RECAP: FSU Basketball's Season Ends With Loss to UNC in ACC Tournament

The Seminoles were run off the court in the conference tournament to conclude their 2023-24 campaign.

All good things must come to an end. This wasn't exactly a good season, but it was certainly an improvement over last year.

Florida State started the game out strong, taking a few different leads throughout the first 10 minutes of the half. However, over the final ten minutes of the half, FSU would score just 14 points. Carolina would score 31. 

UNC would go on a 20-4 run in the closing minutes of the first half to take a 46-30 lead into the break. The lead felt even larger than that. Elliot Cadeau was doing a great job of setting the tone by diving on the floor, attacking the basket with reckless abandon... doing everything FSU wasn't willing to do. 

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A lot of things just weren't happening for FSU; they couldn't rebound at all, weren't getting calls (which never happens against UNC), Darin Green Jr. was 0/5, Jamir Watkins was seeing two or three white jerseys on every drive, and no one else was stepping up. It's hard to beat good teams like UNC when you can't get out of your own way. 

The officials started to let Florida State shoot free throws early in the second half, but FSU could never get enough stops or find enough consistent offense to get the job done and some of the players checked out mentally. North Carolina would cruise to a 92-67 win and advance to the ACC Semifinals, effectively ending Florida State's season. I can't imagine they get any invites to the smaller tournaments. 

Florida State was absolutely dominated on the glass, 48-22. For most of the game, Armando Bacot had more rebounds by himself than FSU had as a team. With the game getting out of hand, it allowed the 'Noles to correct that slightly, but the Tar Heels still finished with 17 offensive rebounds leading to 17 second-chance points. They also allowed UNC to score a season-high 26 fastbreak points. 

It's hard to say any players really stood out for FSU in a game like this. Jamir Watkins was dealing with foul trouble and was swarmed any time he drove the ball, but still finished with 12 points, his 19th consecutive game scoring in double figures, while also adding 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Hopefully, this isn't the last time we see him in a Florida State uniform. 

Primo Spears added 15 points and was the only one who could consistently get his shot off. Jalen Warley was also in double figures with 10 points. 

RJ Davis felt more held down than he actually was, finishing with 18 points on 7/15 shooting. Armando Bacot was being Armando Bacot, getting away with push-offs and shoves on his way to 14 points and 10 rebounds, 6 of those on the offensive glass. Cormac Ryan added 14 points and Seth Trimble added another 12. 

Still plenty of content coming in the next few days, as the schedule will pick up with the transfer portal open. 

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