like the one above, what ambitious offensive coordinator wouldn't.

More good news: the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Bobby Bowden's age isn't a problem for Sims. He told the AJC, “He’s a great coach. His age is a concern, but at the same time it’s good because he knows so much about the game and he can teach me a lot before he leaves.”

Sims says he looks forward to visiting FSU. “I’m just waiting for them to let me know when Junior Day is so I can go for a visit.”

The 6-ft., 180 lb. QB has 4.5 speed and a strong arm. He also has official offers to date from Arkansas, FIU, Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Troy and West Virginia.