ACC Tournament 2012: Florida State's Defense Will Stifle North Carolina in Upset

There is nothing better than watching a defensive team get at it against a high-powered offensive machine. Sunday's ACC Tournament Final between Florida State and North Carolina will be your perfect example of defense (Florida State) vs. offense (North Carolina). 

Florida State will use their defensive prowls led by head coach Leonard Hamilton to pull the upset of North Carolina to win the 2012 ACC Tournament. 

The Seminoles smother you defensively, contesting every shot, being fundamentally sound in help defense, pick-and-roll situations and will jump in the passing lanes. They are first in the ACC, fourth in the nation, in defensive field goal percentage. Florida State is allowing a lousy 38 percent from the floor.

Florida State is third in the ACC in points allowed per game at 62.3 and they hold teams to below 31 percent shooting from long range.

This is the same team that blew the Tar Heels away 90-57 at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee on Jan. 14. They have historically played well, especially at home, against Duke and North Carolina—the giants of the ACC.

Hamilton feels disrespected that his team doesn't get the recognition that he believes they deserve in the conference, according to Edward Aschoff of ESPN.

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"Because we have not been at the top -- been No. 1 or No. 2 -- we haven't gotten a lot of recognition," Hamilton said. "We've been moving our program along for quite some time, it's just that you guys have just started to notice." 

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Playing hard-nosed defense has little to do with talent level. While there has to be some to be able to stay on quick and talented athletes, it's mostly about effort level. Hamilton and the Seminoles have proved that they have the effort level necessary to not only compete in the ACC but defeat the top dogs.  

Kids take on the outlook of their coach. If the coach feels disrespected, the players will feel disrespected also. It's going to start and end on the defensive side of the floor with effort level every time Florida State steps onto the hardwood.

There is no question that the Seminoles want to be crowned champions of the ACC. Hamilton feels like they don't get the notoriety they deserve and a victory over Duke twice and North Carolina twice in the same season while winning the conference tournament would be extremely difficult to overlook.

People should already recognize and take note of what this Florida State team is capable of. Just last year they made a Sweet 16 run before being knocked off by a pesky VCU team. 

This team can play. 

North Carolina doesn't have as much to play for on Sunday compared to Florida State. They are attempting to lock down a No. 1 seed, but there really isn't much difference between a No. 1 and No. 2.

Florida State on the other hand, are hovering around the No. 4 or No. 5 seed. A victory could potentially even bump them up to a No. 3 seed. 

Obviously, the farther you go down seeding-wise, the more likely a first-round upset might occur. 

Combine the fact that Florida State should be the hungrier team, they will be ready to compete on the defensive side of the floor and they play well against the top dogs of the conference, and this has upset written all over it.