Florida State Basketball: 5 Keys to Seminoles' ACC Tournament Run

The Florida State Seminoles enter the 2012 ACC Tournament as the No. 3 seed, and winning it all will be no easy task. 

While they pulled off some great upsets during the regular season, all of that is forgotten, as this is a fresh start for each and every team. 

That means that the Seminoles must dig deep and fight hard to come out on top. The road to the finals is very daunting, but the Seminoles definitely have what it takes to get on a great run and win big. 

That being said, here are five keys for Florida State's time in the ACC tournament. 

Elite Play from Top Player

Michael Snaer is the Seminoles' best player, and if they're going to win it all, he has to deliver in the clutch. 

Averaging 16 points per game in his last five games, Snaer is on a roll and needs to stay that way for the ACC Tournament. 

He's capable of having a monster performance, and if the Seminoles win their first game, they'll need Snaer to put on a show against the Duke Blue Devils. 

There's no guarantee they play Duke, but it is highly likely. If Florida State is going to succeed, it's up to Snaer to lead them all the way. 

More Consistent Play from Xavier Gibson

Xavier Gibson is listed at 6'11" and 248 pounds. He's a beast of a player, but he has to step his game up if the Seminoles are going to win the ACC tournament. 

The senior averages just seven points and four rebounds on the year. His numbers will have to be much better in the tournament. 

He has had some really good games this season, but when he's off, the Seminoles do struggle. Gibson will need to shine bright in order for Florida State to excel this weekend.

Avoid Slip Up in First Game

Florida state is probably going to play the Miami Hurricanes in its first game, and the Seminoles can't afford to show up flat. 

Miami has to play Georgia Tech, a team that's having a really down year. The Hurricanes should easily win that game and then play Florida State. 

They have great confidence since they just beat the Seminoles, which is why Florida State has to make sure its ready to play. 

The Seminoles were demolished by Miami on Feb. 26, and they can't let it happen again. 

Forget About the Pressure

As the No. 3 seed, the Seminoles have high expectations, especially since they've beaten both the No. 1 and No. 2 seed this season.

In fact, Florida State absolutely annihilated North Carolina, the No. 1 seed, so it knows it can win big in the tournament. 

Because of that, there is a great deal of pressure on this team. The Seminoles can't let that get to them, though, or else they're doomed.

There is pressure for all teams, but it is immensely high for Florida State because of how surprisingly well the Seminoles have been this year. 

Forgetting about it and just playing basketball and having fun will lead to great success. 

Get Hot

This is a given for all teams but especially true for the Seminoles. 

When they get on a roll, the Seminoles are very hard to beat. Getting hot at the right time will not only help Florida State in the ACC tournament but also in the NCAA tournament. 

The Seminoles have to connect on the three-ball early and often, as it will significantly help them win big.

In addition to that, just getting on fire and staying that way gives Florida State the best chance of pulling upsets and winning the tournament.