Douglas' sharp return helps boost outlook

Florida State sophomore point guard Toney Douglas showed Miami - and perhaps more important, the NCAA Tournament selection committee - what he means to his team.

By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published March 4, 2007

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Florida State sophomore point guard Toney Douglas showed Miami - and perhaps more important, the NCAA Tournament selection committee - what he means to his team.

After fracturing a bone in his right (shooting) hand and missing six games, five of which the Seminoles lost, Douglas returned Saturday and scored 13, including a 3-pointer that sent the game into overtime.

"The first half, I had to settle down," said Douglas, who began the game with his right hand wrapped but removed it after a couple of minutes. "The second half, I knew I had to come out and help my team, whether that was play defense, distribute the ball, score."

After not scoring in the first half, he was nearly flawless in the second, hitting 3 of 3 shots from the field and 5 of 6 free throws. He played 32 minutes.

"I told Coach (Leonard Hamilton) I was ready and I wanted to play," he said. "I was sore, but I just played through it. I knew what I had to do. I knew my team needed me and I had to step my game up."