My two cents

Notables

ENTRY: Saturday, March 26, at 10 p.m. EST

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - In honor of Florida State reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1993, I came up with the 16 most memorable moments - both good and bad - about their historic season. I could have gone for 20 or even 25, but it just didn't seem fitting. So, in order of importance, here's my list (I bent the rules a little. Some picks weren't exactly moments, but came over a lengthy period of time):

1. Ending the NCAA drought: Beating Texas A&M in their first NCAA Tournament game was more important than knocking off No. 2 seed Notre Dame in the round of 32. Heading into this season, FSU had yet to win an NCAA Tournament game under Leonard Hamilton and was coming off two straight exits in the round of 64. Instead of a third straight, the Seminoles conquered the last hurdle of the Hamilton era and ended questions about their ability to win when it matters most.

2. Sweet (16) Surprise: FSU didn't just reach the Sweet 16, but made an impressive statement along the way. The No. 10 seeded Seminoles not only dominated No. 2 Notre Dame, but did so in Notre Dame's backyard. Playing in Chicago, the Seminoles led by double digits nearly the entire game in what turned out to be a 71-57 rout that wasn't even as close as the score indicates. The 'Noles got unusually hot from the outside, hitting 9 of 19 three-pointers while shutting down one of the nation's top shooting teams. The Irish made just 7 of 30 three-pointers and Ben Hansbrough (the Big East Player of the Year) was turned into a non-factor.

3. Cruel Irony for Kitchen: For the last two seasons, coaches and teammates have been imploring senior point guard Derwin Kitchen to be more aggressive and look for his shot more. Ironically, Kitchen had a chance to take a game-winning shot in overtime against VCU in the Sweet 16, but opted to pass to Chris Singleton instead, which led to a desperation shot that was blocked at the final buzzer. Kitchen also lost track of the clock at the end of the first half when he didn't get a shot off before the halftime buzzer. Still, it's hard to be too critical of Kitchen since he led the team with 23 points and 12 rebounds in his final college game.

4. Knocking off No. 1 Duke - again: If Florida State ever chose to leave the ACC, Duke certainly wouldn't complain. An unranked FSU team knocked off previously undefeated and No. 1 Duke 66-61 at home on Jan. 12, making for the third time the Blue Devils have fallen when ranked No. 1 in Tallahassee (also happened in 2002 and 2006). Fans stormed the court as time expired, engulfing the players in a wild celebration. What made it so shocking this time around is that the Seminoles were coming off one of their worst losses in years at Auburn and a 12-point loss to Virginia Tech.

5. Chris Singleton's fractured foot: Ten minutes into a home game against Virginia on Feb. 12, Singleton limped off the court to get his right foot x-rayed. When results revealed a fractured bone, many thought Singleton's season was over, along with FSU's chances of landing an NCAA Tournament bid. Singleton is not only one of the nation's top defensive players, but also the team's leading scorer and rebounder. But, the Seminoles went 3-3 without their best player (4-3 if you count the Virginia game which they won 63-56). That stretch included a key road win at NC State that locked up an NCAA bid and two heartbreaking losses (see 72-70 loss to North Carolina and 52-51 loss to Virginia Tech below). Singleton returned for the NCAA Tournament, but was largely ineffective in the first two games (combined for five points and seven fouls) yet the 'Noles still managed to reach the Sweet 16 thanks to many other players raising their level of play. Singleton did look more like his old self against VCU, scoring 16 points, including a clutch 3-pointer to force overtime and a dunk that gave FSU a one-point lead in the final minute.

6. Bernard James' story/emergence: Center Bernard James' unique journey from the Air Force to big-time college basketball garnered lots of national attention. But, James was for more than just a great story. The 6-foot-10 junior college transfer emerged as FSU's best post player and an excellent shot blocker. He carried FSU in its first two NCAA Tournament games and against VCU blocked five shots - all in the second half. James was the reason FSU didn't miss starting center Xavier Gibson when he missed six weeks with injuries. Without him, FSU wouldn't have even made the NCAA tourney. Moreover, Leonard Hamilton continues to say James still "hasn't scratched the surface of his potential" since he still hasn't played nearly as much organized basketball as his teammates. If that's true look for a huge senior year from the player they call 'Sarge.'

7. The greatest shot that didn't count: In the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals in Greensboro, Kitchen appeared to hit one of the most clutch shots in FSU history when his baseline jumper sailed through the basket as the final buzzer sounded. The shot left the scoreboard reading: FSU 53, Virginia Tech 52. But, after refs reviewed the replay they deemed Kitchen did not get the shot off in time. The fact that clock reached 0.0 before the red light appeared (they were not synched up correctly) created some controversy. Later, ACC officials said the shot came 1/30 of a second too late. Making the loss sting even more was the fact FSU led nearly the entire game. Erick Green, who had missed his previous 11 shots from the field, made a game-winning jumper with 4.7 seconds left to put the Hokies ahead for the first time since the first two minutes.

8. Harrison spells Heartbreak: FSU may have played its best game of the season in a loss. Despite not having Singleton, the Seminoles managed to trade baskets with the nation's hottest team for most of 40 minutes and had a one-point lead over North Carolina (which had won 10 of their last 11) in the final minute thanks to a clutch shot off the glass from Kitchen. But, Harrison Barnes answered with a 3-pointer with three seconds left to give UNC a dramatic 72-70 win. Take away Harrison's heroics, and the game was still one of the best ever played at the Donald Tucker Center.

9. Best defense ever?: Despite losing their best post defender (Ryan Reid) and the ACC's leading shot blocker (Solomon Alabi), FSU's defense managed to get even stingier. The Seminoles will lead the nation in field goal percentage defense for the second straight year at 36.3 percent, which is down from 37.7 percent last season. The last program to rank first in that stat in back-to-back years was Georgetown in the early 1980s. Ohio State coach Thad Matta called FSU's defense perhaps the best he'd seen in his life and that was after his Buckeyes won in Tallahassee. Much of the thanks goes to FSU guard Michael Snaer, who emerged as a lockdown one-on-one defender, slowing down the likes of Duke's Nolan Smith, Boston College's Reggie Jackson, Virginia Tech's Malcom Delaney and Hansbrough and a back line of intimidating big men (Singleton, James, Gibson and more) who made it awful tough to score in the paint.

10. Offensive Ugliness: As good as FSU was defensively, this team will also be remembered for some remarkably bad offense. They racked up 26 turnovers against the likes of Hartford. They were held to 44 total points twice (Ohio State at home and on the road at Clemson), which tied for the lowest output of the Hamilton era. They also missed their first 10 shots from the field at Miami (though they still managed to come away with an ugly win in that game). That made for a team that was hard to watch at times, even when they were winning.

11. The Auburn loss: Sandwiched in between three games in Hawaii and their first ACC road game at Virginia was what looked like an easy win on the road at Auburn. The Tigers were in complete rebuilding mode, having already lost to the murder's row of Samford, Campbell, Jacksonville and Presbyterian. But, FSU struggled to score against Auburn's two-three zone, setting for too many outside shots and going cold at the same time, which led to a shocking 65-60 loss. The Seminoles went 5 of 26 from 3-point range (19 percent) and 13 of 26 from the free throw line (50 percent). Auburn added to the embarrassment by scoring six points in the first half of their next game against LSU.

12. Singleton triple double: Getting a triple-double in college is rare. Doing it with steals is virtually impossible. That's what made Singleton's 22-point, 11-rebound, 10-steal performance in FSU's 97-73 win at UNC-Greensboro on Nov. 14 so remarkable. It's the third triple double in school history (Reggie Royals and Bobby Sura have the others) and the only one in ACC history to include steals. Had Singleton not come out around the four-minute mark, he might had gotten a quadruple-double. He also had six assists and four blocks.

13. Deepest team ever?: Hamilton called this his deepest team at FSU and it may have been the deepest team in school history. When everybody was healthy, they had an 11-man rotation and each member averaged double-digit minutes per game. All four newcomers were significant contributors, especially freshman forward Okaro White, who started the final 13 games of the season. James, Gibson, White, Terrance Shannon and Jon Kreft gave FSU an extraordinary amount of big men to utilize. Hamilton subbed frequently, often wearing down opponents with thin benches like Notre Dame (seven-man rotation) and all that depth was key in covering up a rash of injuries.

14. Selection Sunday: Just because the Seminoles wrapped up an NCAA bid in the regular season doesn't mean there wasn't some drama when the NCAA Tournament brackets were released. The players, coaches and even casual fans were still anxious to find out who and where the Seminoles were playing. Gathered at Hamilton's house to watch the Selection Show, the team found out they were a No. 10 seed and headed to Chicago to face No. 7 Texas A&M. Ironically, it was likely the refs ruling that Kitchen's shot came a split second late against Virginia Tech that kept the 'Noles from landing in the dreaded No. 8/No. 9 game for the second straight year, which would have meant having to face a No. 1 seed to get past the first weekend.

15. The Jon Kreft Watch: After waiting more than five years to see 7-footer Jon Kreft to suit up for the Seminoles, FSU fans had to wait another nine games this season. Kreft, who originally signed with FSU in 2005 before running into off-the-court trouble, sat out the first semester after having already sat out all of last season with Hamilton continually deflecting questions about his absence along the way. Kreft, a former five-star recruit, proved to be a solid reserve, averaging 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game (his brightest moment was a 12-point outing in FSU's key win at NC State), but was far from the dominating force many recruiting analysts had projected he would be coming out of high school.

16. Triple-double encore: Singleton followed up his triple-double with a remarkably efficient scoring performance in the next game, going 10-of-11 from the field and scoring a career-high 30 points in FSU's 78-53 rout of Gardner-Webb. Singleton, who was 3-of-3 from 3-point range, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Just missed the cut: Shannon returns 17 days after knee surgery, FSU finished third in the ACC for second straight year.

BRACKETVILLE, USA - In terms of what its resume warranted and all the good and bad breaks that come with seeding the NCAA Tournament field, Florida State got about the best draw possible.

Most importantly, FSU stayed out of the No. 8/No. 9 game (where they lost last season), which, of course, means facing a No. 1 seed in the second round, and while there isn't a true dominating team in college basketball the No. 1 seeds are a cut above the No. 2 seeds - top overall seed Ohio State has a much better chance to win it all than No. 2 Florida.

By landing a No. 10 seed, FSU's chances of winning one NCAA Tournament game are virtually the same as had they been an eight or nine (compared to seven seeds the difference is barely noticeable), but their chances of getting to the Sweet Sixteen, while still small, are much more realistic.

FSU also landed a favorable first-round matchup in Texas A&M. While the Aggies have a better resume - the Big 12 program was 5-5 against the top 50 of the RPI while the Seminoles were 1-5 - they have struggled against teams with athleticism and size, which is exactly what the 'Noles have in abundance.

Texas A&M lost to Baylor (another long and athletic team) twice and FSU beat Baylor on a neutral court in Hawaii in December.

The Aggies are making their sixth straight trip to the NCAA Tournaments and have advanced past the first round in each of the last five, though they only got past the second round once (reached Sweet Sixteen under previous coach Billy Gillispie in 2007).

But, this year's club is probably the least talented group of that stretch. The Aggies lost their three leading scorers from last season and were picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 (they tied for third). They don't shoot the ball well and often have trouble scoring. They've overachieved by playing stingy defense and often outoughing opponents in close games, both trademarks of Mark Turgeon coached-teams.

The bottom line is the Aggies are certainly beatable and will have some matchup problems against the Seminoles. That's why the Vegas odds makers have made the matchup a pick'em (meaning neither team is favored) despite the Aggies being three seeds higher.

Should it become clear that Chris Singleton is going to play, FSU will be given the slight edge.

No. 2 seed Notre Dame will undoubtedly be waiting for the winner of FSU-Texas A&M (only four No. 2 seeds have ever lost in the first round) and while the Irish have a far superior resume to both they aren't some intimidating juggernaut. The Irish went 2-4 against the last six opponents they faced on the road with winning records. They boast one of the nation's best players (Big East Player of Year Ben Hansbrough), but they aren't as athletic or as deep as the Seminoles either.

The worst part about FSU's draw is the location. The Windy City is a huge haven for Irish fans and only about 80 miles from South Bend, which means if FSU reaches the second round it will basically be playing an away game with around 20,000 Irish fans packed in the United Center.

Still, FSU has plenty to be pleased with when they look at the bracket. They are in good position to win an NCAA Tournament game and with some lucky breaks and a healthy Singleton (which will be necessary to beat Notre Dame) they can get to the second weekend.

Extra dribbles

FSU is looking for its first NCAA Tournament win since 1998. Clemson is the only ACC team with a longer drought (last NCAA win in 1997) but that will change if the Tigers beat UAB in one of the NCAA Tournament's four first-round games on Tuesday night in Dayton, Ohio.

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ENTRY: Saturday, March 12, at 2:15 p.m. EST

GREENSBORO, N.C. - So, how much would one more tenth of a second meant for Derwin Kitchen and Florida State last night? Besides a spot in the ACC Tournament semifinals, it turns out around 11 spots in the Ratings Percentage Index.

Florida State started out Friday at 44th in the RPI, which is arguably the biggest factor the NCAA Tournament selection committee considers when picking the field and seeding all 68 teams. On Saturday morning, they woke up at 55th.

Had Kitchen's baseline jumper counted - the referees ruled it came a split second after the clock expired - FSU would have beaten Virginia Tech 53-52 in the quarterfinals and probably moved up at least a couple spots from 44th so it really translated to around a 14 or 15-point swing.

It's hard to believe a one-point loss loss to a Hokies team (moved up to 61st) that is now likely headed for the NCAA Tournament could matter that much at this stage of the season. But, under the RPI's formula neutral-court losses hurt more than a true road loss and it doesn't take into account margins of defeats or victories.

Think of the RPI as the old Data character from Star Trek. It's a computer that is just processing and spitting out information - minus the emotion chip.

The good news for FSU is that the sharp drop means a better chance of sliding into a No. 10 or No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament. That would be much better than being in the dreaded No. 8/No. 9 game in the first round (where they were slotted last season and lost to Gonzaga), which is where the Seminoles were projected by most heading into the ACC Tournament.

The difference between being an eight or nine (in that case, if you win your first game are virtually guaranteed of facing a No. 1 seed) and a seven or a ten seed is going from a real long shot of making the second round to having at least a realistic chance of reaching the Sweet Sixteen and beyond.

What's even better news for FSU is the fact that star forward Chris Singleton has been medically cleared to play. Singleton didn't get on the court against Virginia Tech, but he was in uniform and went through pre-game warm-ups for the first time since fracturing his foot against Virginia on Feb. 12.

After the Virginia Tech game, coach Leonard Hamilton said he couldn't say for sure that Singleton would be able to play in the NCAA Tournament, but Hamilton said he "probably" could have played against the Hokies. Combine that with another week to rehab the foot and Singleton's chances of playing in the Big Dance are looking good.

I watched Singleton closely in warm-ups and if you didn't know he hadn't played in almost a month you wouldn't have been able to tell. He didn't have any limp, moved around well, participated in everything and didn't appear to be in any pain.

FSU is still a good team without Singleton. They are 3-3 without the junior (really 4-3 if you consider he only played the first 10 minutes of their 63-56 win over Virginia) with two of those losses coming in heartbreaking fashion (Harrison Barnes' hit a 3-pointer with three seconds left to give North Carolina a 72-70 win in Tallahassee).

But, Singleton gives FSU a significantly better chance of winning an NCAA Tournament game, which has been the most elusive accomplishment for Hamilton and something the Seminoles haven't done since Year One of the Steve Robinson era in 1997-98 when as a No. 12 seed they upset No. 5 Texas Christian.

I'm going to wait to see who FSU is playing first in the NCAA Tournament before making any predictions, but regardless of the opponent, they are going to have a solid chance of winning in the first round. This team is much deeper and has more experience than last year and they play with a toughness that will keep them competitive with just about anyone.

Extra dribbles

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Without a game to play on Day One of the ACC Tournament, Florida State got a little taste of Division-III basketball.

At the same time Virginia was suffering a shocking collapse to Miami in the tourney's opening game on Thursday afternoon in the Greensboro Coliseum - the Cavaliers gave up a 10-point lead with 35 seconds left and lost in overtime - third-seeded Florida State was wrapping up a short practice at nearby Guilford College (D-III school).

Florida State (21-9, 11-5 ACC) spent equal amounts of time preparing for No. 11 Georgia Tech (13-17, 5-11) and No. 6 Virginia Tech (19-10, 9-7), who meet in Thursday's final game with the winner facing the Seminoles in the last game of Friday's quarterfinal round. That game which will be on ESPN2 and while tip off is scheduled for 9 pm, expect it to be closer to 9:30 since Duke faces NC State/Maryland winner at 7 and there is a 30-minute break between games.

FSU worked on the standard 2-3 zone that Virginia Tech often utilizes and the man-to-man defense the Yellow Jackets prefer.

"Even though we only played once apiece (FSU lost at Virginia Tech 71-59 and won at Georgia Tech 72-63) all the games are on TV so we have a pretty thorough understanding of their systems just like they do of our system," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. "Most teams are not changing that much this time of year. From a defensive standpoint we don't change much so it's more about familiarizing ourselves with what they do defensively. (Georgia Tech) plays more man and (Virginia Tech) plays an awful lot of zone, but they will adjust."

Singleton Status Update

Whether or not FSU star forward Chris Singleton (missed last five games with a fractured right foot) plays Friday night won't be decided until game day. Hamilton says Singleton remains questionable, but he continues to be encouraged by the progress of the junior, who has practiced this week but been held out of any contact.

"In my opinion he's way ahead of schedule," Hamilton said. "You have to allow the doctors to assess where he is. We will put him through a certain number of drills and see how he responds. I'm surprised he's as far along as he is."

Should Singleton play, expect his minutes to be limited, probably in the 10-20 range (he hasn't played in almost a month and having him ready for the NCAA Tournament is more important). Still, that would be enough to make an impact. The lanky 6-foot-9 junior is the best one-on-one defender in the ACC and the team's leading scorer and rebounder.

"Just to have his presence out there would be huge for our team," FSU point guard Derwin Kitchen said. "Just to have him rebounding and getting steals and doing what he's been doing all year even if it's only for 10-15 minutes would be huge for us."

Warchant.com will have a live blog up and running 30 minutes prior to FSU's game on Friday night and if Singleton suits up we will have the latest updates on how he's performing in warm-ups.

Greensboro Grind

Florida State has an awful history in Greensboro, going 1-8 in ACC Tournament games held in 'tournament town' with the lone win coming in the old play-in game in 2003 when the conference had nine teams. The Seminoles have an 8-11 record in ACC Tournaments held iin Atlanta (where they reached the title game in 2009), Charlotte, Tampa and Washington, D.C.

Last season, the Seminoles also came to Greensboro as the No. 3 seed and were upset in the first-round by No. 11 seed N.C. State 58-52.

Still, Hamilton isn't complaining about having to play in a so-called nuetral tournament in the heart of Tobacco Road.

"You can't get caught up in playing in Greensboro or the ACC Tournament," Hamilton said. "In this event the opponent is going to be extremely talented and well prepared wherever you are. You got to concern yourself with what you can."

Extra dribbles

Every Florida State basketball fan seems to be asking the same question: Is FSU safe? - Meaning have the Seminoles done enough to reserve a spot in the NCAA Tournament regardless of what happens from now until Selection Sunday (March 13).

Nobody can give a simple yes or no yet. Not even those on the selection committee.

But, here's the least complicated answer I can give: Even in the worst case scenario, meaning if FSU were to lose its last two regular-season games and its first game in the ACC Tournament, they are still going to receive an at-large bid, barring an extraordinary amount of upsets in conference tournaments by teams who have no shot at at-large bids.

It's true the Seminoles' 10 ACC wins don't have as much as value as they would most years, especially since two are against Wake Forest, which will rank among one of the worst teams in the 59-year history of the ACC. It's an especially down year for the ACC.

But, it may be an even more down year for the bubble. A Minnesota team with a 6-10 record in Big Ten play is among those considered to be hovering on the cut line.

Following Florida State's 65-59 win over Miami on Saturday - which many called a must-win game - the Seminoles are being projected between a No. 8 to No. 10 seed by those that study the selection committee's hard-to-figure formula when picking the NCAA field. It's actually much better to be a No. 10 seed rather than a No. 8 or No. 9 since it means avoiding a No. 1 in the second round.

Keep in mind that the field is expanding to 68 teams this year, opening up three more at-large bids too.

If you're still not sold, consider this: Only one other ACC team with a 10-6 record in league play (which is the worst FSU can do) has been left out of the NCAA Tournament. That was Virginia Tech last year.

But, that Hokies' team lacked a signature win like the one Florida State has over No. 1 Duke.

Don't worry about Virginia Tech knocking off Duke on Saturday night either. Even though FSU lost its only meeting with Virginia Tech that upset could actually help FSU. The Hokies now appear headed for the NCAA Tournament, which gives the ACC some much-needed depth. The conference could send as many as six teams to the Big Dance (Duke and UNC are locks; FSU and Virginia Tech are near locks; and Boston College and Clemson are on the bubble).

Beating Duke will still look very impressive. The loss at Virginia Tech didn't drop Duke a single spot in the ultra-important RPI (they rank No. 5) and they still have a good chance of snagging a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Extra dribbles ...

ENTRY: Tuesday, January 25 at 10:40 a.m. EST

Senior Bowl Practice Blog - An Early look

MOBILE, AL -- Monday was the first time both the North and South team hit the field for practice. The South team, which includes both Christian Ponder and Rodney Hudson practiced in Fairhope, about 10 miles from the team hotel. Ponder worked with quarterback Greg McElroy of Alabama and Andy Dalton of TCU as the three quarterbacks on the South team.

Ponder looked sharp when he was able to throw the ball, completing a nice pass to Miami wide receiver Leonard Hankerson. After the first workout, Ponder was happy with his performance, but found a few flaws as well.

"It was okay," said Ponder, "There's a lot of room for improvement. Definitely some rust to knock off."

From practice, both teams showed up at the USS Alabama for media day and then back to the hotel for more team meetings.

As for Rodney Hudson, he fared well in one on one drills, especially against Clemson defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins. Hudson is one of the smaller offensive lineman on the South team checking in at 6-foot-2, 291 pounds, but he held his own on the line in front of the hometown crowd.

"It's a great experience," said Hudson, "We came out and competed. It was a good experience."

We'll have more on Ponder and Hudson later in the week, and look forward to a weekly blog from Christian Ponder as he gets ready for the NFL Draft.

Other notes from Monday:

ENTRY: Sunday, Jan. 23, at 3:20 p.m. EST

'Noles winning without leaning on Singleton

The best sign for Florida State's basketball team last night wasn't winning its fourth straight game or moving into a two-way tie for first in the ACC with Duke. Those are impressive feats, but don't really mean all that much yet since we aren't even at the midway point in league play.

What means more right now is showing they can win and do so against a quality ACC team despite an off game from Chris Singleton - again.

Singleton was held to a season-low four points (2-of-9 shooting) against Boston College (which entered the game in a three-way tie for first with FSU and Duke), yet the Seminoles won 67-51, which is easily the biggest margin in their five ACC wins. Singleton went 2-of-13 and had eight points at Miami last Wednesday, yet the Seminoles still managed to come away with a 55-53 win.

That shows this team is really growing. They had been leaning too much on Singleton. Now other players are stepping up and carrying the scoring load.

Against BC, Derwin Kitchen was the best all around player on the court and had perhaps his most efficient game ever. He scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting (3-of-3 from 3-point range), had seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and committed just two turnovers.

Michael Snaer (13 points) hit a handful of big shots and Bernard James steadily got to the free throw line and made BC pay (6-of-8 free throws).

Four players from the bench combined for 22 points.

Maybe more importantly, FSU was effective against a zone defense, which gave them big problems in their losses to Auburn and Virginia Tech. BC moved back and forth between 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones, but FSU got good looks and got the ball inside against both.

This team is starting to figure out how to score and take care of the ball (they are averaging 12.5 turnovers game in their four-game win streak).

Singleton will bounce out of his slump and when he does FSU will be much more well-rounded thanks to his improving supporting cast.

Look for that to all pay off in the NCAA Tournament. Yes, I wrote NCAA Tournament. It's early, but the way this team is going I can't see how they aren't going to snag a third straight trip to the Big Dance.

Notables

ENTRY: Saturday, January 22nd, at 4:30 p.m. EST

Final piece of the puzzle in place

The NFL draft has been a constant reminder of how inadequate Florida State's offense has been over the past decade.

In case you need a refresher, the Seminoles haven't had an offensive skill player drafted in the first two rounds since running back Greg Jones was selected by the Jaguars in the second round in 2004. And only one player - Javon Walker, a JUCO transfer - was the only one drafted in the first round (2002 by Green Bay) over in the past 10 years.

Despite the lack of elite talent on offense, Jimbo Fisher has been able to bring respectability to that side of the ball since his arrival in 2007. Over the past three years, the Seminoles have finished in the top half of the FBS rankings for total offense and scoring offense. At the same time, FSU has been unable to crack the top 20 in either category in large part due to the lack of elite playmakers.

Fisher has made recruiting difference makers on offense a huge priority since he first arrived in Tallahassee in 2007. Despite those efforts, the offense has lacked some essential pieces it needed to become the type of dominating unit Seminole fans came to expect during the amazing run of the late 80's and 90's.

With Nick O'Leary's public commitment on Saturday afternoon, those pieces finally appear to be in place.

Puzzle piece No. 1 - A big bruising tailback

During his tenure as LSU's offensive coordinator, Fisher had the luxury of having bruising tailbacks capable of moving the pile and wearing down defenses. Players like Joseph Addai, LaBrandon Toefield and Jacob Hester personified the SEC's offensive mentality of pounding the ball between the tackles with tough and physical backs.

While Fisher has made several strong runs for these types of backs at Florida State (Marcus Lattimore in 2010 & Trent Richardson in 2009), he has been unable to secure a commitment.... until now.

While some analysts insist that James Wilder Jr. would be better served lining up on defense, there is little doubt that the five-star back has both the athletic tools and physical stature to become a dominating college tailback. And this is the first time Fisher has secured a commitment from legitimate "SEC type" of tailback at Florida State.

What has to make Wilder's decision exciting for Seminole Nation is that running back guru Eddie Gran has a long, long history of developing elite physical backs that were extremely productive in the SEC including Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown, Brandon Jacobs, Rudi Johnson and Deuce McAllister.

As long as Wilder follows through on his commitment and signs with FSU, it looks like Fisher finally has a back capable of giving his offense a more physical presence in the backfield.

Over the past two seasons, Wilder racked up more than 2,500 rushing yards and had 36 TDs.

Puzzle piece No. 2 - A freakish wide receiver

As was the case at running back at LSU, Fisher also a stable of physically imposing and athletically freakish wide receivers. This group that included future NFLers like Michael Clayton, Dwayne Bowe, Early Doucet gave SEC secondaries nightmares during Fisher's tenure as the Tiger's offensive coordinator.

While there has been an upgrade at this position the past couple years both in size and ability with the additions of players like Willie Haulstead, Rodney Smith and Christian Green, the passing game still needed another physically imposing receiver to take offense to the next level. That void may have been filled with the addition of Kelvin Benjamin.

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound receiver committed to the Seminoles earlier this month thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of wide receivers' coach Lawrence Dawsey. Because of his stature and ability to create instant mismatches, don't be surprised if Benjamin gets immediate playing time this fall. His addition also gives the offensive staff the ability to go with a jumbo receiver lineup pitting three physically imposing receivers (Benjamin, Haulstead and Smith) up against much smaller defensive backs.

In just eight games as a senior, Benjamin finished with over 500 receiving yards and scored nine TDs.

The final piece - Tight end Nick O'Leary

As with the running back position, Jimbo Fisher has been searching for a dynamic athlete that could fill the role of tight end and H-back at Florida State. While there have been some decent tight ends on the roster the past few years, nobody possessed all the tools needed to truly fill this role.

That will change the day Nick O'Leary steps on Florida State's campus.

Regarded as the nation's top rated tight end, O'Leary has the athleticism, mentality and size necessary to line up at fullback, tight end or receiver depending on what weaknesses the staff is looking to exploit. As with Benjamin and Wilder, O'Leary will likely see early playing time since he brings something unique to the table that the Seminole offense desperately needs.

During his senior season, O'Leary hauled in over 50 catches for 847 yards, had 12 touchdowns and averaged over 18 yards per reception.

ENTRY: Wednesday, January 19th, at 4:30 p.m. EST

Name                Overall Ranking      Stars       Rivals Rating     Previous Ranking      Other Info.

Karlos Williams     8                    5           6.1                11                   2ndranked safety

James Wilder        11                   5           6.1                9                    2ndranked RB

Bobby Hart          77                   4           5.9                78                   8thranked OT

Kelvin Benjamin     60                   4           5.9                80                   9th ranked WR

ENTRY: Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 1:40 p.m. EST

As far as bowl matchups go, I'm not sure Florida State could have asked for a better draw.

Anything involving Steve Spurrier and Florida State generates intrigue and you know Seminole nation would relish beating the ol' ball coach one more time. Spurrier beat FSU in his last year as Florida's coach in a 37-13 thrashing in the Swamp during the Chris Rix era in 2001 before taking off for the NFL so this will be their chance at revenge (FSU was 8-5-1 against Spurrier-coached Florida teams).

A chance to bet a team from the all-mighty Southeastern Conference adds some extra cachet as well. No conference garners more respect in the college football world. Many of the Florida State players have made a point to say they want to prove the ACC can hang with the SEC.

Most importantly, South Carolina is a pretty good team. It was a weak year in the SEC East, but all nine of their wins were by double-digits. That includes a two-touchdown win over Alabama. Two of their four losses were to undefeated team playing for the national title (No. 2 ranked Auburn).

Beating a team like the Gamecocks will hold more value than beating someone like Mississippi State (likely the Chick-fil-A Bowl's second choice to represent the SEC). It will boost FSU's national image, generate momentum heading into the offseason and help get them ranked higher in next year's preseason polls.

The playing environment should also be pretty exciting. The Chick-fil-A Bowl announced a sell-out earlier today. FSU has a very strong Seminole Club in the Atlanta area and South Carolina has one of the most devout fan bases in college football. Despite having just one 10-win season (1984) in 116 years, they consistently sell out games.

Numbers Game

Here's a few interesting figures from FSU heading into the bowl game …

Last-minute Christmas Shopping

Looking for a last-minute gift for that Seminole fan in your life? Need something to read on a long road trip or flight over the holidays? I'd suggest Ryan Sprague's book titled "Grateful: From Walking On To Winning It All At Florida State."

It's a quick read and if you were a diehard FSU fan during the late 1990s I think you'll find it interesting and full of details you probably aren't aware of. Sprauge came to FSU as a little-known walk and became the starting tight end for every game of the 1999 wire-to-wire national title run.

Sprauge takes you through his path of walking on, surviving mat drills and summer practices at FSU, what it was like to play for Bobby Bowden (who wrote the forward) and play with the likes of Chris Weinke, Peter Warrick and Sebastian Janikowski and offers up some funny and incredible stories along the way.

Remember Weinkie firing that 98-yard touchdown pass to Snoop Minnis against Clemson in 2000? Sprauge explains in detail why that play worked so well.

Sprague also writes about what it was like to be one of seven players to visit the White House after they captured the national title.

Sprague actually spent his first few weeks of school at Reynolds Hall because he didn't realize Burt Reynolds Hall was an entirely different place when filling out his housing application. He was also nicknamed the "Putty Man" by former running backs coach Billy Sexton for his ability to plug in at several different positions (he played center, fullback and tight end).

You can purchase the book at RyanSprague.com (you get a 10 percent discount for buying on line in the month of December), the book store at Doak Campbell Stadium or local bookstores in Tallahassee for $24.99.

I spoke to Sprague last week and he says they have sold over 1,000 copies. Sprague moved back to Tallahassee last year with a family that includes four kids to be a pastor at King's Way Christian Church. He's gotten to know tight ends coach James Coley and the current tight ends on the team and been to a handful of games this year. He says he's really enjoyed this season, especially all the dramatic finishes (four straight games came down to the final minute) which he didn't experience much of during his playing days.

ENTRY: Thursday, December 16, at 8:00 a.m. EST

Over the past two days, Florida State reeled in two of the top JUCO players in the country - OL Jacob Fahrenkrug and DE Cornellius Carradine. The new additions two give FSU a total of 21 commitments. So the big question is, who is left on the radar and can those commitments give Florida State the No. 1 recruiting class?

Rasco still a heavy target for the Seminoles

With the commitment Carradine, Florida State filled a big need for the defensive front. But fans wonder, are the Seminoles done at the defensive end position? According to our sources, not likely. FSU is heavily involved with one of the top overall defensive ends in the country - four-star prospect Jermauria Rasco (Shreveport, La.). This Rivals250 member is considered one of the best because of his amazing pass rushing skills and his ability to take over any game. Schools hot on the trail include LSU, Texas, Alabama, and of course Florida State.

As a senior, the 6-foot-3, 227 pounder was a terror racking up 57 tackles and 14 sacks in 10 regular season games for Evangel Christian (He set the national record for sacks when he was a freshman). His quick first step made him a huge target for the Seminoles. Florida State assistant coach Dameyune Craig has established a strong bond with Rasco and that has put the 'Noles firmly in the picture. The addition of Rasco would give FSU a tremendous one-two punch with Tank Carradine, who signed on Wednesday.

Can FSU finish with the top overall class in the Rivals rankings?

Many questioned from the start about how good Florida State's 2011 recruiting class could be. The coaching staff is quickly putting any doubts to rest.

With signing day still a month and a half away, FSU has five-star LB Tony Steward still on the board, as well as the talented Dwyer duo of Jacoby Brissett and Nick O'Leary, who we both believe are favoring the Seminoles. Florida State is also actively involved with Union County, NJ offensive lineman Josue Matias, who could be the final piece to the puzzle for FSU on the offensive line. In addition, FSU also has a chance to pull a couple of prospects at defensive tackle - Timmy Jernigan, Elkino Watson, and Terry Bell. If FSU can finish strong with this group, it's very possible that Jimbo Fisher could nab that top overall class in his first year as head coach. FSU doesn't have to land all of the prospects listed, but just most of them.

Looking through all the commitments, Florida State' class is full of much more depth than in years past. For instance, take a look at the running back position, FSU has commitments from a variety of top talent that includes First Coast RB Eric Beverly, Miami Central RB DeVonte Freeman, and Plant High school bruising RB James Wilder, Jr.. This weekend, Wilder and Freeman will both play for state championships. Many fans questioned the recruitment of Freeman earlier in the year, but not anymore. He is now the top rusher in of Dade County for the season, posting an amazing 1,900 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. Credit FSU assistant coach Eddie Gran for spotting the talents of Freeman before anyone. FSU was his first major offer on the table.

You also have to give a lot of credit to offensive line coach Rick Trickett, who is stockpiling what could be his strongest unit yet since arriving at Florida State. Trickett has commitments from four-star OL Bobby Hart, four-star OL Jacob Fahrenkrug, Sterling Lovelady, Trey Pettis, and Ruben Carter just to name a few. FSU as filled most depth needs at just about every position. Maybe the only position FSU would like to add more at would be at the safety position, where Lamarcus Brutus and Karlos Williams are the talented standouts leading the pack.