Another disappointing season at Florida State ended in somewhat appropriate fashion.

Unable to get excited about playing in the NIT, the Seminoles showed their split personality in a homecourt loss to Akron in the first round of this consolation tournament.

"(The game) was not an indication of their character. I just think it was one of those situations where we had one of those nights. I hope this team won't be remembered for how we played (against Akron)," said Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton.

Unfortunately for the Seminoles and Hamilton, this has been a common pattern. Looking unlike the team that took North Carolina deep into the second half of a competitive ACC tournament quarterfinal game a few days earlier, the Seminoles failed to put away Akron with all the advantages of playing at home and more preparation time in the NIT.

One game, the Seminoles almost beat Duke. Or they take North Carolina into overtime as they did on Feb. 4. Next game, they play completely different.

The Seminoles ended the regular season on a positive. They played well in the ACC tournament. It looked like the program was making good strides. They had a chance to win 20 games for a third consecutive year for only the second time in school history. But they fell short vs. Akron.

Next year, Hamilton must hope for an NCAA Tournament-worthy season.

"I like the progress our young players have made," Hamilton said. "I think we have some outstanding young kids coming in that are maybe a cut above, maybe a little more prepared, a little more mature."

Hamilton is hoping next season is also a little less problematic. The Seminoles lost so many players, either through suspension, injury, illness or transfer, that they were playing with seven scholarship players at one point in January. You can't survive in a league like the ACC with those numbers.

"The lesson has to be learned from this year...that regardless of challenge you have, you have to find a way," Hamilton said.

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