| The NCAA Tournament gets going today and 64 teams begin with a clean slate. Those squads share the same dream but different experiences that helped them earn a spot in what is arguably the most exciting event in sports. In particular, our Blue Devils begin this year’s Big Dance armed with reference points and memories that form an important layer in this team’s foundation. Collectively and individually, this is a group that has been through adversity (a blowout loss at Clemson, a 1-3 ACC stretch) and enjoyed great highs (ACC champions, reaching the No. 1 ranking, finishing the year ranked first in the RPI). Through those experiences, both the highs and the lows, the team has learned and grown.
“Live in the present — not the past or the future,” Coach K said. “I’ve told them, ‘We’ve learned from every experience over the last couple of years.’ We used the approach in the ACC Tournament: ‘Let’s play right now. This game, then if we’re fortunate enough to advance, let’s play the next game. Don’t think in the past and don’t think in the future. Just try to be completely absorbed in the present.’ I think that’s the way to do it.” When the going got tough in the ACC Tournament (trailing by one in the final minute against BC, Maryland leading in the second half, FSU closing to six in the title game), the team responded. “A couple of the games we had against BC and Maryland (in the ACC Tournament), we might have lost them last year,” junior Brian Zoubek said. “And especially we would have lost them two years ago. Just to have that experience of not panicking when they hit a few shots or they get back to being close.” Zoubs added, “If we haven’t learned from the last two years, it’s pretty stupid of us. I think this is a different year, obviously, because of what we’ve accomplished so far. We’re not done. We’re ready to move on.” ACC Tournament MVP Jon Scheyer is excited to take the next step in the team’s journey. “I think it’s a lot different this year,” Jon said. “It’s not a false sense of security. We feel really good about where our team is right now. I think we’ve done the right things leading up to the tournament, and we’re in a good state of mind.” The team enters the Dance with the toughest strength of schedule rating, having played 15 games against tournament teams including three in a row at the ACC Tournament. “I think coming into this year, having the ACC championship, it gives us momentum and it gives us confidence,” junior Gerald Henderson stated. “We haven’t been in the same kind of situation in years past.” Perhaps most importantly, the team features a hardened group of veteran players that can provide a steadying influence when the jumpers aren’t falling or the game is tight down the stretch. “It’s much better when a young player comes in and has somebody on the court with him that understands — understands us as a coaching staff and me in particular,” said Coach K. “And I think it makes the older player better, not just the younger player, because he’s sharing knowledge. You can’t call timeouts all the time and there’s not time in between plays like in other sports. To have that leadership or that experience on the court is invaluable. I think that’s why we won the ACC Tournament. We had great communication.” With the Selection Show in the past and the Big Dance beginning, strength of schedule takes a backseat to strength of will, and every squad is a bubble team one game away from going home or moving a step closer to the ultimate prize. Confident, excited and experienced, the Blue Devils can’t wait to face college basketball’s toughest test. Around the Web Tourney Fast Fact |
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Day 1: Big Dance Begins
March 19, 2009
Posted by Dave Bradley under Center of the Universe
