FSU Basketball NCAA Tournament 1st Round Preview: vs. Missouri

Here’s a preview of FSU basketball and their upcoming game scheduled for play during the 2018 NCAA basketball tournament.

For the sixth time in the last 10 seasons, the FSU basketball team has been selected to take part in the craziness that we like to call March Madness. That’s right, for all the heat that some fans like to put on head coach Leonard Hamilton and the team, they have spent most of the last decade playing in the NCAA tournament – something most schools can say.

Of course, after a 2016-17 season that saw the Seminoles make the field as a No. 3 seed, being a No. 9 seed this season has been considered a letdown. But, Hamilton and his team must put the regular season and short trip to the ACC tournament behind them as they prepare to face off against a middle of the road SEC team and began a journey toward the fifth Sweet 16 in program history.

Florida State Seminoles Basketball

Here’s our recap of last week’s action and a preview of what’s ahead for the Seminoles.

Last Week Recap

The Seminoles traveled to Brooklyn, New York for the annual ACC tournament as the eighth overall seed in the conference – setting them up for a matchup with a Louisville team that they had split two games with during the regular season.

FSU basketball led by three points with just under 12 minutes left to go in the first half – and that would be the last lead they would have all game. The Cardinals went on a tear to close out the half, leading by 19 heading into the final frame. While the Seminoles woke up some in the second half, a 26-point deficit was too much to overcome and Louisville sent the Noles home after one game.

Florida State shot under 27 percent in the first half and 45 percent for the game, while PJ Savoy and Trent Forrest led the Seminoles with 14 points each in the 82-74 defeat.

Opponent Preview

When the Seminoles take the court, they will be facing a Missouri Tigers team who had plenty of ups and downs like FSU basketball did this season. Mizzou enters the tournament with a 20-12 record that included going 2-4 at the end of the year with a first round exit in the SEC Tournament by losing to Georgia last Thursday.

The good news for the Tigers is that they are getting star freshman forward Michael Porter Jr. back in time – after he missed all but two games this season, returning for that loss to the Bulldogs last week. The bad news is they will be without their second leading scorer, senior forward Jordan Barnett, after he was suspended for one game following a DUI arrest last weekend.

Interesting Fact

The Seminoles and Tigers don’t exactly have the lengthiest history of playing each other in athletics – having played in just women’s soccer, softball, women’s basketball and three games in men’s basketball. FSU basketball dropped a two point decision in their 1976 meeting on the road before winning neutral site games in 1977 (Orlando) and 1980 (Atlanta).

Next: Why 1993 Elite Eight team was best in program history

While FSU basketball has at least made it to the Final Four once in 1972, Missouri has only made it to the Elite Eight round before – with the last of their five appearances coming in 2009. The Tigers are looking for their first NCAA Tournament win since 2010 as they make their first March Madness trip since the 2012-13 season.