FSU basketball a way-too-early top-20 team for 2019-2020 season, per national outlet

Florida State basketball made another impressive run to culminate the 2018-2019 season, reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen for the second straight year (the previous campaign saw the Seminoles get all the way to the Elite Eight). And even though this year’s tourney won’t crown a champion until this evening, one service already likes the sounds of the ’Noles and the number 16 in 2019-2020.

The Sporting News released its way-too-early top 25 for the season to come on Sunday, and FSU is right there at No. 16, following a program best 29-8 record this past year. Here’s the blurb that accompanies the Seminoles’ ranking:

16. Florida State

2018-19 record and finish: 29-8, Sweet 16

Key players: PG Trent Forrest, SG M.J. Walker.

Top-100 recruits: SF Patrick Williams (247Sports No. 38), C Balsa Koprivica (247Sports No. 57), SG Nathanael Jack (247Sports Juco No. 14)

Key decisions: SF Mfiondu Kabengele is not a projected first-round pick but could become a Rui Hachimura-style breakout star with another season.

Here’s the complete top 25:

1. Virginia
2. Michigan State
3. Kentucky
4. Michigan
5. Duke
6. Oregon
7. Marquette
8. Tennessee
9. Purdue
10. Auburn
11. Louisville
12. Kansas
13. LSU
14. North Carolina
15. Ohio State
16. Florida State
17. Houston
18. VCU
19. Cincinnati
20. Gonzaga
21. Iowa
22. Arizona
23. Seton Hall
24. Maryland
25. Memphis

That’s five ACC teams, with FSU fifth among conference foes, second only to six from the Big Ten. Also of note: the Seminoles are the only team ranked from the state of Florida. Click here to check out the poll.