GREENSBORO, N.C. - It's understandable and forgiveable to look at Florida State and see only Tim Pickett.
The senior guard, known for his relentless play at both ends, is the Seminoles' lone double-figure scorer, leads them in steals, is second in rebounding and is third in assists. He was just named to the All-ACC first team, joining Bob Sura as the lone Seminoles to be so honored and the first in a decade.
He does cast something of a shadow on his supporting cast.
Everyone recognizes that.
"We know Tim is the man on this team," freshman center Alexander Johnson said. "He shows it every night. We don't care if Tim gets the credit because he deserves it."
But with Pickett nursing a hyperextended right ankle, which will make his playing status a game-time decision, all eyes, or at least more eyes, will be on others as the Seminoles are playing for their NCAA Tournament lives tonight against No. 2-seeded North Carolina State in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.
If the Seminoles don't pull off the upset of No. 17-ranked N.C. State, they not only will have lost five straight, but they would still be missing a marquee win away from Tallahassee. Both, or either, could be enough to burst their NCAA bubble.
"I think it is a must-win," said Adam Waleskowski, a junior forward. "We've had our opportunities and we're kind of letting them go by. It would be big to get this first game as a boost that turns us back on the right track of getting into the NCAA Tournament."
Can they do that with a, at best, slowed Pickett?
Can role players like Waleskowski, Johnson, senior forward Michael Joiner, sophomore forward/guard Andrew Wilson and Nate Johnson assume more prominent roles?
"It's not a one-man show," said Pickett, who has spent about four to five hours a day treating his swollen and sore foot and has been limited to shooting drills. "I've got a lot of confidence in my teammates."
By coach Leonard Hamilton's design.
He has nine players averaging at least 14 minutes (two others are close to double digits) and no one, not even Pickett, is out there for 30 minutes a game.
"I said at the beginning of the year, in order for us to be successful, we would have to win games by committee," Hamilton said. "And when we have won and been successful, it's because we've had contributions from everyone."
Nate Johnson scored a team-high 19 in FSU's 75-70 win against Wake Forest on Jan. 25.
Alexander Johnson had a team-high 16 in a critical 76-57 win against Virginia on Feb. 17.
Joiner had 10 points (5-for-6 shooting), five rebounds and three steals in FSU's hard-fought 70-65 loss to Duke on Feb. 29.
Wilson, known more for his tenacious and instinctive man-to-man defense, made 7 of 10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 24 to help give FSU a shot at a win at UNC.
Waleskowski, the team's leading rebounding despite coming off the bench, made 6-of-10 shots, 3-of-5 from 3-point range, for 16 points as FSU lost in overtime at Wake Forest.
"One of the great strengths of their team is their depth," Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek said. "They have any number of players who can really hurt you and they've demonstrated that throughout the year."
"Pickett, let's face it, he's one of the best players in our league," echoed Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt. "But those other guys do an awful lot to create opportunities for Tim and if you're paying too much attention to Tim Pickett, they can hurt you as well."
Most of the time, those other guys do the little things: boxing out on the defensive boards; setting a traffic-stopping screens; moving without the ball; making that extra pass; and playing in-your-face defense.
Those kind of things rarely earn one a spot on SportsCenter's top 10.
Those kind of things always require a selfless attitude.
"That's the only way this team is going to be successful, by bottling all the egos and putting them to the side," Joiner said. "Coach calls it a sacrifice; sacrificing your own for the good of the team. Every one has bought into the system. Tim has a big target on his chest, the focus is on him and a lot of guys have stepped up and played their role."
But he and his teammates know that may not be enough tonight if Pickett isn't himself. Not that they're worried about being able to do just that if need be.
"Everybody on this team knows we're capable of it. We've showed it at times," Waleskowski said. "It just when we're called upon or the ball comes our way, we have to be confident that we're going to knock the shot down or penetrate and get it to somebody who's open."
Like Wilson. Like Nate Johnson. Like freshman guard Von Wafer. Like ... .
"If Tim is out, somebody has to step up and just say, "Man. We've got to do it,"' Alexander Johnson said. "Tim has set an example of what hard work does. Tim lays it on the line every time he goes out there. We owe this to Tim."
NOTE: North Carolina State guard Scooter Sherrill, who tore a muscle in his left foot early in the second half against North Carolina on Feb. 29, isn't expected to play.
Sherrill, a defensive stopper, held Pickett to five points on 2-for-8 shooting in the teams' last meeting.
ACC tournament
UVA 83, CLEMSON 79 (OT): The Cavaliers (17-11) snapped an eight-game tournament losing streak, winning for the first time since beating Georgia Tech in the 1995 quarterfinals.
Todd Billet scored 20 and Elton Brown 19, and J.R. Reynolds and Devin Smith each hit key 3-pointers in overtime.
Virginia erased an eight-point deficit in the final three minutes to force overtime.
Vernon Hamilton scored 19 for the Tigers (10-18), who had a chance to tie in OT. After Smith's free throw made it 81-78 with 6.8 seconds left, Hamilton was fouled with 2.9 seconds left. He made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, but Reynolds got the rebound and made two free throws.
- Information from Times wires was used in this report.
