After coming so close, so many times, perhaps the Florida State Seminoles can finally cross the fine line between success and disappointment and indulge in that great moment all teams hunger for. The Seminoles' hunger, which has been building for five years, could be satisfied this season.
When FSU joined the ACC five years ago, it shocked the conference its first two seasons. The Seminoles finished second in the conference and appeared in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament both years. The last three seasons have not been quite as successful, however.
This year, the outlook is much more optimistic.
"I fully expect that Florida State will be back in the postseason come March," head coach Pat Kennedy said. "I may be accused of being too optimistic, but I don't know of any other way to be."
That optimism stems from the fact that the Seminoles are returning all five starters and a pair of key reserves from last season's team. FSU is now a more experienced ball club and no longer has to rely on younger players to be leaders down the stretch.
One of the key players to look out for should be senior guard James Collins. Collins was the ACC's third leading returning scorer, averaging 18.3 points per game, and he was also FSU's best all-around player.
"James is ready to have an outstanding senior season," Kennedy said.
Collins has an approach centered around intimidation; he not only has a great ability to drive and get to the basket, but he also is a fine defender who often guards the opponent's most potent scorer.
Another potential threat to conference teams could be junior point guard Kerry Thompson, a transfer from Tallahassee Community College. Thompson was considered one of the nation's top five junior college players last year and he is expected to make an immediate impact at the point guard position.
"Kerry can break down a defense," Kennedy said. "He will beat people off the dribble, is strong enough in the upper body to finish plays and is an excellent distributor of the ball. Kerry will help us get more easy baskets this year."
With these veteran players, along with a recruiting class that was considered one of the ACC's best and one of the Top 10 in the nation, FSU could move into the upper tier of the ACC. The three freshman in the heralded recruiting class include Devonaire Deas, Ron Hale and Tommy Polley.
Deas, one of the top recruits in the nation and a member of the Parade All-American team last year, is expected to put in quality minutes at both the point and shooting guard positions. He is also an excellent passer and owns a nice shooting touch, especially from three-point distance.
With the addition of Deas and the rest of the excellent recruiting class, there is a wealth of talent that will be a threat to other teams. Kennedy believes that the key to doing this and becoming a powerhouse is being more competitive and creating easy baskets, something that was not done last season.
"Any coach's offense or defense can look very ragged when you can't complete plays," Kennedy said. "You have to score off the dribble and you have to create offense with your defense."
Kennedy is working with the team on speed, quickness and playing with balance. He feels that by developing FSU's offense, it also develops the defense. He hopes this approach leads to a "coming of age" for the Seminoles'.
But before the Seminoles begin focusing on the NCAA tournament, there are a few potential obstacles to overcome. FSU faces a few of the tougher ACC teams early in the season that could cause some trouble.
"[The ACC] has three very strong teams this year," Kennedy stated. "Wake [Forest], UNC and Duke could be dangerous."
Duke stands out as potential problem, especially when the past few seasons are taken into account. Cameron Indoor Stadium has been a tough atmosphere, especially for Florida State. Since the Seminoles' entrance into the ACC, they have never won at Cameron, though they have beaten every other team at their facilities at one time or another.
"[Duke] could be a tough [team to play]," Kennedy said. "I wish we could be playing someone different that early in the season. I don't know if it is psychological or what, but that has been a tough place to play."
Nevertheless, FSU is looking to make this a breakthrough season. After years of close finishes, the Seminoles feel they have the talent and experience to make a long-awaited run up the standings in the ACC.
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