Angry Seminoles need energy
Florida State, hosting Toledo tonight in the NIT, must refocus after missing the NCAAs.
By D.C. REEVES,Times correspondent
Published March 13, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - Make it two years in a row that frustration will cause FSU star Al Thornton to not watch the NCAA Tournament.
Less than 24 hours after his team received its second consecutive NCAA snub, Thornton had little to talk about and even fewer reasons to smile.
"Not again, man," Thornton said. "I can't understand it, not going to try to understand it ... I don't think I ever will. There are just a lot of thoughts going through my head."
And less than 24 hours after the confirmation of his fifth season at FSU without an NCAA bid, coach Leonard Hamilton lightly discussed ideas of expansion for the NCAA Tournament and uniform criteria when it comes to selecting the final 65.
" 'Full body of work,' whatever that means," Hamilton said with an unenthusiastic smile. "Last year, it was strength of schedule, This year, it was full body of work."
Hamilton has not pointed fingers when it comes to this year's decision and is aware that all the rules in the world won't put FSU in the Big Dance in 2007.
So the Seminoles (20-12) host Toledo in the first round of the NIT at 6 tonight (ESPNU) at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
As the pain lingers for Thornton and the rest of the Seminoles, Hamilton's present concern becomes getting his unhappy players excited about playing in the less exciting tournament.
"We have to respond in a very positive way, because this is the hand that has been dealt to us," Hamilton said. "I'm sure there is a lot of disappointment, all of us have experienced it, but it's just part of the growing process."
Florida State, a No. 2 seed in the North bracket, matches up with seventh-seeded Toledo (19-12), which went 14-2 in the Mid-American Conference to win the regular-season title - a feat which now garners an automatic bid into the 32-team NIT field.
Toledo, with competitive losses at Vanderbilt and Kansas, won't be intimidated by a team with a major conference affiliation.
With a motivated mid-major team on their plates, can the Seminoles put that no-dance frustration behind?
"No, there's no way, it's too short of a time," Thornton said. "No, no ... we're real disappointed, we'll just play the game with anger because I don't think you can just put it behind you like that. Regardless of who we're playing, they're going to get it."