Florida State wins ACC Tournament - SCACCHoops.com

Florida State wins ACC Tournament

by ACC Mania

Posted: 3/11/2012 4:42:24 PM


Game Central

Game Recap

That’s a wrap from Atlanta, where Florida State just became the first team since 2004 not named North Carolina or Duke to win the ACC tournament. It was a thrilling end to an exciting tournament, and we can only hope is a telling foreshadowing of the weeks to come in college basketball.

FLORIDA STATE 85, NORTH CAROLINA 82

How it happened:
Florida State jumped on Carolina from the start. The Seminoles scored a season-high 49 first half points, including 15 from Michael Snaer. The Seminoles’ defense was airtight as usual. They made every single pass Carolina made difficult. Bernard James was a dominant force inside with five blocked shots, including several key rejections in the final minutes. While scoring 85 points is a major accomplishment for the Seminoles, it was their defense that won them the game.

Carolina had to play without John Henson, and it showed. The Tar Heels won the rebounding battle, 39-30, but the Seminoles were able to score at the rim with aggression. That would not happen if the ACC’s leading shot-blocker was on the floor. The entire complexion of the game would have been different had Henson been healthy, but this still should ultimately serve as an invaluable learning experience for Carolina.

North Carolina’s last-minute offense was questionable at best. Down 83-79 with 30 seconds left, Kendall Marshall hoisted an off-balance three-pointer that somehow went in. After Okaro White missed the front end of a 1-and-1, Carolina had a golden opportunity to win the game on the final shot. It would have made sense for either Marshall or Harrison Barnes to take the ball and attack the rim, where they are most successful, or feed Tyler Zeller in the post for an isolation. Instead Marshall took a pull-up three-pointer with plenty of time on the clock, and he missed. Twice this season, UNC has had the ball in the final seconds with a chance to win the game, and twice it has failed miserably. That’s a red flag.

Player of the Game:

Michael Snaer capped off his Tournament MVP campaign with a gutsy 18-point effort on 4-of-5 shooting from long range. He came out with a fire in his eye and a determination that spread throughout his team in the first half. The Seminoles played with a swagger that started with Snaer. It was a complete effort by the Seminoles, especially on the defensive end of the floor, but Snaer was the guiding light through three straight wins to capture the program’s first ever ACC championship.

What it means:

Florida State could have earned itself as high as a 3-seed when the NCAA bracket is revealed later this evening. They finished 4-1 against North Carolina and Duke. If Snaer and Ian Miller can score consistently on the perimeter, the Seminoles have enough depth to get the support elsewhere. Unfortunately, the ‘Noles can’t play Duke and Carolina every game. Making a deep NCAA Tournament run is about maintaining a level of excellence. FSU is peaking at the right time, but all it takes is a poor shooting effort to end its season in a hurry.

Assuming Henson will be completely healthy in a week (two at the most), this does nothing to diminish Carolina’s national championship chances. The Tar Heels spent the last two days playing in Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight-type atmospheres without an integral part of their rotation. You know how when you eliminate one of the five senses, it’s supposed to make the other four stronger? That’s basically what happened this weekend for UNC. And the Heels still came within three points of an ACC Championship.

My All-Tournament Team (Tournament averages)

Michael Snaer (FSU): 18 points, 3.3 assists, 75 % 3-pt FG

Kendall Marshall (UNC): 10 points, 10.1 assists, 50% 3-pt FG

Tyler Zeller (UNC): 18.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 86% FT

C.J. Leslie (NC State): 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 69.6% FG

Terrell Stoglin (Maryland): 27.5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

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