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Down the stretch they go for the Florida State Seminoles.
Back-to-back conference losses forced the Seminoles down Lunardi’s latest NCAA bracketology projections. FSU (17-8) is now a 9-seed, matched up with Kentucky in the first round of the Midwest region. The ’Noles move down two spots to No. 28 in BPI.
Florida State came into the week riding an 80-76 victory over Louisville before losing a ten-point halftime lead to the No. 2 ranked Virginia Cavaliers. An 84-69 loss in South Bend on Saturday marked the Seminoles’ seventh loss in conference play. A victory over the Wildcats in the first round would likely mean it’s on to play 1-seed Xavier — the team that sent FSU home from the tournament last season.
Teamrankings.com moved the Seminoles down to a 9-seed as well. The website gives the Garnet & Gold a 67% chance to make the tournament — down from 82% last week. FSU has five games left in the regular season.
The ’Noles remain a 7-seed on bracketmatrix.com, updated two days ago, two spots below the rival Florida Gators. FSU faces No. 16 Clemson two times in a two-week span, with games against Pittsburgh and at NC State sandwiched in-between.