Hardwood Hopes

On BAHL Revere, we rarely write about college basketball, but it was an interesting weekend on the way to the Final Four for the three teams I follow.

Florida State, who after a strong start to the season, has seen it hopes for a berth in the NCAA tourney disintegrating quickly, needing nothing short of a victory on Saturday night at Wake Forest.  Understanding the magnitude of the evening, the Seminoles got off to their usual horrendous start, falling behind 24-8.  However, FSU adopted the football team mantra of one team one heartbeat and stormed back to win 67-60.  The Seminoles still have an uphill climb to make the tourney, and it does not get any easier as North Carolina comes to Tallahassee on Monday.  But, given the big win over Wake, the Noles are still alive and can control their own destiny.

Nebraska has not any basketball success to speak of in a pair of decades, but with the beautiful new Pinnacle Bank Arena and a new coach in Tim Miles who seems to have quite a handle on things, the future looks quite bright for the young Cornhuskers.  But on Sunday, the Big Red went to East Lansing to take on ninth ranked Michigan State at Breslin Arena, a very difficult place to win for the who's who of college basketball.  Although the Spartans have been bitten by the injury bug, Nebraska led the whole way and came away with the biggest win for the Huskers in decades, a win which may provide an avenue to the NCAA tourney.  Coach Miles was an excellent hire for NU, and the light shining from that bright future may arrive earlier than previously expected.

Up in Omaha, Creighton, behind NCAA player of the year Doug McDermott, easily disposed of sixth ranked Villanova.  The Blue Jays and McDermott, the coaches son, are a wonderful story.  Behind Dougie McBuckets, the Blue Jays can score with anyone and could be a real tough out in the NCAA tournament, which they are certain to make.  It has been a real pleasure to follow the career of McDermott, who seems destined for NBA success.