NCAA Tournament 2019: Takeaways from 1st half of Round of 32 games

NCAA Tournament 2019: Top takeaways from 1st half of Round of 32 games

By Brian Rauf | Mar 24, 2019

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: Tremont Waters #3 of the LSU Tigers goes up for a shot against Jalen Smith #25 of the Maryland Terrapins during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vystar Memorial Arena on March 23, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 23: Raiquan Gray #1 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates his teams lead against the Murray State Racers in the second half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

4) Florida State is a dangerous Final Four threat

Last year, Florida State’s size, length, athleticism, and depth worked wonders as it guided the Seminoles on an Elite Eight run.

This year, FSU has used the same recipe to cruise into the Sweet 16.

Murray State and Ja Morant were one of the opening weekend’s biggest storylines following their blowout victory over Marquette in the first round, but Florida State brought that to a crashing end with their 90-62 victory.

Though Morant played well and finished with 28 points, the Noles held the Racers to 32.8 percent shooting and limited the rest of Murray State’s roster to just 12/40 shooting.

Florida State did this without Phil Cofer, too, who missed the game following the death of his father on Thursday. He is one of FSU’s best players and defenders, meaning the Noles should be even more dangerous next weekend.

Very few teams in the country can match Florida State’s size, quickness, and athleticism, and FSU keeps coming at their opponents in waves thanks to their great depth. That style of play gave Gonzaga major problems in last year’s Sweet 16 and might do the same next weekend.

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