NORTH CAROLINA 73, SEMINOLES 58
A Rundown Feeling
Published: Mar 10, 2007
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TAMPA - The scoreboard had North Carolina ahead by 15 points as Florida State's Toney Douglas stepped to the free-throw line with only 5:30 remaining in the game.
In perhaps an overly optimistic moment based on the facts at the time, FSU's Isaiah Swann walked to midcourt, slapped hands with teammate Jason Rich, and yelled:
"We ain't done yet."
Actually, the Noles were toast. They had been since the opening minutes of the second half in their 73-58 loss to the No 1-seeded Tar Heels in Friday's ACC Tournament quarterfinal game at the St. Pete Times Forum, marking the 15th consecutive year the Seminoles failed to get to the semifinals.
Instead of adding another quality win to its resume, FSU (20-12) now can only wait until Sunday evening when the NCAA Tournament selection committee announces which teams receive the tournament's 34 at-large bids.
"I wish I had a crystal ball or some type of Ouija board," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said.
Senior forward Al Thornton, unable to duplicate his first-round performance (25 points, 11 rebounds) in a victory against Clemson from the day before, scored only 12 points Friday against a Carolina team with a distinct size advantage and four players in double figures, led by Wayne Ellington's game-high 18 points.
A dejected Thornton walked off the court after fouling out with 6:48 remaining and FSU trailing 59-43. Thornton's 12 points (on 4-for-13 shooting) were his lowest output since scoring 11 in a 30-point win against Providence on Dec. 29 in the same building.
"I missed a lot of easy shots up under the bucket," Thornton said. "I had great looks from the perimeter, and the ball was just not falling for me. It was probably my worst performance all year."
Thornton will spend Selection Sunday weekend like last year, hanging out mostly in his room waiting and hoping for his first trip to March Madness.
"I'm going to be waiting, just very anxious to watch the selection show," Thornton said. "I really don't know [what our chances are]. That's not my decision to make. Hopefully we'll get in. I won't say it's impossible."
Thornton may be right on that point, but what did appear impossible was FSU's bid to upset North Carolina (26-6), magnified by the Noles shooting only 31 percent from the field and committing 17 turnovers, 12 in the first half.
"They are such a great team, they don't need any help from us," Hamilton said.
The game's defining stretch came at the end of the first half and the start of the second half when the Tar Heels broke open a 30-26 game by going on a 14-0 run, including a pair of free throws by Ellington that resulted from a technical on Hamilton right before the half. FSU never got closer than 12 the rest of the way.
So, despite back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in 14 years, the Noles face the real prospect of another trip to the NIT if the selection committee decides their RPI ranking of 38, and their 21st-ranked strength of schedule, are not good enough.
"I'm going to try to allow myself not to get overly concerned," Hamilton said. "We have done all we can do."
Rich, the recipient of Swann's optimistic outlook late in Friday's game, is more realistic about FSU's tournament chances.
"Obviously, we've got to look at some other games around the country to see how that might affect us," Rich said. "I think we have a better chance this year than we did last year. But it's much of the same feeling in all that you can do is wait and hope for the best."
Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.
