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FSU Basketball: An Urgent Need to Break The Tar Heels Curse

By Jason Parker

Jan 4, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) pulls down a rebound between Florida State Seminoles guards Terance Mann (14) and Xavier Rathan-Mayes (22) in the first half at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) pulls down a rebound between Florida State Seminoles guards Terance Mann (14) and Xavier Rathan-Mayes (22) in the first half at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports /
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FSU basketball is having one of the best seasons in program history – but needs to find a way to beat North Carolina after recent woes against them.

As the Florida State Seminoles continue what has been a magical season thus far for the program – the longest winning streak in program history and a top 10 ranking – it has been the product of recent success over nearly the last decade in the ACC. Head coach Leonard Hamilton has made FSU basketball one of the winningest programs in college basketball’s best conference.

The ‘Noles can brag about currently holding wins over many conference opponents or at least having decent winning streaks over the past decade over them. Well, all except for one program.

The North Carolina Tar Heels, who FSU will travel to face Saturday, have been the thorn in the paw of Hamilton and everyone who has worn garnet and gold of late. Dating back to the 2003-04 season, UNC has won 18 of the 23 meetings with FSU over the span – the Seminoles even have a better record over Duke during that span (6-14).

Mar 11, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton accepts the ACC tournament trophy from commissioner John Swofford (left) after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 85-82 in the finals of the 2012 ACC Men
Mar 11, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton accepts the ACC tournament trophy from commissioner John Swofford (left) after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 85-82 in the finals of the 2012 ACC Men /

While some of the wins for FSU have been special – an overtime win at home in 2004 along with two ACC Tournament wins, including the 2012 championship game – they have been few and far between. That 2012 title game victory was the last time the ‘Noles defeated North Carolina.

FSU can at least brag about the games being close at home – with a 2-8 record in the Tucker Center with five of the losses being by six points of less – while the Dean Dome hasn’t been as friendly. Just 1-7 in Chapel Hill, the Seminoles have lost those games by an average of over 15 points each game, including three losses by over 20 points.

I’m not writing this to bum FSU basketball fans out heading into Saturday afternoon’s game – on the road. It’s the fact that this year’s team is something special. This is a Seminoles team that has a chance to make a legit deep run in the NCAA Tournament – even more of a chance than the team that won the 2012 ACC Championship.

While they have won the first three games of their six straight against ranked teams – including road win over Virginia and a win over top 10 ranked Duke – the team in baby blue has become a road block for the ‘Noles over the last dozen seasons. If the Seminoles want to show they are a team that is serious about winning the whole thing, breaking the Tar Heels curse will go a long way.

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