FSU Looks To Pop 'Bubble' Talk By Upsetting No. 1 Tar Heels

TALLAHASSEE - The NCAA Tournament bubble has been like a rude party host to Florida State the past two Selection Sundays. Both seasons, the Seminoles waited patiently for their first invitation to March Madness since 1998, and each time they were told they weren't invited.

But when FSU coach Leonard Hamilton was asked by an out-of-state reporter Monday about being "on the bubble" once again, he gladly welcomed the invitation regardless of the final outcome.

"I appreciate the compliment," Hamilton quipped. "You are the first one to say that we're on the bubble."

If FSU can pull off one of the biggest upsets in school history tonight at No. 1-ranked North Carolina (27-2, 12-2), bubble talk will be floating all around the Noles.

"This game is an opportunity," senior guard Jason Rich said.

FSU (17-12, 6-8) enters on a three-game winning streak, the first time in 15 years the Noles have won three consecutive conference games in February. If FSU can knock off the Tar Heels, it will mark the first time the Noles have won four consecutive ACC games since the 1992-93 season.

"They have won three in a row and it appears they've got a unified incentive to try to make the NCAA Tournament," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said Monday on the ACC's weekly conference call.

Since a stretch in which they lost eight of 10, the Noles have relied mostly on stellar defense and a better rotation to reel off consecutive victories against Clemson, Boston College and N.C. State. Still seeking that elusive first NCAA Tournament bid since taking over the program in 2002, Hamilton fully realizes how much a victory over the Tar Heels could go toward that goal.

"Obviously, we're going to have to play our way into the NCAA Tournament," Hamilton said. "We've had enough challenges and lost enough close games that in order for us to get the attention of the committee, we're going to have to do something exceptional.

"I can't think of anything that would be more exceptional than to be successful against a team the caliber of Carolina."

FSU hasn't defeated the Tar Heels since a 90-81 victory on Feb. 8, 2003, losing seven in a row. That streak came close to ending a month ago when FSU's Ryan Reid hit the first 3-pointer of his career in the final seconds to force overtime.

However, North Carolina center Tyler Hansbrough took charge in overtime, leading the Tar Heels to an 84-73 victory despite the loss of point guard Ty Lawson only four minutes into the game. Reid got tangled up with Lawson going for a rebound, and Lawson ending up on the ground for several minutes with a sprained ankle that forced him to miss six games.

Lawson made his return in North Carolina's comeback from an 18-point second-half deficit at Boston College on Saturday, igniting the Tar Heels with his defense and quickness in transition. Williams said Monday that Lawson will come off the bench tonight. Meanwhile, Reid can expect to be a favorite target of a sold-out crowd at the Dean Smith Center.

"It doesn't matter," Reid said. "I'm expecting something, but I can't let that affect me. I know they probably have something to say about it."

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088