Seminoles 66, Blue Devils 61
Man, what a monster win!
OK, I'll be the first person to admit that I previously declared the FSU 2011 basketball team a complete bust and failure. Then, last night, they go out and beat down the defending national champion Duke Blue Devils 66-61 before a raucous crowd in Tallahassee. Don't let anyone fool you, Duke didn't lose this game more than Florida State won the game. After that ass beating FSU handed Duke last night, I'll take my crow well done and lightly salted! Great defense that denied Duke any post presence and continuously be-Deviled (pun intended) their perimeter shooters. Chris Singleton and Derwin Kitchen played the game of their lives last night. Bernard James and Terrance Shannon also played lights out ball. So did the rest of the team, mainly on defense.
I've criticized Leonard Hamilton for poor coaching for most of this season, but I tip my cap to him for one hell of a coached game against the best team in the country. Again, I'm glad to eat my words. If only he could convince the boys that every team we play is Duke in disguise, then we might actually have a shot of going far into the NCAA Tournament.
However, let me also be a realist and state that Florida State needs to do something with this win. Back in 2002, they also defeated the defending national champion, previously unbeaten and ranked #1 Duke Blue Devils (77-76). The students rushed the court, along with a certain alum who's writing this piece. What did FSU do the rest of the season that year? Promptly get their asses kicked inside and out the rest of the way. FSU also defeated Duke in 2006 when they were ranked #1. Only to lose to a god awful Wake team in the ACC Tourney a week later that cost them a slot in the Big Dance. FSU also defeated North Carolina who was #1 in 2009 in the ACC Tournament in Atlanta. Their reward? Two straight losses to end the season. My point, as great as it is to be the Devil tormentors, Florida State has never been able to use those great wins as a spring board. It's always been a flash in the pan. In 2011, this has to change!
In fact, this is the 6th win against a defending national champion since the 1998 season (the season is referred to the ending year, not the beginning by the way). The Seminoles took down Arizona in the 1998 season, Duke in 2002, Florida in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, along with North Carolina last year. To top it off, they defeated Duke again last night. Only the 1998 and 2010 teams advanced the NCAA Tournament. The Seminoles have gained the talent over the last couple of seasons to make noise in the ACC. They've beaten the #1 ranked team four times since 2002. The only thing left? An ACC and national championship. Using last nights solid beating of Duke hopefully can be a spring board to a deep run in 2011.
Posted 1-13-2011