Unconquered

I think we're at worst a #4 seed. If we win I think we're a #3. I'd rather be a #3 to avoid the 1 seed in the Sweet 16.

I am interested to get your thoughts on this season...

FWIW, I still to a certain extent, understand and respect your POV in regard to Ham. The ACC isnt what it used to be, but this team, when clicking, can beat nearly anyone...regardless of conference

I'll take the 3 over the 4 every day of the week.

All you need to know is that I've been following FSU basketball since I was a freshman in 1992, and I cried like a baby this afternoon.

My thoughts are these: (it will take awhile to get there, but hang with me)

Ham took a long time to get our rebuilding process going - but got a pass considering just how bad the cupboard was when Robinson left.

We got absolutely screwed out of the tournament in 2006, and then underachieved for 2 years (albeit one of them was under tough circumstances after TD went down. Yet again good coaches get us ONE win in those 5 games instead of going 0-5).

It was then that I came to the conclusion that it was time for Ham to go. It at the time seemed that he would never be able to get us over the hump and into the top 4 of the conference. The only way we ever had a decent offense was when we had one absolutely unstoppable player leading the way (Timmy, Thornton, TD) - but outside of that we were putrid.

Our offense then took a turn from "ok" to abysmal - while our defense became quite a force. Our D, coupled with a plummeting ACC, led to back to back 10 win season and NCAA births. We rightfully bowed out in the first round both of those years as we really weren't a quality basketball team. I just couldn't take it anymore - we were a train wreck in motion on offense and it seemed as if Ham's tactics were to accept winning ugly and losing in the NCAA's early - as just getting there was apparently enough for him and this administration.

Then, last year happened. Yes, we still looked lost on offense at times. Yes, Derwin Kitchen repeated lost the ability to keep track of time. And yes, we absolutely broke down and lost a big game we should have won (VCU).

However, that team felt different. And this team looked different - until our Carribbean trip, and Clemson. Then, it finally happened. I don't know how it happened, but it happened. We started playing offense. We kept playing defense. And outside of one game we shouldn't have lost, (BC - we'll never completely get rid of these) we played up to our ability for the first time in, well, forever.

So here we are. We just won our first ACC Championship. We should be a 3 seed in 30 minutes or so. And while I will never be "on" the Ham bandwagon after all the consternation he's caused me over the years, I will say this. I fully respect what he's done this year and after this weekend feel like he should have been the unanimous coach of the year in the ACC. He's delivered something I never thought was possible, and has us in a position where we actually are a legit National Championship contender.

So while I'm sure I'll have points in the future where I'm grumbling about us looking lost of offense again, and grumbling after another unexplainable loss - what Ham did this week will eclipse those moments in a landslide. Is the ACC what it used to be? No, and won't be for a few years at least. But even so, we just beat dook and UNC back to back while both are in the top 6 of the country to win the ACC Championship. It's a hell of an accomplishment, and Ham has earned all the respect in the world for it....... even from me. :)

None of them updated after that (from what I've seen).