FSU Hoops: Top 10 NCAA Tournament Performances

One day separates us from Florida State tipping off with Missouri in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament. The Seminoles are dancing for the second straight season, the sixth time in 10 years and the 16th time as a program.

The NCAA Tournament has a way of memorializing players. Names like Christian Laettner, Lorenzo Charles and Brice Drew all have a “shining moment” associated with their efforts in the big dance. Over the years, FSU has had its fair share of players put forward strong showings in the tournament.

We narrowed it down to the 10 best:

10. Toney Douglas, G
First Round vs. Wisconsin (March 20, 2009)
Stats: 8-for-16, 26 points, 5 rebounds
Florida State’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 11 years was a short one as the fifth-seeded Seminoles were defeated by 12th-seeded Wisconsin in overtime, 61-59 on a last second shot by Trevon Hughes. Throughout the contest however, guard Toney Douglas did all he could to keep FSU afloat. Douglas led all scorers with 26 points and hit a pair of free throws to force overtime. His triple with 1:16 remaining put FSU ahead 59-56 before the Badgers closed the game on a 5-0 run.

9. Reggie Royals, C
Final Four vs. North Carolina (March 23, 1972)
Stats: 6-for-8, 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists
In Florida State’s only Final Four appearance, forward Reggie Royals had an efficient performance for the ages. Royals took only eight shots, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Seminoles held off North Carolina, 79-75.

Derwin Kitchen shoots over a pair of VCU players during the 2011 NCAA Tournament. (AP Photo)

8. Derwin Kitchen, G
Sweet 16 vs. Virginia Commonwealth (March 25, 2011)
Stats: 8-for-18, 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists
Derwin Kitchen’s FSU career would end in heartbreaking fashion, but Kitchen was not the reason. In a hard-fought 72-71 loss to upstart Virginia Commonwealth, Kitchen paced the Seminoles with 23 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in 42 minutes. Kitchen however, was unable to hit the winning shot at the end of regulation or get a look as time wound down in the extra period.

7. Corey Louis, C
First Round vs. TCU (March 13, 1998)
Stats: 9-for-14, 20 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals
In what would be Florida State’s last NCAA Tournament win in 13 years, the front court of Randell Jackson and Corey Louis paced the 12th-seeded Seminoles in an upset of No. 5 seed TCU in Oklahoma City, 96-87. It was Louis, who shone brightest, finishing with a season-high 20 points and 14 rebounds despite playing with a chest cold and being matched up with one of the nation’s best scorers in TCU’s Lee Nailon.

6. Doug Edwards, F
Second Round vs. Georgetown (March 21, 1992)
Stats: 7-for-13, 15 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 steals
Matched up often with Georgetown star Alonzo Mourning, FSU forward Doug Edwards would be the big man who shone brightest as the third-seeded Seminoles took down the No. 6 seed Hoyas, 78-68. Edwards and guard Sam Cassell were the two catalysts for FSU as the Noles closed the game on a 29-9 run to erase a 10-point deficit with eight minutes to play. Edwards fouled out late, but the damage had been done as the Seminoles sent Mourning and the Hoyas home.

5. Tony Dawson, F
First Round vs. Iowa (March 18, 1988)
Stats: 13-for-21, 30 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
The second-highest scoring performance from a Florida State player in the NCAA Tournament came in 1988 to open the dance against Iowa. The Seminoles overcame a 16-point deficit to lead 93-92, but that’s when Dawson picked up his fifth foul and the comeback was ceased. Dawson was an efficient 13-for-21 en route to becoming the first FSU player to score 30 points in an NCAA Tournament game and 4-for-5 from the foul line.

FSU’s Dwayne Bacon scored 25 points against Florida Gulf Coast to open the 2017 NCAA Tournament. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

4. Dwayne Bacon, G
First Round vs. Florida Gulf Coast (March 16, 2017)
Stats: 11-for-17, 25 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals
The team that called itself “Dunk City” proved to have no answer for third-seeded Florida State’s Dwayne Bacon in the first round of last season’s tournament in Orlando. Bacon was efficient before finishing with 25 points in what would be his final victory as a Seminole. In an 86-80 win over 14th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast, Bacon scored each of his 11 baskets inside the arc with a number of thundering dunks in the win.

3. Rowland Garrett, F
Sweet 16 vs. Minnesota (March 16, 1972)
Stats: 11-for-19, 23 points, 11 rebounds
After narrowly escaping Eastern Kentucky to open the 1972 NCAA Tournament, Rowland Garrett made sure the Elite Eight was in the cards for FSU with a double-double in a 70-56 win over Minnesota. Garrett hit 11 of his 19 shot attempts and his only free throw. 14 of his game-high 23 points came in the second half.

2. Sam Cassell, G
Second Round vs. Tulane (March 20, 1993)
Stats: 11-for-16, 7-for-7 3-pointers, 31 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
The highest scoring NCAA Tournament effort for a Florida State player came from Sam Cassell in a 94-63 thrashing of No. 11 seed Tulane. Cassell didn’t miss from deep and filled up the box score in the victory for the third-seeded Seminoles. During an 8-0 run to close the first half, Cassell scored seven points and as a team, FSU never looked back.

1. Ron King, G
National Championship vs. UCLA (March 25, 1972)
Stats: 12-for-20, 27 points, 6 rebounds
On the biggest stage Florida State has ever played on basketball-wise, Ron King gave John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty all it wanted. In an 81-75 title game loss, King poured in a game-high 27 points. The Seminoles were able to whittle a 16-point deficit down to seven in the second half, but would get no closer. As for King, his 27-point effort will live in FSU lore despite the loss to give the Bruins an undefeated season and a seventh national championship in eight years.

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