NCAA Basketball: Matchups we would’ve loved to see in 2020 NCAA Tournament
Florida State vs. Michigan State
This potential NCAA Tournament game would have been fun if it were to occur in the Elite Eight. The case for this game being very fun is that it seems to clash with the preseason comments that were made about both teams. The NCAA basketball experts did not give Florida State very much credit. In the same manner, some thought this Michigan State team was nearly unstoppable.
Florida State used the fact that everyone was sleeping on them as fuel for the entire season. On the other hand, Michigan State’s issue is that they played in NCAA basketball’s toughest and most unpredictable conference: The Big Ten.
Due to Florida State’s unexpected dominance and Michigan State being battle-tested by the Big Ten, this game would have actually had huge National Title implications. Neither may have been the immediate favorites, but both could have gotten there.
In their potential NCAA Tournament game, it would have been very fun getting to see which star guard, Devin Vassell of Florida State, or Cassius Winston of Michigan State, would have taken over the game the most. Winston led the Spartans in scoring, averaging 18.6 ppg, while Vassell led the Seminoles in scoring, averaging 12.7 ppg. These guys are two of the best guards in the NCAA basketball, and I imagine they would have traded buckets back and forth quite frequently.
The guards would have certainly had their battle, and while I believe Florida State had the backcourt advantage, I think Michigan State, with Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry, would have had the front court advantage. Freshman forward, Patrick Williams of Florida State, had a great season for the Noles, and it would be great to see how he handled the tough task of taking on the big men of Michigan State.
With the advantages each team has over the other in mind, it is safe to say that the game would fall into the hands of the defense that can rise to the occasion and prevent the other from dominating the game in ways that they typically dominate.