The Daily Nole

Fun Fact Friday: FSU Hoops Has Never Reached the Tourney After Losing Season Opener

Mike Olivella/FSU athletics

The 2019-20 season did not start as Florida State basketball would have hoped on Wednesday night.

The Seminoles let a 9-point second-half lead slip away en route to a 63-61 loss at Pittsburgh. It marked the Seminoles’ third straight road loss at Pittsburgh and the first time since the 2012-13 season that they will begin the year 0-1.

If history is any indication, losing an opener has been bad news for FSU. As a matter of fact, the Seminoles have never reached the NCAA Tournament when losing their season opener.

The loss was just the second season-opening loss under head coach and the program’s all-time wins leader, Leonard Hamilton. The last occasion was a 76-71 defeat at home to South Alabama on Nov. 9, 2012. The Seminoles were ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and coming off their first ACC championship and a school-record four NCAA Tournament appearances.

That season would begin a string of four straight seasons in which FSU failed to make the tournament. FSU has made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons. The past obviously has no bearing on the future, but the Seminoles will be hoping that history does not repeat itself.

FSU won’t have much time to sulk as it remains on the road to take on rival and No. 6 Florida on Sunday afternoon. It has won five straight over the rival Gators. The Seminoles have not started 0-2 since the 2000-01 season when they dropped contests to Florida and Ohio State.

If FSU fans are looking for a historical positive, this will be the third straight season that it drops its ACC opener. Over the last two seasons, FSU has reached the Elite Eight and Sweet 16, respectively.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.

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