NCAA Basketball Florida State

Who are the main men? Toney Douglas will inherit "da man" role in Tallahassee. Douglas missed a chunk of last season and was really missed. He partners up with Isiah Swann, who along with Jason Rich and Ralph Mims, form an extremely experienced backcourt.

What are the team's strengths? They are one of the few teams in the league that bring back their backcourt. Guard play is huge in college hoops and the fact that they already have that puts them at an advantage. They can use those guys to speed up the game against teams that are bigger than them.

When will we see them struggle? Anytime they realize that Al Thornton is no longer on the floor. Thornton was the ACC's leading scorer and so valuable to the Noles last year that they have no one person [or possible combination] that can take his place.

Why should anyone care? Florida State is great for an upset or two [eh, Duke?]. They are also good for a rotten egg of a game here and there. Also, with a new AD coming in the future, Hamilton is fighting for his job.

How stable is the program? It has been a decade since Florida State went to the NCAA tournament, and Leonard Hamilton has yet to get them there. It doesn't help that fellow football power, Florida, has rolled out two straight championships.

Where will they finish in the ACC? With Thornton, this was a middle of the road team. What do you think they'll be without him?

Name you didn't know, but will: Solomon Alabi will be a force on the defensive end in this league. The 7-1 freshman will be plugged right into the mix and will allow those Seminole guards to take a few chances on some steals, knowing that they have a wall back there.

This will be a transition year for most of the ACC. Pretty much everyone took a hit this offseason, with only four teams really looking like locks for the NCAA tournament. There is little doubt that North Carolina will be the favorite ... but remember that this was the case last year ... and UNC was nearly the #5 seed in the ACC tournament. NC State, Duke and Clemson have the best shot at giving the Heels trouble for the title

1-North Carolina: Sometimes subtraction isn't a bad thing. The Heels lose Brandan Wright and Reyshawn Terry, but the rotation should be tighter and everyone more understanding of their roles. If UNC is going to make its title run, they better do it now before Ty Lawson and Tyler Hansbrough bolt.

2-NC State: Brandon Costner is my pick for ACC Player of the Year. With JJ Hickson running alongside him in the paint, Costner is free to show his entire game [similar to how Wright helped Hansbrough last year in Chapel Hill]. This team is ready to break out and get back into the ACC's elite. At issue is finding Engin Atsur's replacement ... since he was so key in the success of the Pack last year.

3-Duke: With Kyle Singler and Taylor King coming in, expect Duke to go back to its gun-slinging ways. Last year's team wasn't normal Duke: they struggled to find their offense and were very inconsistent shooting. The big issue this year is ... well, what happens if they keep missing those threes? Josh McRoberts is gone and there really isn't anyone reliable in the paint to score or rebound.

4-Clemson: Can the Tigers get back that team that was scorching the early part of the season? Well, they have four returning starters and has one of the better frontcourts in the conference. They just need to get their minds right. This team has the talent ... they just need to tighten the bolts and clean the sawdust.

5-Virginia: Dave Leitao better thank God that Sean Singletary came back. The ACC player of the year candidate will be asked to do even more with JR Reynolds and Jason Cain gone.

6-Maryland: Gotta love those Terps! The head-scratchers are gone, with their understudies ready to take their place. The team will rely on James Gist and Greivis Vasquez to become leaders on and off the floor. However, this streaky team must find someone who can hit a shot.

ESPN.com labeled Florida State and Virginia among their most underachieving programs of the past decade. The list is topped by Michigan, but FSU and Virginia file right behind at #2 and #3, respectively.

Most ACC fans have been waiting for Florida State to emerge to top half of the ACC standings, yet it hasn't happened. They've not made the NCAAs since 1998, despite having a very good coach [Leonard Hamilton] who has NBA ties. The article does point out:

FSU hasn't made the dance since 1998, but at least it unquestionably is a football school in football country and is trying to gain traction in a tougher basketball conference top-to-bottom than the Wolverines with less historical success to lean on. The Seminoles have a smaller working budget than Michigan, as well.

True, but what irks everyone is that the Noles have shown the ability to beat the Dukes and Carolinas at home, but cannot climb their way out of the group of Clemsons of the league. ACC fans know that Florida State is a football school in a basketball conference, but the good are there for them to compete. Remember, their first league game was a win at North Carolina.

As for Virginia, things should look up in the long term. The new John Paul Jones Arena was a nightmare stop for ACC foes this season and joins the Smith Center, Comcast Center, RBC Center and Lawrence Joel as NBA-sized arenas that can suffocate you with it's home court advantage [of course, one of the ACC's smallest venues, Cameron Indoor, claims the ultimate advantage]. The nice facilities, great coach and academic history should lure more top recruits to the school.

Other schools to make the list include St. John's, Arizona State, Missouri, Oregon State, Georgia, Rutgers and South Carolina.

With Bobby Huggins headed to West Virginia, the status of Kansas State's great recruiting class has come into doubt. Namely top dog Michael Beasley. Beasley, who has already shunned Charlotte to go to K-State, may be looking elsewhere to start his college career. There was word earlier today that Beasley was to honor his commitment to K-State. Now, it seems, that was just his mom talking and he hasn't made up his mind. After all, if not for Huggins [or Wildcat assistant Delonte Hill], there would have been a snowball's chance in Hades that Beasley would have even considered Kansas State.

"I haven't [asked to be released from Kansas State] yet," Beasley said after the Nike Hoop Summit game in Memphis, Tenn. However, it appeared he was unaware of the Wildcats' promotion of Martin, as he said, "I'm waiting to see who gets the job first. "I haven't talked to [Huggins] yet. He had to do what was best for him, but he still didn't look out for his recruits. He supposedly had the best recruiting class in the nation, but he didn't look out for us."

So, the door is still open in the Beasley sweepstakes. A door that could open up to the ACC. Out of Beasley's mouth came this:

"I'm really thinking about Memphis right now. NC State and Florida State, too"

Wow! I understand Memphis because John Calapari is a wizard at recruiting. But NC State or Florida State? That would be a coup for either program. NC State is trying to quickly rebuild it's nest and has one of their best recruiting classes in recent years coming. Florida State loses Al Thornton and is trying to take the next step to being relevant in hoops. After all, rival Florida is now winning basketball championships. Memphis, NC State and FSU have coaches who has been head coaches at the NBA level.

Beasley is no stranger to moving around. Dude has been to six high schools in five states ... including schools in both Florida and North Carolina.

When you are a bubble team that saw your dreams crushed on Selection Sunday, that usually means that you are in the running for a top seed in the National Invitational Tournament. Yeah, it isn't the same as being in the NCAA tournament and you may laugh and spit all over it, but some of these kids will be playing for the final time organized hoops ... so back off!

The NIT [which is now owned by the NCAA] is scaled down to 32 teams and is organized somewhat similar to the NCAA's tournament. There are North, South, East and West regions. I probably won't speak much of this tournament after this, so you ACC fans of these teams take notice now. Three ACC schools made this tournament, meaning 10 of the 12 members will play in the postseason.

Clemson is the #1 seed in the South Region and will host East Tennessee State this Wednesday [6pm on ESPNU]. If they win, they'll take on the Ole Miss-Appalachian State winner on Monday. The Tigers were 17-0 to start the season, becoming the final team to lose their first game. After that, they kept losing - to the tune of 10 of their last 14. As coach Oliver Purnell is telling you in the picture above, the Tigers need just 5 wins to claim this title.

Florida State is the #2 seed in the North Region and will host Toledo this Tuesday [6pm on ESPU]. A win pits them against the Michigan-Utah State winner this Thursday [sure, we'll all watch that one]. NC State, who made an amazing run to the ACC Championship game, is a #6 seed in the East Region and will travel to Drexel for their game this Tuesday [8pm, ESPNU]. Drexel was one of the most controversial ommissions from the NCAA's field of 65 teams.

There are some good teams in the NIT. Besides the ACC schools and Drexel, Syracuse, West Virginia, Mississippi State, Air Force and Kansas State are just a few teams that could've made a dent in the NCAAs.

6:25 -- [expletive deleted]! Arkansas makes it? Based on what? Getting killed by Florida? Six ACC teams so far, it doesn't look good.

6:35 -- And with the final matchups announced, FSU is headed back to the NIT again. So much for beefing up the schedule and playing tough competition.

Well, FSU fans, I hate to say that I think the committee was right on this one, but I do agree that Noles fans have a case. Florida State had a better RPI than Purdue, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech and, Virginia ... who all received at large bids. They had the 20th toughest schedule as all 12 losses came from teams in the top 55 of the RPI. I also think FSU got shafted when the committee seemingly didn't take into account Toney Douglas' injury, in which FSU was 1-4 without him.

I also just don't think FSU did anything to set themselves apart from the other bubble teams. Yes, they did beat Florida, but that was eons ago. I think where FSU can blame themselves was in ACC play where they were 7-9. Sure, not having Douglas refects in that record but for an 8th ACC team to get in, they really have to wow you with the numbers. FSU does have great ones, but Arkansas has a higher RPI, tougher strength of schedule and made it to their conference tournament championship game.

And for the second straight year, Florida State wonders what is the next step to get them in.

Okay, the ACC tournament is done with UNC's 89-80 win over a very impressive NC State team today. One this we are certain of is that North Carolina will be in the dance. After that, there are teams pretty much in, but who knows how the committee views them or views this conference.

NORTH CAROLINA: IN. [RPI: 3, SOS: 5] They are in by winning the ACC tournament and will be, at worst, a #2 seed and will most likely play in the Winston-Salem pod next weekend. With UCLA losing two in a row [both to unranked teams] and depending on the outcome of the Big Ten tournament [UNC probably needs Ohio State to win that one] the Tar Heels could be looking at a #1 seed.

MARYLAND: IN. [RPI: 16, SOS: 10] The Terps have been very impressive over the 2nd half of the ACC season, and they probably won't get caught up by their loss to Miami on Thursday due to the overall weirdness of the ACC tournament. Right now, they are probably a #5 seed, but hopes to be a #4 that can get to that Winston-Salem pod.

DUKE: IN. [RPI: 15, SOS: 3]. Despite what people may hope, Duke is definitely in. I mean, their computer numbers are outstanding and it isn't like they've been losing to horrid teams. Still, there will be much debate about where Duke should be placed in the NCAA tournament. I feel either the #8 or #9 seed ... which, of course, should peeve off whomever the #1 seed in their bracket is.

BOSTON COLLEGE: IN. [RPI: 33, SOS: 12]. BC has pretty good computer numbers but has really fallen on hard times of late. Is their physical style getting them worn out? This should be around a #7 or #8 seed.

VIRGINIA TECH: IN [RPI: 32, SOS: 22]. Tech's biggest moments have come in their two wins over UNC and a big win at Duke. However, they've lost 3 of 4 and 4 of 6 which should drop them down in the same #7-#8 range that BC is in.

VIRGINIA: IN. [RPI: 54, SOS: 50]. If this team wasn't co-ACC champions, they'd be a marked team on the bubble. They played the weakest ACC schedule, were clipped in their first ACC tournament game and lost a huge game against Wake Forest to end their season. Their record says a #5 seed, but their numbers say a #7-#9 seed.