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Florida State’s comeback win over Louisville last night did a few things: put FSU in a great place come both ACC and NCAA Tournament time, assisted in its shot at a regular season ACC title and, thanks to a primetime television spot, put national media on notice that the Seminoles are for real.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas spoke to our Matt Minnick after Monday’s game, heaping praise on the environment, but plenty of writers took time to acknowledge the team that Leonard Hamilton has built in Tallahassee.
The Athletic’s Seth Davis says what we’re all thinking:
Peak Florida State is very scary
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 25, 2020
CBS Sports Insider Jon Rothstein makes a great point about the difficulty that FSU opponents will face come tournament time:
How do you prepare for Florida State on a 48-hour turnaround in the NCAA Tournament?
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 25, 2020
Noles have so many options.
Six players scored between eight and 16 points tonight against Louisville. https://t.co/Dmv99EvRON
When you outscore your opponent 50-27 in the second half, that is how you create a 26 point turnaround, as pointed out by ESPN’s Dick Vitale:
The @FSUHoops were down 11 early in 2nd half now win by 15 a 26 pt turn around vs @LouisvilleMBB / a great W for Noles & Coach Hamilton .@theACC
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) February 25, 2020
Analyst Jeff Goodman points out what a great season Coach Leonard Hamilton is having:
Leonard Hamilton and Florida State just don’t get enough credit for what they have done. Seminoles with strong second half to beat Louisville at home and move into first place in the ACC.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 25, 2020
The March Madness twitter account has officially taken notice:
HOUSE DEFENDED
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 25, 2020
No. 6 Florida State rallies back to take down No. 11 Louisville and get its 22nd consecutive home win! pic.twitter.com/owHe6pHRJG
ESPN Insider Jeff Borzello calls FSU’s second half one of the best of the season:
That was a ridiculous second-half performance by Florida State to beat Louisville by 15. Seminoles drop 50 points after halftime, hold Louisville to nine field goals and seven turnovers in the second half. One of the best 15-minute stretches we've seen from any team all season.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) February 25, 2020
Rob Dauster of NBCSports says what we’re all thinking. Trent Forrest caught a body on National TV:
Jordan Nwora, we hardly knew ye. Trent Forrest is a bad man.
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) February 25, 2020
CBSSports’ Matt Norlander keeps it short but to the point, FSU’s opponents need Deontay Wilder’s corner at the end of games:
Good god, Florida State. Good god.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) February 25, 2020
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie reminds FSU fans to enjoy Patrick Williams while you can:
Patrick Williams is taking a leap for Florida State this month in a really fun way. Don’t think he’s ready for the NBA yet, but he’s a fascinating one that I think it would be tough for NBA teams to pass on past the mid-way point of the first round, too.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 25, 2020
Fellow Athletic writer Dana O’Neil makes a case for FSU and a 1-seed:
If 1-seeds boiled down to who you don’t want to play, Florida State would be a lock. Seminoles are just relentless to the point of being mean.
— Dana O'Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) February 25, 2020
Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde described Florida State as relentless:
For lack of a better term, this has been a hard-ass half from Florida State. Relentless at both ends. Fierce bunch of athletes who are well coached. And they might win their first ACC regular-season title.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) February 25, 2020
Local Louisville radio host Mark Ennis tries to calm Cardinal fans by pointing out that FSU’s roster is rare among this year’s field:
I think the biggest mistake to make is to extrapolate from this game to all of Louisville's remaining season. Virtually no other roster has the athletes FSU does.
— Mark Ennis (@MarkEnnis) February 25, 2020
Seminole.com’s Tim Linafelt with a quote from Louisville Coach Chris Mack:
Chris Mack: “I’ve watched, I can’t tell you how many games. Nobody runs their offense against Florida State. Nobody.”
— Tim Linafelt / FSU (@Tim_Linafelt) February 25, 2020
And finally, Rowlcast’s host and lover of wrestling gifs gives the tweet of the night for Florida State’s blowout victory:
bill murray hasn’t seen a 2nd half like that since space jam
— Trey Rowland (@trey_rowland59) February 25, 2020
Strong words of praise from numerous well-respected media members. For a few hours Monday night, all eyes were on Tallahassee and Leonard Hamilton’s Seminoles.