Florida State is patiently awaiting the start of the ACC Tournament in Charlotte after clinching a double-bye. The Seminoles set a school record for ACC wins with a 65-57 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday.
With the victory and 26 wins to their name, the Seminoles appear comfortably slated to be a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Things could change depending on what happens in Charlotte, but for the time being, all experts have FSU as a 4-seed and facing a conference champion.
Projections
ESPN: West Region No. 4 vs. (13) Liberty in Hartford (March 13)
CBS Sports: West Region No. 4 vs. (13) Liberty in Jacksonville (March 13)
SB Nation: West Region No. 4 vs. (13) Liberty in Hartford (March 13)
NBC Sports: West Region No. 4 vs. (13) Vermont in Hartford (March 13)
USA Today: West Region No. 4 vs. (13) UC-Irvine in San Jose (March 12)
Summary
Three of the five experts surveyed have the Seminoles opening the NCAA Tournament against Atlantic Sun champion Liberty. Both ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and SB Nation’s Chris Dobbertean have that match-up taking place in Hartford. CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm gives the Seminoles a more favorable location of Jacksonville.
Liberty is 0-3 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Seminoles and Flames have no prior meetings on the hardwood.
All experts have FSU as a No. 4 seed in the West Region, but NBC Sports’ Dave Ommen pits the Seminoles against projected American East champion Vermont — also in Hartford. The Catamounts will face Maryland-Baltimore County for the conference crown on Saturday. Florida State won its only prior meeting with Vermont in the Vermont Classic in December 1976.
In perhaps the least favorable match-up for FSU, USA Today’s Scott Gleeson sends the Seminoles to San Jose to face projected Big West champion UC-Irvine. FSU beat the Anteaters 82-69 in the only prior match-up in January 1971.
FSU will kick off the ACC Tournament on Thursday against either Miami or Virginia Tech. Miami is nowhere to be found in the brackets while the Hokies are projected as a No. 5 seed in four of the five projections. Dobbertean has Virginia Tech as a No. 4 seed.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
Ross Obley/FSU athletics
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