FSU Basketball still dancing in latest Bracketology projections
By Jason Parker
FSU basketball finished their non conference slate almost perfect – and the top basketball expert thinks they are in prime position for a NCAA tourney bid.
With the first portion of the FSU basketball schedule out of the way, things couldn’t have gone a whole lot better for the Seminoles – for the second straight season, they enter ACC play with just one loss (a one point defeat to Oklahoma State last weekend) and will be ranked in their conference opener for just the second time in the last 10 seasons.
Needless to say, head coach Leonard Hamilton has the Seminoles thinking about a return to the NCAA Tournament this season – and a chance to avenge their second round upset loss last season to Xavier as a No. 3 seed with a team that was seen as their best chance to make a deep run for a while.
It’s not just Hamilton or those in garnet and gold who think the Seminoles will be dancing this coming March in the NCAA Tournament – ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, one of the foremost experts on who will get into the 68 team field and who will be watching from home, is loving FSU basketball as a No. 6 seed in the South Region in the latest Bracketology projections:
"South Region 1st RoundNo. 6 FLORIDA STATE vs. No. 11 Boise State / No. 11 St. Mary’sNo. 3 Kentucky vs. No. 14 South Dakota"
One of the things benefiting the Seminoles is the chance to, just like last season, have an impressive resume full of top wins. Last year, it was a win over eventual Elite Eight team Florida and ACC wins over tournament teams Duke, Virginia, Notre Dame and Miami.
So far this season, the Noles have another quality win over the Gators and will play their first three games of ACC play against teams ranked in the top six nationally this week (at No. 4 Duke, No. 5 UNC at home and at No. 6 Miami) and 10 teams Lunardi has tournament bound at this point.
At 11-1, the Seminoles don’t need to sweep conference play – but one would think a 11 or 12 win season in the ACC with three wins against ranked foes might be enough.
Next: FSU dominates Southern Miss in non-conference finale
For those looking at travel options, Lunardi’s projections would have FSU basketball in Wichita, Kansas for their first two games and a visit to Atlanta, Georgia should they make it to the second weekend. This years Final Four will be played in San Antonio, Texas.