FSU basketball slides significantly in latest bracketology projection

The Florida State basketball team likes to play fast, but that hasn’t always happened this year, with opponents often seeking to slow the tempo on the Seminoles. But the ’Noles have certainly plummeted in postseason projections quickly, following a 1-4 start to ACC play.

FSU, 13-5 and tied for last in the conference, is now a 9-seed in the latest NCAA Tournament forecast of ESPN’s Joe Lunardi after projecting as a 3-seed on January 4. Lunardi has the Seminoles opening play in the Midwest region’s Columbus, OH venue against 8-seed Nebraska, with the winner most likely facing 1-seed Tennessee.

The survivor of that pod would move on to the Sweet 16 in Kansas City and play the emergent of 4-seed Houston, 5-seed Purdue, 13-seed Liberty, and 12-seeds Arizona State and Florida, whom Lunardi has meeting in a play-in game. UF is presently the last team in the field, according to Lunardi, and the ’Noles are rapidly approaching the bubble. One of Lunardi’s last four byes goes to Texas, which he has as a 9-seed, just like FSU.

Elsewhere, Florida State’s average spot is as a 7-seed, per the 80 brackets surveyed on Bracket Matrix, 79 of which have FSU in the field. Team Rankings also thinks that the 7-line is the most likely current destination for the Seminoles.

The ’Noles are back in action tonight at 7 against Clemson.