So what next?

There were no excuses from the Noles after the game and that was good - any they offered would have sounded hollow. They were simply out-played by UNC, which certainly took advantage of having a first-round bye and also showed how much deeper it is by using so many players throughout the game.

FSU just looked tired. They played what most people thought was an elimination game yesterday and barely won it. Once they fell behind today, they didn't have the energy to come back. Phat Al Thornton said, "I think we were ready" but he sounded way, way too tired as he said it.

The question now is where the Noles next game will be played. They'll get into the NIT for sure, but will the NCAA tournament want them? They're the definition of a bubble team. Until the other conference tournaments are played out, it's hard to tell if there's room for them. Needless to say, FSU fans should be rooting for plenty of favored teams to win this weekend.

UNC coach Roy Williams was asked if he thinks FSU is a tournament team. Here's what he said: "I think they should be a tournament team, absolutely. I have trouble believing they're not one of the best 65 teams in the country. ... It'd be a shame if people didn't get to see Al Thornton in the NCAA tournament, too."

Ballgame; UNC beats FSU, 73-58

On the second-to-last possession, Toney Douglas just drove to the hoop and had his lay-up blocked by Danny Green. Douglas ended up on his back as the players went back the other way. It was a reasonable ending. Back with a wrap-up in a bit.

Start the bus

2:20 to go and FSU is down 68-54. Phat Al looks despondent on the bench. The fans behind me are screaming at the refs but it's hardly the zebras who are to blame today. Quite simply, FSU isn't on the same level as UNC.

UNC up 59-40, 7:44 left

Well, that run didn't exactly materialize. Phat Al picked up his fourth foul, Jerel Allen tried a three-pointer that was closer to mid-court than the foul line and the Noles have missed (by my count) at least three lay-ups this half. There's no question who the better team is today.

The FSU band, on the other hand, is doing a nice job. Solid Bon Jovi rendition earlier. They do NOT give love a bad name.

11:26 left, FSU trying to come back; UNC leads 52-40

Phat Al picked up his third foul a few moments ago and Hamilton took him out which I thought was a bit of a strange move. What are you saving him for? At this point, the game is going be either a blowout or competitive: why not leave your best player in and see if he can (carefully) help your team get back into it?

The Noles have lopped eight points off the deficit and are down 12. UNC doesn't look particularly rattled but the next few minutes are critical; get it into single digits by the under-8 timeout and it's a ballgame.

15:32 left, UNC up 48-28

This would be a huge rally if FSU even gets to within five or less at any point the rest of the way. Phat Al doesn't have his legs, Douglas is still playing poorly and the Heels are just carving FSU up. Wayne Ellington is leading the way for UNC - he's got 13 points.

St. Pete Times Forum - friend of the environment

Yup, the urinals in the press room are those cool Falcon Waterfree kind. Good to see the folks down here care about conservation.

18:16 left; 44-26, UNC

OK, maybe it won't take all the way until the first media timeout to get to 20 points ...

Halftime; UNC up 36-26

The Noles couldn't have ended the half any worse. They were within four at 30-26 and then had three straight terrible possessions, two of which were Isaiah Swann shooting a 25-foot three-pointer (way off) and then Swann making an ill-advised drive to the basket and getting called for an offensive foul.

The coup de grace was FSU having the ball stripped with three second left on an inbounds pass leading to another UNC tip-in as the buzzer sounded, sending Leonard Hamilton into an uproar on the sideline. He stomped and screamed his way along the bench and was hit with a technical foul as the teams ran off the court. UNC will shoot the free throws before the second half begins.

All in all, the Noles are in serious trouble. They can't defend and are having problems getting their running game going at all. If they're not careful, UNC could be up 20 pretty easily by the first or second timeout in the second half.

Some things never change

One UNC fan is holding up a sign that says, "Where's DOOK?"

The Blue Devils, of course, were bounced last night in the first round by North Carolina State.

UNC up 30-22, 2:59 remaining in the half

Technical issues here have kept In The Crowd behind a little, just like the Seminoles. FSU still seems half a step slow. Douglas is having an awful half; he's turning the ball over constantly, including once when he overthrew a wide-open teammate who was breaking away for an easy lay-up.

Phat Al is frustrated. He's not getting great looks on the offensive end and the Noles are porous defensively. FSU was even at 13 but couldn't keep up as UNC kept pounding. Also, it's worth noting that the Heels are playing well despite Roy Williams wearing one of the ugliest ties I've ever seen.

First media timeout; UNC up 11-4, 15:47 left

FSU looks horrible at the start. Toney Douglas seems to be having trouble just holding on to the ball and there's no flow at all to the Noles play. That would be OK if they were in their usual track-meet mode but they're not making any sort of smooth transition plays either. All in all, not a good combo.

In other news, UNC forward Tyler Hansbrough is wearing a Bill Laimbeer-style mask to protect his broken nose. He looks unbelievably strange. Good crowd here for a noon tip but Carolina fans seem to be outnumbering FSU fans by a wide margin.

First media timeout; UNC up 11-4, 15:47 left

FSU looks horrible at the start. Toney Douglas seems to be having trouble just holding on to the ball and there's no flow at all to the Noles play. That would be OK if they were in their usual track-meet mode but they're not making any sort of smooth transition plays either. All in all, not a good combo.

In other news, UNC forward Tyler Hansbrough is wearing a Bill Laimbeer-style mask to protect his broken nose. He looks unbelievably strange. Good crowd here for a noon tip but Carolina fans seem to be outnumbering FSU fans by a wide margin.

90 minutes to tip

Strange how a team known as the Heels can be intimidating, isn't it?

Whatever their name, UNC is one of the best teams in the country this year and the general consensus is that Florida State doesn't have much a chance this afternoon. I tend to agree with that sentiment, though I also picked Clemson yesterday (continuing my horrific prognostication streak) so I suppose no one should be surprised if FSU wins in a rout.

The key is going to be the Noles energy. They used A LOT of a gas in yesterday's game and bouncing back against a team that is superior in talent will be difficult. Phat Al and Tony Douglas need to keep their intensity high every second they're on the floor or UNC will expose any weakness. As I said yesterday and wrote in today's paper, Phat Al will take this team as far as it goes.

The Mighty Heels are waiting

There was a good vibe in the Seminoles locker room after the victory: Not too high, not too cocky. They seemed to have a good handle on what they'd done. This was an important victory, to be sure, but after being left on the NCAA tournament bubble a year ago, the 'Noles know better than to think they've accomplished anything more than making their case a little stronger.

They get North Carolina tomorrow. The first impression is that UNC should be able to beat them pretty easily, though after watching Al Thornton play today, I certainly believe that Phat Al can carry this team past just about anybody.

Still, the real question is what happens if the Noles do in fact lose? Have they done enough to get in? It's hard to say for sure because there are so many conference tournament games still left to play elsewhere around the country but their resume is solid. Assuming the committee factors in Tony Douglas' absence you'd think that FSU would either be one of the last teams in or first teams out.

"I'll really be livid," Phat Al said about possibly missing out again. "I don't even want to think about it."

Win tomorrow and he probably won't have to bother.

FSU wins, 67-66

Al misses the first, makes the second. Now he's being carried around by Ralph Mims. Big win for FSU. They get UNC tomorrow.

Thornton at the line, 1.5 seconds left

Timeout Clemson. Thornton got fouled driving and now has a chance to try and win the game.

Still tied, 8.3 seconds left

Two terrible possessions: First, FSU doesn't get the ball to Thornton and Ryan Reid ends up with it as the shot clock expires. Then Hammonds loses the ball off his own leg and Clemson is hit with a backcourt violation to give FSU another chance. If they don't go to Al here, it's a total disgrace.

66-all, 54.7 seconds left

Thornton tore the rim down with a baseline slip and dunk to tie it, then Ryan Reid took a charge to get FSU the ball back. Tourney hopes are on the line now. Big finish coming up.

Clemson leading, 66-64 with 2:54 left

Douglas just drilled a three to bring FSU back to within two. Noles have been horrendous at rebounding in this half and are making poor decisions on the offensive end. Thornton has just four points in the second half and isn't getting many opportunities. Clemson is doing a better job keeping the ball from him, but FSU needs to put it in their star's hands.

Took about 30 seconds ...

... and Douglas ran off his injury. He's back in the game with a nice ovation from the fans.

Clemson up, 59-56 with 7:37 left; Douglas hurt

Tony Douglas is laying on the floor as FSU trainers examine him. He appears to be holding his left leg (possibly the knee). It looked like he was caught working off a screen. He's being helped off the court now and can't put any weight on his leg.

FSU leads 53-51, 11:45 to go

Thornton picked up his third foul when he hacked James Mays with 12:17 left. He needs to be careful the rest of the way. The Clemson dance team is in orange sequined tops and purple pants. Solid look.

15:53 remaining

Back and forth to start the second half. Douglas is suceeding off the dribble when he gets inside but the pace is similar to the beginning of the game. Worst sign for FSU is that they've got 10 turnovers and have been prone to get into ruts where they can't handle Clemson's pressure. This game is going to be close all the way - you get the feeling that Thornton is going to win or lose it for FSU.

Wrist is OK

Al ran the clock down then drilled a long three just before the buzzer. He's got 18 and the Noles lead 38-36. At this point, it's hard not to think Thornton will be a higher pick in the NBA draft than Joakim Noah. He's just got a better pro game.

Thornton takes a fall

Off an outlet pass, Thornton tried to sky for a dunk but was undercut and landed hard on his right wrist. He made 1-of-2 free throws but seems to be favoring the wrist slightly. It's the same one he hurt in the Noles last regular season game against Miami.

7:11 left, first half

FSU is struggling now with Clemson's press. Leonard Hamilton tried to get Thornton a quick break but it took one possession for FSU to turn the ball over so Thornton came right back. 'Noles are down 26-19.

7:11 left, first half

FSU is struggling now with Clemson's press. Leonard Hamilton tried to get Thornton a quick break but it took one possession for FSU to turn the ball over so Thornton came right back. 'Noles are down 26-19.

Second media timeout

Breakneck pace is continuing. Thornton finally gets on the board with a dunk at the 13 minute mark, then had a hammer follow on Douglas' missed jumper moments later. There isn't much in the way of half-court offense going on so far. Clemson up, 18-17. 10:55 to go in the first.

First media timeout

It took exactly 2 minutes, 23 seconds for Leonard Hamilton to go to Tony Douglas. He's playing without that wrap on his right wrist and seems fine. The pace of the game is quick; lots of running as FSU deals with Clemson's press.

Predictions

Sitting alongside my man Bob Thomas, we're a few minutes from tip. Here's what the crystal ball says:

Sam: Clemson, 68-63
Bob: FSU, 70-61

It sort of rhymes with "peekaboo"

The radio guys behind me just spent a solid three minutes working on how to pronounce FSU sophomore forward Uche Echefu's name. Oooo-chay Etch-e-foo. What's hard about that?

Good morning from Tampa

That's the Florida State basketball team shooting around before it's first-round game in the ACC tournament. The Seminoles tip with Clemson at noon and there are already FSU fans filtering into the arena. My hotel was overrun with red and gold this morning, and My Boy Sandy (who covers the Yankees) reports that Clemson and their fans took over his hotel out closer to the Westshore area.

There's been a lot of talk in recent days about whether it's good for the ACC tourney to leave its North Carolina roots (it's usually in Greensboro) but I don't see how this is bad: It's exposing the best conference in the country to a new area and changing which teams have to travel further. Usually, FSU, Miami, Maryland and the Virginia schools have a bit of a trip to NC while the NC schools get an easy ride; this year, Duke, UNC, NC State, Wake and Clemson, et. al have a little more of a ride. It's only fair.

Anyway, even the most blue-blooded Carolina traditionalist will probably change his mind once he either a) gets on a golf course; b) eats at a great steakhouse; or c) checks out the talent at one of Tampa's famous gentleman's clubs. There's a lot more fun to be had here than in Greensboro, that's for sure.