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Off the cuff: Earlier in the year, I indicated that if Carolina's free throw woes continued that it could cost the Heels a tourney win or end the season.

While it was by no means the only reason the Tar Heels fell to Florida State, it was crucial as they managed just 14 of 25 from the line. Frankly, FSU was only slightly better going 16 of 22. But Carolina missed both tries from the line on four different occasions.

Shooting from the field was an even bigger problem as the Heels shot the worst they have all season - hitting just 33.8 percent compared to FSU's 45.3 percent.

Carolina fans might be excused to believe that the officiating was the game's biggest problem. Early in the game, a goaltending should have been called on the Seminoles. That was two points that should have gone to the Heels.

At least twice, FSU players lowered their shoulders and knocked over UNC players and scored. Another time, an FSU player was caught in a trap and banged his way out of it by flattening a UNC player and passed ahead for another Seminole basket.

With the score tied in the second half, a foul was called on UNC's Leaky Black when the offensive player had traveled and then lost the ball on his own before the foul was called. FSU's Walker hit both free throws to give them the lead.

Twice Seminole players were clearly out of bounds and neither was called.

Finally on a late inbounds play with 2.7 seconds left and the Heels trailing by two, Walker traveled - taking three steps and a hop. It wasn't called. Even the TV crew was incredulous. Had officials at least got that one right, Carolina would have had the ball under its own basket with a chance to tie or win the game at the buzzer.

Florida State was fresher, having not played a game in the tourney while Carolina played three in three days. But Coach Williams refused to use it as an excuse.

Still, it was a factor as was the fact that Garrison Brooks has not fully recovered from an ankle injury.

All those things going against them and Carolina was in position to win with three minutes left. While they won't be in the finals of the ACC Tournament, the Heels are playing some of their best basketball of the season going into the NCAA Tournament.

Cross your fingers that they get a six or seven seed rather than an eight or nine seed. Had they won this game, I think the Heels would have been a six or seven.

ESPN announcer Jay Bilas said that the finals between Florida State and Georgia Tech "should be a good game." Yeah but will anybody be watching? Viewership will certainly be down in North Carolina as this will be the first time since 1996 that no team from the state will be in the finals.

Florida State 69, Tar Heels 66
Fresh Seminoles sneak past UNC late

North Carolina rallied from 13 down to take a two-point lead but hit just one of eight shots over the last three minutes as a fresh Florida State team squeezed by the Tar Heels 69-66 to advance to the ACC Tournament finals. (3/12)

"Their defense late in the game was much stronger than our offense," UNC coach Roy Williams said simply, adding that the Tar Heels didn't get a good shot off over the last three minutes of the game.

Playing their third game in three days, Carolina came out sluggish and Florida State, which hasn't played in 12 days, took advantage sprinting out to a 22-11 lead.

The Seminoles led 30-17 before settling for an 11-point lead, 35-24, at the break after a step-back, off-balanced three by Malik Osborne at the buzzer. Osborne hit three triples off the bench.

Like they did the last time the two teams met, the Tar Heels came out of the lockerroom on fire and quickly made the game competitive. A 15-7 run over the first five minutes, capped by a three from Kerwin Walton, drew the Heels within three at 42-39.

An 8-0 run, highlighted by a Walton three that tied the game, put the Heels up 51-46 with just over 11 minutes left.

Florida State caught up and took a four-point lead before UNC came back to tie it on a Caleb Love three from right in front of the Carolina bench. The Heels took the lead 64-62 with 3:14 left when R.J. Davis was fouled on a three-point shot and hit all three free throws.

But the Tar Heels went more than three minutes before they scored again. A three by Anthony Polite, who scored only five points on the night, put the Seminoles up 65-64 with 2:05 to go. Florida State never trailed again.

After Leaky Black follow shot with 2.7 seconds left, FSU import Balsa Koprivica, who led the Noles with 17 points, hit a free throw to wrap it up.

The Tar Heels shot just 33.8 percent from the field - their worst performance of the year. And the free throw woes reared their ugly heads again as the Heels went just 14 of 25 from the line, including two crucial misses by freshman Day'Ron Sharpe with 20 seconds to go.

Officiating became an issue as UNC coach Williams argued several calls vehemently, including an obvious traveling violation in the waning seconds that would have given Carolina a chance to tie or win at the buzzer.

The Tar Heels, now 18-10 on the season, wait for Sunday's NCAA Tournament invitation. Speculation from bracket experts put the Heels in a dreaded eight vs. nine seed game. The winner of that one would then play the No. 1 seed in the region.

Florida State and Georgia Tech, each having played only one ACC Tournament game due to COVID cancellations from Duke and Virginia, play for the league title at 8:30 Saturday night.

Box Score

UNC's Caleb Love led the Tar Heels with 13 points despite hitting only four of 14 shots. (UNC Sports Information photo by Maggie Hobson.)

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