FSU Basketball: How the Noles Have Historically Followed Up Deep Tourney Runs

March Madness is more than a month in the rear view, but for Florida State, it was one to remember.

The Seminoles reached the Elite Eight for the first time in 25 years during the 2017-18 campaign and just the third time ever. The measure has ginned up optimism for next season.

Historically however, the Seminoles haven’t built upon deep NCAA Tournament runs with other deep runs. Here’s a historical look at the years FSU reached the Sweet 16 and what it did the following season:

This past season marked just the fifth time that Florida State made the Sweet 16, but on two of the prior four occasions, the Seminoles didn’t return to the tournament the next. The only season in which the Seminoles performed better than the prior year was the 1992-93 campaign. That season, FSU followed up a Sweet 16 appearance with an Elite Eight showing.

Although the Seminoles regressed in the NCAA Tournament after reaching the Sweet 16 as a No. 10 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, one could argue that they had a better season during the 2011-12 campaign. FSU won its only ACC title that season and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but was ultimately upset by sixth-seeded Cincinnati.

Expectations will likely be high for next season for FSU, but there is more attrition than expected. Guard Braian Angola and forward Phil Cofer were the only two scholarship seniors from last season’s team, although Cofer, the team’s leading scorer, could be awarded a fifth year of eligibility. FSU has since had two players transfer in guard C.J. Walker and center Ike Obiagu.

How the Seminoles do next season is anyone’s guess. Just picking what teams will do well once the brackets are unveiled each March is tough enough. History does not appear to be on Florida State’s side, but the Seminoles faced a number of historical obstacles this past season and managed their deepest run in 25 years.

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