FSU still projected to make tourney, but margin for error slipping
The road to the NCAA Tournament isn’t getting any easier for the Florida State men's basketball team.
After losing Sunday night at N.C. State, Leonard Hamilton's team fell to 19-9 on the season (8-8 in the ACC) and also dropped out of the Top 25. The Seminoles have lost three of their last five games and have two regular-season contests remaining.
FSU's recent struggles are reflected in the latest round of NCAA Tournament projections. After getting thrashed by the Wolfpack, ESPN penciled the 'Noles in as a No. 7 seed in a matchup with No. 10 Saint Marys, while CBS Sports has Hamilton’s squad as a No. 9 seed facing No. 8 Butler.
Prior to the loss, ESPN’s bracketology had the Seminoles matched up with Middle Tennessee in a battle between No.6/No. 11 seeds. CBS Sports had previously projected FSU as a No. 7 seed facing No. 10 seed Kansas State.
The 'Noles don't have much room for error moving forward. Nine ACC teams were projected to make the NCAA Tournament by both ESPN and CBS Sports, and Florida State is currently ranked ninth in the ACC with an 8-8 conference record.
However, in the tournament projections, Louisville drew the worst seed of the conference teams at No. 11. North Carolina State is also listed as a No. 9 seed.
Just behind the Seminoles in conference play are both Syracuse (18-11, 7-9) and Notre Dame (17-12, 7-9).
For FSU to finish strong, the Seminoles likely will need to find a spark offensively. They went 0-for-15 from 3-point range during Sunday’s loss, and two of their top three scorers -- Terance Mann and Braian Angola -- have hit a rough patch as of late. Mann has scored less than his season average of 13.9 points in each of his last seven games. The junior guard has also shot 23-for-59 (39.1 percent) from the field over that stretch, which is well under his season average of 57.4 percent.
Angola’s 14 points against N.C. State were his most since scoring 18 in a win over Miami on Jan. 27. Since that game against the Hurricanes, the senior has made only 15 of his last 62 attempts from the field, which equates to 24.2 percent. Angola is shooting 41 percent on the season.
The Seminoles travel to Clemson for a crucial road game at 9 p.m. on Wednesday before finishing the regular season at home against Boston College at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Florida State will then play in the ACC Tournament, scheduled to be held in Brooklyn from Mar. 6-10, prior to Selection Sunday.
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