Player of the Year? No question.

Toney Douglas has stated his case loud and clear for ACC Player of the Year after a season for the ages

Following a 63-53 victory Sunday afternoon against Virginia Tech, a calm and confident Toney Douglas entered the media room of the Donald L. Tucker Center with a smile that seemed to stretch from Tallahassee to Douglas' hometown of Jonesboro, Ga.

Maybe Douglas was smiling because Florida State's victory over the Hokies gave them 10 conference wins for the first time since the 1992-93 season and pushed their record to 23-8 - their best regular season since that 92-93 season.

Perhaps it was the fact that Douglas, along with fellow seniors Uche Echefu and Brian Hoff, were victorious on their senior day and all but officially punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament, as no ACC team with 10 wins has ever been left out of the tournament field.

Both of those reasons are likely why T.D. had that huge smile on his face, but while he's a consummate team player, a part of Douglas had to be smiling knowing that he likely clinched ACC Player of the Year with his performance in the regular season finale.

Douglas finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals to help FSU clinch the No. 4 seed in the upcoming ACC tournament, giving the Seminoles a first-round bye.

Like every Player of the Year candidate should, Douglas stepped up when the game mattered most: in the second half, which he's done all season.

Douglas scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and on the season has scored over 75 percent of his points in the decisive frame.

"My teammates always say in the second half 'It's your time, Toney. Take over,'" Douglas said after the Virginia Tech game. "Every time in the second half with about five of six minutes left, they say it's TDT - Toney Douglas Time. I knew I was going to take over."

That kind of confidence is why Douglas is leading the ACC in overall points scored (645) and points per game in conference play (23.1). He is also third in steals per game at 1.9, has an ACC-leading 21 games of 20-plus points and has scored over 20 points in 13 of the 'Noles' 16 ACC games. Douglas is also tied with Miami's Jack McClinton for the conference lead in 30-point games this season with three (Nov. 22 vs. Coastal Carolina [30], Jan. 21 @ Miami [30] and Jan. 28 vs. North Carolina [32]).

While his stats alone are good enough to earn him ACC Player of the Year, his undeniable leadership should make him the run-away favorite.

Take into consideration that Florida State entered the 2008-09 season having lost over 50 percent of its offense from a year ago in guards Jason Rich, Isaiah Swann and Ralph Mims, had six newcomers to the program that would see significant playing time and was predicted by the media to finish 10th in the 12-team ACC. It was far from the ideal scenario you'd want your team in heading into a basketball season. Fans in Tallahassee were already looking ahead to the football season next fall (myself included), not realizing just how special of a player we had in Douglas.

One person that has recognized from day one how special Douglas is, is Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton, who has been singing the praises of Douglas all season long.

"I can't say enough about Toney," Hamilton said. "I think the one thing that separates Toney from a lot of people is that he's taken a team with six first-year players that was picked to finish near the bottom of the league and has turned them into a very competitive team. You have to give him a lot of credit for that.

"Not only does he defend, not only is he our leading scorer, but the intangible of having a person out there with the character, the will and desire and the ability to communicate with six first-year players and bring them together during some tough times and compete at a high level in a very tough conference says a lot about his character and the type of person he is. I hope people recognize that. There are a lot of good players in our league having good years, but I think Toney's contribution to our league and to our team has been a cut above what I've witnessed in a long, long time."

Can anyone form a legitimate argument against that? Point blank, the answer is no.

Sure, the Tyler Hansbrough's, Ty Lawson's, Jeff Teague's, Trevor Booker's and Kyle Singler's of the world are great and deserve recognition, but none have been faced with the grueling task of having to put their respective teams on their shoulders EVERY NIGHT. Douglas has done exactly that. As a result, Florida State will be dancing for the first time in 11 years and should wind up giving Douglas the ACC Player of the Year Award that he deserves.

When I asked T.D. specifically to make his case for Player of the Year after the VT game, that swaggering smile that was on his face when he entered the media room reappeared, and he answered with a simple, truthful response.

"I'll let my play speak for itself," Douglas said.

Case closed.

CREDIBLE QUOTES ON DOUGLAS

"Toney Douglas is a Player of the Year candidate in the league. He doesn't even have to make plays to be effective out there, because you have to be paying attention to him. He almost opens the middle by himself; you have to really pay attention to him. He is an outstanding player, an outstanding defender." -- Clemson head coach Oliver Purnell

"You have guys that you can prepare for all you want. But Toney Douglas is going to do what he is going to do. He's a fifth-year guy. He has confidence, he's got strength and he has worked on his game. He is in another place than most players." -- Virginia head coach Dave Leitao

"Florida State's Toney Douglas is one of the most unheralded defenders in the country. Douglas gets deflections and steals and he works as hard as any player I have seen. And don't forget, he also goes down on the other end and leads his team in scoring. He deserves to be recognized and put in the mix for (National) Defensive Player of the Year." -- Jay Bilas, ESPN

"Toney Douglas is a superb player. He creates havoc with his defense. There is not a better on the ball defender - I mean, he has got to be a candidate for National Defensive Player of the Year. That kid really does an amazing job. He is one of the best players in the country, and a great kid obviously. He is an unbelievable leader for them." -- Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski

"In a league of great guards, perhaps the best one is Florida State's Toney Douglas." -- Reece Davis, ESPN

Gone, but never forgotten

Watch over us, guys

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a commentary in the FSView about Sigma Nu's philanthropy basketball tournament, "Ballin' 4 Barrett", which took place in Tully Gym on Saturday, Feb. 28.

This article really meant a lot to me while I was writing it, nearly tearing up at different points throughout the writing process. I feel like I should post it somewhere every chance I get. Seeing as how I have my own blog, I think it's absolutely appropriate and necessary to post it here...

GONE, BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

For everyone reading this commentary, I want you to take a look around you, breathe in that fresh, north Florida air and realize how fortunate you are to be students here at Florida State University — because in the blink of an eye, it can all be taken away from you.

Once a year, since making one of the best decisions of my life to join the Sigma Nu fraternity in the fall of 2005, I get an honest, bittersweet reminder to do exactly that.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, Sigma Nu will be hosting its annual philanthropy, “Ballin’ 4 Barrett,” at Tully Gym beginning at 9 a.m. The event is a sorority basketball tournament to honor Barrett Burchak, a Sigma Nu who lost his life in a fatal car accident on Oct. 4, 2004. It’s only fitting for this philanthropy to deal with basketball, given that basketball is a sport Barrett held so close to his heart.

While meant to be a fun and enjoyable basketball tournament for everyone involved, the purpose of the philanthropy goes far beyond the basketball court and seeks to give everyone a great sense of pride and accomplishment knowing they are contributing to a meaningful cause.

Each participating sorority pays an entry fee into the tournament, and Sigma Nu has collected donations from a number of local and out-of-town businesses. All of this money goes toward the Barrett Burchak Scholarship, which is given each year to a graduating senior from a Florida high school.

Neither I, nor nearly anyone currently walking this campus, ever had the chance to meet Barrett, but based on the stories I’ve heard from older Sigma Nu’s and the fact that we continue to make this our philanthropy, it’s more than enough evidence to show that Barrett was a magnificent human being.

There are only two people in this world I miss that I’ve never met — one is my grandfather on my father’s side; the other is Barrett Burchak. That’s why “Ballin’ 4 Barrett” is such a bittersweet event for me.

It makes me happy knowing the benefit of our philanthropy, but it pains me at the same time knowing I never had the opportunity to meet this person who had such a profound impact on everyone in his life.

I’m not the only person who feels this way. I share these emotions with all of Sigma Nu. If that wasn’t the case, we wouldn’t all be gathering together as one in Tully on Saturday to remember our fallen brother.

We always say this is the most important event of the year, and it’s not even a close race. Formal in New Orleans — forget about it. Spring Weekend — enjoy the back seat. Sigma Nu takes this philanthropy very seriously and would love to see as many supporters at the event as possible. That’s why we’re cordially inviting everyone to stop by Tully Saturday and pay respect to a great brother, son, student, friend and person.

Also, Sigma Nu will be remembering another lost brother at the event­ — Nimish Khanal — who, similar to Barrett, passed away on Dec. 21, 2007 due to injuries suffered in a car accident a week prior to his death.

Unlike Barrett, I had the chance to meet and befriend Nimish for a few months prior to his passing. In that short time span, I got to know a young man who would do anything in his power to make somebody else’s life better — even if it meant putting his own well-being on the backburner.

Nimish was a selfless guy, who despite only being around Sigma Nu for a short time, served as a role model to every brother in the fraternity.

If everyone took a page from Nimish’s life and applied it to their own, there’s no question the world would be a better place. His actions deserve and demand our respect, and we intend on giving our respect to the fullest extent Saturday.

It is unfortunate to lose friends under such tragic circumstances.

I’m sure many of you reading this can share our fraternity’s pain in losing a close friend to a premature death.

We understand, however, that they rest in a better place now and would be proud and appreciative of the way we remember them — if that’s any consolation.

Rest in peace, Barrett and Nimish.

We love you and miss you guys so much, and we know come Saturday you’ll be looking down upon us with smiling faces.