The Daily Nole

FSU Hoops: Five Fun Facts for the NCAA Tourney

Lance King/FSU athletics

The hiatus is over for Florida State. Early Sunday evening, the Seminoles learned that they would be dancing for the first time since 2012.

FSU will open the NCAA Tournament on Thursday as the No. 3 seed in the West Region and will take on 14th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast in Orlando. As the Seminoles get ready for what they hope is a deep run and perhaps even their first Final Four appearance since 1972, here are five interesting nuggets:

1. FSU has a better record vs. tourney teams than non-tourney teams
That’s right. Against teams that reached the field of 68, Florida State actually fared better than against ones that did not this season…but only slightly. Against NCAA Tournament teams, FSU went 13-4 as compared to 12-4 against those who missed the field. Those four losses came against Temple, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Pittsburgh. Fortunately for FSU, it won’t be playing against any teams that missed the dance from here on out.

2. FSU was perfect in the state of Florida this year
Getting Orlando as a draw seems to be a good thing for Florida State, not only because it’s closer to home, but because the Seminoles have dominated in the Sunshine State this season. In the state of Florida this season, FSU was a perfect 20-0. FSU finished a perfect 18-0 at home, marking the first time since the 1975-76 season that it completed an unblemished home slate. FSU also won at Miami and beat Manhattan in Sunrise. If that trend continues, the Seminoles will make the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011.

3. FSU has never played an in-state team in the dance
When Florida State plays Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday, it will be the first time that the Seminoles have played an NCAA Tournament game against an in-state team. FSU has played in-state teams, including Florida Gulf Coast in the NIT and even played Miami in the ACC Tournament. As far as the NCAA Tournament goes however, this will be a first.

4. FSU’s No. 3 seed ties the highest in school-history
Earning a No. 3 seed on Sunday gave Florida State its highest NCAA Tournament seed in school-history, along with three others years. The Seminoles also earned a No. 3 in 1992, 1993 and 2012. In each of those tournaments, FSU did defeat the No. 14 seed in the first round.

5. Under head coach Leonard Hamilton, FSU is just 1-3 as the higher seed
Florida State will be a double-digit favorite as it takes on Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday and from recent history, that may be a bad thing. As the higher seed under head coach Leonard Hamilton, the Seminoles are just 1-3 in the NCAA Tournament. The lone victory came over St. Bonaventure in the round of 64 in 2012. As the lower seed under Hamilton, FSU is 2-1. Both of those wins came in 2011.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

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