FSU basketball returns to Sunshine State in new bracketology projections

The No. 25 Florida State basketball team hasn’t played a game since Joe Lunardi’s previous bracketology was released on Tuesday, and as is such, the Seminoles remain forecasted as a 7-seed in the NCAA Tournament. But as we’ve highlighted in our daily FSU hoops rooting guide, the fortunes of those around you can affect your postseason path as well. And that’s certainly the case with the ’Noles right now.

A few days ago, Lunardi’s ESPN prediction had the 7-seeded Seminoles being shipped to Salt Lake City. One polar vortex later, and Florida State is projected to open play in the East region’s Jacksonville venue, against 10-seed Ohio State. The winner of that game would face the victor of 2-seed Kentucky and 15-seed Lehigh. The talented Wildcats are never an easy out, but getting them just down I-10 from Tallahassee would help— even though Big Blue Nation always travels extremely well.

Emerging from that pod would mean a Sweet-16 matchup in Washington, D.C. vs. the survivor of 3-seed Purdue (which FSU already beat this season), 6-seed Buffalo, 11-seed Alabama, and 14-seed George Mason. The region’s top seed is Duke.

CBS Sports also has the ’Noles beginning play in Jacksonville, but as a 6-seed against the winner of a play-in game between 11-seeds Temple and Nebraska. SB Nation, Team Rankings, and Bracket Matrix all have Florida State as a 7-seed, currently.