March Madness is finally here!
One of the best times of the year for sports fans. The NCAA Tournament is filled with unpredictability, as the nation wants to claim the coveted perfect bracket, but as many have found out, it is virtually impossible to achieve.
It is a bummer that Florida State basketball is not in the Dance. However, the fan base didn't have high postseason hopes for the first-year head coach Luke Loucks after former legendary coach Leonard Hamilton retired.
The Seminoles declined any postseason invitation, which confused the fan base, but the squad improved tremendously after starting conference play with a 0-5 record. Fans have to give props to Coach Loucks's team, as they ended the regular season on a high note.
Everyone wants to talk about the current Florida State players on the roster, but what about those former guys who are contributing elsewhere?
Former Florida State players Cam'ron Fletcher and Malique Ewin balled out in the NCAA Tournament
The biggest upset of the day so far in the NCAA Tournament has been No. 12 seed High Point knocking off No. 5 seed Wisconsin. Forward Cam'ron Fletcher played with Florida State for three seasons between 2021 and 2023.
Fletcher had himself a game against the Badgers, where he recorded 14 points, 11 rebounds, and one assist off the bench (according to ESPN Stats and Information). This is the fourth program he has been on in his career, and I am glad to see it panning out for him.
No. 4 seed Arkansas also beat No. 13 seed Hawaii, which wasn't much of a surprise. Guard Darius Acuff Jr. is the talk of the Razorbacks. Still, one player who was key in the victory over the Rainbow Warriors was forward Malique Ewin, who had 16 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in the contest (according to ESPN Stats and Information).
Ewin was a big man that the fan base wanted to keep in Tallahassee, and was bummed out because he was productive at Florida State. We at ChopChat are happy for the former Seminoles.