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2017 NCAA Tournament: Florida State vs. Florida Gulf Coast preview, prediction, TV schedule

By Drew Dinnhaupt

Feb 28, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Braian Angola-Rodas (11) talks with guard Dwayne Bacon (4) as they come out of a time out in the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Braian Angola-Rodas (11) talks with guard Dwayne Bacon (4) as they come out of a time out in the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /
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No. 3 Florida State and No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast clash in one of Thursday’s most intriguing games.

TV Schedule: Thursday, March 16, at 9:20 p.m. ET on TNT

Arena: Amway Center (Orlando, FL)

For the third time in five years, Dunk City is back. The Eagles meet in-state adversary of Florida State in the Round of 64. The Seminoles open up as a 12-point favorite in the most intriguing 3/14 games in the entire bracket.

Though Florida Gulf Coast is only in its ninth season as a Division I member, there is postseason history between the two schools. In the 2014 NIT, No. 1 Florida State beat No. 8 FGCU, 58-53.

Florida State is making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 when the Seminoles earned the same seed as this year but fell to Cincinnati in the Round of 32. Florida Gulf Coast has won at least one tournament game in its previous two appearances. FGCU became a household college basketball name after its legendary tournament run in 2013 when the Eagles advanced to the Sweet Sixteen as a 15 seed.

Florida State finished this season at 25-8 (12-6) and as the regular season runner-up in the ACC. The Seminoles are lengthy, deep, and dominant offensively. Sophomore guard Dwayne Bacon leads the group in scoring, averaging 16.9 PPG. Bacon has managed to crack double figures in all but one outing this entire season. Along with Bacon, freshman forward Jonathan Isaac, a guaranteed lottery pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, averages 11.9 PPG and 7.6 RPG, while junior guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes posts 10.4 PPG and 4.8 APG.

Florida State is undoubtedly one of the nation’s deepest teams. Eleven Seminoles play ten or more minutes per game, and every player on the active roster scores three or more points per game. As a group, Florida State’s powerhouse offense averages over 82 points per game, among the top-20 nationwide.

While Florida State does appear to be a team that could make a deep tournament run on paper, the draw the Selection Committee gave the Seminoles makes it virtually impossible FSU advances to Glendale.

Enough of the ‘Noles. It’s no secret the entire nation will be rooting for the underdog Eagles.

Dunk City capped off a 26-7 season with an Atlantic Sun regular season and tournament title, establishing themselves as one of the best mid-majors in the country.

The Eagles rank inside the top-100 nationally in points per game, assists per game, rebounds per game, and points allowed per game. FGCU excels in shooting from the field, making 50.2 percent of its shots, the nation’s fifth best.

Four Eagles score in double figures on average, and nine play 10 or more minutes per game. Guard Brandon Goodwin has been fantastic all year, averaging 18.2 PPG (fourth best in the A-Sun), 4.6 RPG, and 4.0 APG. Against tournament teams this year, Goodwin has never failed to underperform. The junior scores 18 PPG while shooting 48 percent from the field. We could very likely see a similar number against Florida State.

Next: 2017 NCAA Tournament: Final Four staff predictions

To say Florida State is on upset alert would be an understatement. I foresee a Florida Gulf Coast victory and the Eagles advancing to take on the winner of No. 6 Maryland and No. 11 Xavier. It certainly won’t be easy, but the Eagles will, once again, stun the nation in March.

Prediction: No. 3 Florida State 81, No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast 86

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