It’s Thursday, Florida State fans. As Friday nears, keep it here for the latest in FSU athletics. The news and notes section of this post will be updated throughout the day.
Lead Story
Florida State basketball aims to make consecutive Elite Eights for the first time in program history on Thursday night as the fourth-seeded Seminoles take on top-seeded Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 in Anaheim.
The Seminoles topped the Bulldogs in the West Region semifinals last season, 75-60. FSU’s Terance Mann led all scorers with 18 points while Rui Hachimura paced Gonzaga with 16 points. FSU shot 47 percent and held Gonzaga to just 34 percent shooting in last season’s West Region semifinal victory.
Hachimura, a junior, is in the midst of a stellar season, averaging 20.7 points per game and 6.6 rebounds while shooting better than 60 percent from the field and 47 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Brandon Clarke is shooting nearly 70 percent and grabbing a team-high 8.4 rebounds and 17 points per game. Clarke is coming off a 36-point effort in the second round win over Baylor.
FSU sixth man and redshirt sophomore forward Mfiondu Kabengele has averaged 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in NCAA Tournament wins over Vermont and Murray State while shooting 64 percent. Over the two games, Mann is averaging 18.5 points and eight rebounds while shooting better than 68 percent from the field.
Thursday night’s game will begin at 7:09 p.m. EST and airs on CBS. The winner will face the winner of the second game in Anaheim between second-seeded Michigan and No. 3 seed Texas Tech.
Between the Lines
FSU men’s swimming and diving began the NCAA Championships in Austin on Wednesday.
On the Agenda
In addition to the Sweet 16, FSU swimming and diving will continue the NCAA Championships on Thursday. FSU track and field will take part in the Florida Relays.
News and Notes
FSU track and field juniors Maudie Skyring and Shanice Love were named ACC Women’s Track Performer of the Week and Field Performer of the Week, respectively. Sophomore Trey Cunningham was named ACC Men’s Track Performer of the Week.
FSU hoops is a 7.5-point underdog to Gonzaga on Thursday night.
FSU basketball fell to Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night in Anaheim, 72-58.
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Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/FSU athletics
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