Florida State’s sales pitch to Andrew Wiggins in the stands was more effective than on the floor
The women of Florida State did everything they could Wednesday night to sell top recruit Andrew Wiggins on the school during his official visit.
Unfortunately for the Seminoles, the basketball team didn't make as good an impression.
Florida State was never remotely competitive in a 72-47 home loss to rival Florida, falling behind by 20 at halftime and by as many as 37 in the second half as Wiggins and his father watched from their courtside seats. It was an atrocious enough performance that Wiggins was probably more likely to commit to the Gators at the end of the night than he was the Seminoles.
Florida State could not generate many clean looks against Florida's array of smothering defenses, an ill-timed poor performance for the Seminoles considering the importance of selling Wiggins on the school. Wiggins, the consensus No. 1 recruit in the class of 2013, is expected to choose between Kentucky and Florida State, his father's alma mater.
[Y! News blog: Sorority's party photo stirs outcry on the Web]
If the basketball was uninspiring for Wiggins, what the talented forward witnessed in the stands was likely a lot more enticing.
One row of female Florida State students spelled out "WE WANT WIGGINS" across their white shirts. A group of older women waved signs urging Wiggins to sign with the 'Noles. Florida State's cheerleaders even brandished a pair of clever signs taking jabs at Kentucky, one of which read "Seminoles hunt Wildcats" and the other of which read "FSU has hotter girls."
This spring, when Wiggins makes his decision, we'll see whether the Florida State crowd's attempt to charm the Ontario native had any effect.
At Kentucky, Wiggins would be the centerpiece of a decorated recruiting class expected to lead the Wildcats into title contention again. At Florida State, he'd be the most coveted recruit of the Leonard Hamilton era and the player expected to propel the program to new heights.
More sports news from the Yahoo! Sports Minute:
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
• Vikings' Christian Ponder, ESPN's Samantha Steele are engaged
• Photos: The top sports moments of 2012
• Rockets' radio announcer's all-time zing on Lakers
