Florida State (22-9)
COACH: Leonard Hamilton, eight years at Florida State, two years in NCAA Tournament
HOW THEY GOT IN: At-large bid
MATCHUP BREAKDOWN: Florida State got where it is on the strength of a defense that held opponents to a national low 37.2 field-goal percentage, but Gonzaga shot 49.4 percent from the field, which ranked fifth in the country. Gonzaga has four players averaging in double figures led by G Matt Bouldin's 15.8 average. Both teams are coming off losses in their conference tournaments with FSU falling to N.C. State, an ACC bottom dweller, and Gonzaga losing to West Coast Conference tournament winner St. Mary's.
GO-TO GUYS: Senior F Chris Singleton scores in double figures (10.4 points a game in the regular season) and was the media's choice as the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year. Sophomore Solomon Alabi continues to develop and led the 'Noles in scoring with his 11.6 points a game. Freshman Michael Snaer added a third scoring threat as the season wore on, reaching double figures in four of his last seven games. Sophomore Deividas Dulkys shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range for the regular season.
THEY'LL KEEP WINNING IF: Florida State's rebounding prowess continues. FSU outrebounded five of its last six opponents, with the only loss coming to Clemson when the Seminoles lost the board battle by two. They also forced their opponents into more turnovers than they committed in four of those wins. The 'Noles lost a first-round NCAA game last year to Wisconsin, but coach Leonard Hamilton knows how to get a team ready for the NCAA after guiding Miami to its only Sweet 16 appearance in 2000.
STRENGTHS: Defense is still the name of the game for the Seminoles. They held opponents to a national-low 37.2-percent shooting in the regular season, and no foe shot better than 50 percent. In fact, only 14 of 30 opponents managed to top 40 percent against the 'Noles. Alabi led the league overall in blocked shots (2.3 a game) and was 25th in the country. He had 31 rejections in 16 conference games. Dulkys tied Maryland's Greivis Vasquez for 3-pointers in a game (2.2) in conference play.
WEAKNESSES: The Seminoles sometimes have lulls offensively that their defense can't make up for. In a loss to Clemson in late February, they held the Tigers to just 19 points in the first half but still led by only two points at the break. They were last in the ACC in free-throw percentage at 64.9 percent for the season. Though their 65.3-percent mark in league games was a slight improvement, the 'Noles still appear to be vulnerable at the stripe in close games.
