/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63370808/1138956733.jpg.0.jpg)
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:
- Virginia
- Michigan State
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Duke
- Oregon
- Marquette
- Tennessee
- Purdue
- Auburn
- Louisville
- Kansas
- LSU
- North Carolina
- Ohio State
- Florida State
- Houston
- VCU
- Cincinnati
- Gonzaga
- Iowa
- Arizona
- Seton Hall
- Maryland
- 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.