FSU's Season Ends in Overtime, 72-71

After failing to play defense for the first 20 minutes the Seminoles came out in the 2nd half focused and ready to go to work. Unfortunately FSU didn't have enough offense to overcome the deficit, and it took a 25' 3-pointer from Chris Singleton to send the game to overtime. Up 1, with 7.9 seconds to go in overtime, VCU ran a lengthy inbounds play where multiple screens left two FSU guards on the interior, and VCU got an easy layup from 6'6 Bradford Burgess. On the other end FSU failed to get a shot off after Derwin Kitchen inexplicably passed on an 8 footer and the season ended in the Sweet 16.

Derwin Kitchen, who also had a chance to win it in regulation, led the Noles with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Bernard James, despite 8 points and 10 boards, had his first letdown game of the postseason and routinely turned the ball over to a smaller VCU team. Michael Snaer was feast or famine, with three huge 3-pt shots, but he also shot 1 of 6 on 2s and had three crucial turnovers in the final 7 minutes. Chris Singleton had 16 points and 8 rebounds in what was likely his last game at FSU. In what was the trend for the season, FSU took 11 3-pointers in the 1st half, many out of rhythm of the offense, and failed to consistently get the ball inside until the 2nd half. None of this is surprising for an offense that struggled throughout the season, but the contrast was stark due to having the Notre Dame game fresh in fans minds. The difference in this game was the defense, and credit VCU for taking advantage of every mis-step the Noles made.

On the night VCU shot 12 of 26 (46 percent) from the 3-pt line, and were the 1st team since UNC to come even close to scoring a point per possession against the Seminole defense.