FSU Basketball: Fans react to Noles making 2018 NCAA Tournament
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU basketball will dance in the NCAA Tourney for the second consecutive year.
Its been a love/hate relationship between FSU basketball fans and the way the team as played this season.
Expectations were relatively low after losing three starters to the NBA, including the No. 6 overall pick Jonathan Isaac.
The Noles returned experienced players Phil Cofer, Braian Angola and Terrance Mann and some talented freshmen. However, getting routed in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament by Xavier gave FSU fans pause going into the 2018 season.
A white-hot 11-0 start which included a 17 point road win over No. 5 rival Florida raised expectations a bit much.
However, the grind of ACC play took its toll on the Noles although they were competitive in most of their losses while garnering solid wins over the likes of UNC, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Miami and Louisville.
In fact, they played No. 1 Virginia tough, losing by just four points. It was losing three of their last four games, including a first round exit of the ACC Tournament that FSU basketball close to being a bubble team.
Ultimately, going .500 in the ACC and winning most of the non-conference games was enough to get the nod.
Fan Reaction
Congratulations Fsu basketball team- now play like you are capable of and win some games! 🏀🏀🏀
— Miriam Clippinger (@clipnole) March 11, 2018
Yea, SEMINOLES!!!!!
— Colleen Hamilton 🟧 (@Colleen_ham1) March 11, 2018
This is when it counts most! Lets go Noles!!! #FearTheSpear #Noles #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/YdOFfbHZb4
— Michael Mendez (@youngmic28) March 11, 2018
Wonderful!!! now #DoSomething
— FSUStage (@FSUStage) March 11, 2018
— Noles939913 (@pcolanole07) March 12, 2018
— C.Silverstein (@CMJMS) March 11, 2018
Thoughts
It looks like this snapshot of Nole fans are happy the squad is going back to the big dance. Like I said, that’s an accomplishment in itself considering what they lost.
What makes one said is wondering what could have been if Dwayne Bacon would have come back for his junior season instead of getting drafted in the second round?
Of course, some fans are debbie downers and mention Oklahoma State not getting in the tournament. Well, they beat FSU by one point and was below .500 in the BIG 12 conference which isn’t a deep conference like the ACC.
Also, to question whether the guys want to win or not is a bit much, otherwise, they’d be getting blown out every game and that’s not the case here.
Next: FSU Earns No. 9 Seed in 2018 NCAA Tournament
We’ll be breaking the Missouri game down this week so be sure to keep it locked here at Chopchat!