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FSU Basketball: Noles being ranked to start season has mixed results

By Jason Parker

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 22: Terance Mann #14 of the Florida State Seminoles goes up for a shot against Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Staples Center on March 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 22: Terance Mann #14 of the Florida State Seminoles goes up for a shot against Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Staples Center on March 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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FSU basketball will be joining an elite group in program history as they start the season with a number by their name to kick things off.

In just over a week, the FSU basketball team will get back on the court for a game that matters when they start off the season hosting the rival Florida Gators in side the Tucker Center – the first time the Seminoles have taken the court in a game that matters since playing in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last March for just their third time in program history.

It will also be a history making start to the season for head coach Leonard Hamilton’s team as, for just the sixth time in program history, the Seminoles will start the season with a number by their name as FSU basketball finds themselves ranked No. 17 by the AP and No. 15 in the coaches poll.

That’s right – the Seminoles average starting the season ranked in the polls just once every 12 seasons over their history dating back to the start of the program in the 1947-48 season, a stat even more amazing considering it has happened just one time over the last quarter century.

At the same time, it has been a mixed bag of success for the Seminoles when they start the season with a ranking with only two of the previous times leading to the Noles dancing in March Madness by the end of the season.

  • 2012-13 – Finished 18-16, lost in first round of NIT
  • 1992-93 – Finished 25-10, lost in Elite Eight of NCAA Tournament
  • 1988-89 – Finished 22-8, lost in first round of NCAA Tournament
  • 1972-73 – Finished 18-8, no postseason
  • 1970-71 – Finished 17-9, no postseason

It is interesting to note that the first two times FSU basketball started off ranked actually wrapped around the best finish in school history when the Seminoles played for the national title game in March 1972 – while the deepest run for a preseason ranked Noles team was arguably the best team in school history considering talent.

It also won’t be easy for Hamilton and the Seminoles to keep that ranking for the entire season considering the fact they could play as many as eight teams currently ranked in the Top 25 – along with teams like Florida and Notre Dame who were just on the outside looking in of the opening rankings.

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The Seminoles have the talent to get things done – even with Phil Cofer getting injured – but one has to wonder if the hangover of last season could keep them from capitalizing during this coming campaign.

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