This Sweet 16 sure does have a familiar feel for Florida State
P.J. Savoy started smiling as he talked about the Florida State Seminoles returning to the Sweet 16.
"The NCAA set us up for this one," the senior guard said with a laugh. "But it's exciting. We're ready for it. And I can't wait to get out there."
Out there is Southern California. For the second year in a row.
Where the Sweet 16 opponent, for the second year in a row, is Gonzaga. And if the Seminoles win that game, there's a chance they'll play Michigan for - you guessed it - the second year in a row in the Elite Eight.
It's like deja vu all over again.
Same programs. Same part of the country. Same round of the NCAA Tournament.
But, there are some differences.
First, the games will be played in Anaheim and not Los Angeles.
And this Gonzaga team has some different pieces than the one the Seminoles upset in the Sweet 16 a season ago.
These 2019 Bulldogs are the No. 1 seed in the West and have an overall record of 32-3. They've been ranked No. 1 in the country for multiple weeks this season and are coming off an 83-71 win over Baylor in the second round Saturday night.
Having played - and beaten - the Bulldogs a season ago in this same spot, it's unlikely the Seminoles will be overwhelmed by the moment or the opponent on Thursday night.
But it is, in fact, a different opponent than the one they beat handily last year.
The biggest difference, by far, for Gonzaga in 2019 has been the addition of Brandon Clarke. The 6-foot-8 junior is the team's second-leading scorer, averaging 17 points per game, and is coming off a 36-point outburst against Baylor.
He also averages over eight rebounds per game, and his 3.1 blocks-per-game average is the third-highest in the nation.
Clarke sat out last season after transferring from San Jose State. He had to watch on television a season ago as his teammates fell to the Seminoles.
Now, he'll get a first-hand view of Leonard Hamilton's team. As will 6-10 junior Killian Tillie, who missed last year's game after getting injured.
"We're a much different team this year," Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said. "Again, because like during the warm-ups we were notified that Killian wasn't going to be able to play, so that was kind of a crushing blow to us, emotionally. Florida State was really good that night. I don't know if we could have beaten them with Killian, but I know he would have really, really helped.
"So we will prepare like crazy. I thought they were really, really under-seeded. I have watched them a bunch this year, and they've had a great year. They had Duke beat at their place and played great all year. I mean, I thought they'd end up on the 2 line and to see them at 4, that's kind of tough. You have to beat really good teams to advance in this thing. So, we knew we were going to have to play somebody really good, and Florida State is no doubt that."
Sophomore Corey Kispert, one of the top shooters on the Gonzaga team, remembers a lot about last year's game as well.
After hitting four 3-pointers against Baylor, he was asked if he was looking forward to the rematch against the Seminoles.
"Absolutely," he said. "One hundred percent. They are a really good team. They're going to demand our best, and that's what we want. We wouldn't want it any other way. It just so happened we got Florida State again in the Sweet 16, and we have a special itch to take care of against them."
The FSU-Gonzaga game is scheduled to tip off at 7:09 p.m. Thursday on CBS.
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