Fla. State Advances to Face Carolina

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Fla. State Advances to Face Carolina

By Jake Lloyd

Mar 13, 2008

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Charlotte, N.C. — Florida State has nothing to lose. North Carolina has a lot to lose.

That's the mindset the Seminoles will take into their quarterfinal matchup against the No. 1 Tar Heels set for a noon tip Friday.

"You know they're going to be ready," FSU's Toney Douglas said. "They've got a lot to lose. We've got a lot to gain.

"Nobody thinks we're gonna win this game. Honestly, nobody."

The Tar Heels (29-2) won both of the teams' regular-season meetings, needing overtime to dethrone Florida State 84-73 in Tallahassee and pulling away from the Seminoles on Senior Night, 90-77.

In both games, the Seminoles (19-13) did a decent job of limiting the easy buckets for Tyler Hansbrough, who made five field goals in each contest. But the junior center killed them from the free-throw line. He made 12 of 14 free throws in the first game and 10 of 11 in the second.

Florida State knows it needs to do what it accomplished in its ACC Tournament first-round performance against Wake Forest. In the 70-60 win, the Seminoles held the Demon Deacons to 12 free throw attempts.

"We've got to contain them and play defense without fouling, especially — they can't be in the bonus early in the game," Douglas said. "The points add up, man, if you're shooting free throws. You're down by two, and next thing you know, you're down by 10, 12.

"Then they make a run (and) it's over. The game, from there, is over."

The Heels attempted 33 and 29 free throws, respectively, in their wins over the Seminoles compared to 15 and 25 attempts for Florida State.

"You can't keep him off the line, you know? They give him some calls and he earns some calls," Ralph Mims said of Hansbrough. "I think that all we can do is contain Hansbrough.

"He's a great player, but I think that (the key to) getting him off the line, is trying to keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible."

Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton wishes limiting Hansbrough's touches was the sole focus of FSU's defense. He's just as worried about shooters Danny Green and Wayne Ellington, not to mention Ty Lawson, who is expected to make his first start since severely spraining his ankle early in the first meeting between the teams.

"I wish we had the luxury of playing Carolina and only concentrating on Hansbrough," Hamilton said. "They're going to play about seven other kids, and if you don't watch it, they're all gonna have big numbers.

"We've got to play Carolina, not Hansbrough University."

While Hamilton is concerned that playing against Wake Forest's super quick guards Ishmael Smith and Jeff Teague might have worn down the Seminoles, Mims thinks the experience was good preparation for trying to slow down Lawson.

"It's going to help us out tremendously," Mims said. "Ty Lawson's a great guard — he's one of the fastest players in the NCAA — and all we can do is contain him in transition."

Mims pointed to the fact that the Seminoles start three upperclassmen in their backcourt — seniors Mims and Jason Rich and Douglas, a junior. They have a wealth of experience playing together.

Rich was in a zone all by himself against the Deacons. In one second-half span, he scored 16 of 18 FSU points to push a two-point lead to 10. He made fade-away jumpers from all over the court en route to a game-high 22 points.

"It wasn't a shock to me at all," Mims said. "I mean, I've grown up with him since childhood years and it was just, 'OK, that's J.'"

The Seminoles know, however, that they'll need much more than a shooting clinic by Mims to take down the Tar Heels. One player who needs to be effective is Douglas. In FSU's two losses to Carolina, he shot 3-of-20 and 3-of-12 from the field.

"It motivates me a lot knowing that I didn't shoot the ball well the last two games I played against them," Douglas said. "But you know, I'm not even going to focus on that. It's a new game. I'm going to play my game, and whatever they give me, I'm (going to) take.

"Be more aggressive and taking the ball to the rack. Shoot free throws and get layups and stuff like that."

Hamilton saw nothing wrong with Douglas' play in the two games, simply saying, "He's taken great shots. The shots didn't fall. That's the nature of the game. You're not going to have great nights every night."

Ultimately, the Seminoles will need a great afternoon to upset the Heels. They need to do what they did Thursday afternoon — beat a team for the first time in three tries. Only this time, they're taking on the nation's No. 1 squad.

"Knowing that the team (Wake Forest) beat us twice, that's a pride thing," Douglas said. "It's the same with North Carolina. … Never let a team beat you three times in a row. That's an attitude thing."

Most Recent Comments

This will be a tough game for the Heels - they all will as long as they are playing in the ACC Tournament. Like I've said before - there are NO days off in this league. You have to bring it every night!

As a Tar Heel fan I am rooting for Carolina in tomorrow's game although I recognize the tremendous talent of Florida State's players that can pull an upset. I won't be devastated if Carolina loses as they are already a lock in the NCAA , but I wish more ACC teams get to be in the top 64 to showcase how much collective talents and skills are in this conference than most conferences out there.

i don't see this easy path or coast to the tournament like you UNC fans, i wonder why that is?

UNC is undefeated on the road and in Charlotte. Expect the Heels to coast in the championship game on Sunday.

GO STATE......oh that's right they already went........home that is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heels got it boys, Heels just plain got IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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