Florida State taking nothing for granted

First Posted:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The St. Bonaventure Bonnies insist they feel no pressure with nothing to lose and everything to gain in the NCAA tournament.

Memories of a painful loss a year ago still haunt the 10th-ranked Florida State Seminoles who have no intention of overlooking anyone.

The two will square off today in the East region.

“Personally, I’ve thought about it every day since the VCU game,” Florida State senior Bernard James said Thursday of last year’s 71-70 overtime loss to VCU in the regional semifinals.

A motivated Florida State (24-9) won its first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title and a three seed in the tournament.

The Seminoles use that VCU loss to check any ego in a season where they beat North Carolina and Duke twice.

Florida State’s 76-73 win on Jan. 21 over Duke snapped the Blue Devils’ 45-game home winning streak and the Seminoles captured the ACC crown with their second win over the Tar Heels.

James said they’ve already talked about this tournament being their chance to right the wrong of their loss a year ago.

“We use it as a constant reminder every day to stay focused and to perform at the top of our ability,” James said.

The 14th-seeded Bonnies’ biggest win may have been in the Atlantic 10 tournament as they beat first Massachusetts, then Xavier for their first title too. That gave them their first NCAA berth since 2000 just a few days after coach Mark Schmidt thought his team was headed toward the College Basketball Invitational.

Now Schmidt says they’re playing with house money after the miracle in Atlantic City.

“As a kid you grow up dreaming about playing in the NCAA tournament and a week ago that dream wasn’t going to become reality, and somehow, some way it became, and our guys can’t wait to play,” Schmidt said. “They’re excited looking forward to the challenge.”

Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton warns not to buy into St. Bonaventure as a Cinderella clich