FSU basketball suffers from ugly loss in latest NCAA Tournament projections

These are not the ‘Noles you’re looking for.

A twenty-point loss at NC State forced the Seminoles back down the rankings in Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology. FSU (19-9) is now a 7-seed, and are set to face 10-seed Saint Mary’s in the first round of the Midwest region. The garnet and gold are down one spot from last week’s 6-seed ranking, where the rival Florida Gators now find themselves in the same region in this week’s rankings. A victory over the Gaels in the first round of the tournament would likely mean it’s on to play two-seed Michigan State in the second round (in Detroit).

Florida State entered the week coming off of one of its best stretches of the season. A thrilling 81-79 victory over Clemson was complemented by an 88-75 takedown of the Pittsburgh Panthers, and it seemed as if the Seminoles had hit their stride right in time. Their eighth conference loss of the season, however, was ugly enough to halt the progress on the journey to the tourney. The ‘Noles sit at 8-8 in conference play with two games remaining in the regular season.

Teamrankings.com shoved the Seminoles down to a 10-seed, one spot above NC State, while giving them a 57% chance to make the tournament.

The ‘Noles are presently an 8-seed on bracketmatrix.com and are one of nine ACC teams projected by the website to make the tournament. FSU has just two games left in the regular season— at No. 15 Clemson before coming home to face Boston College on Senior Day.