NCAA Tournament: VCU Outlasts Florida State In Overtime, Advances To First Elite 8 Appearance

Florida State vs. VCU: it’s the only Sweet 16 matchup of double-digit seeds in the 2011 NCAA Tournament bracket. It was also one of the most interesting possible games of the 2011 NCAA Tournament schedule, with a beautiful contrast of styles, and it will be worth tuning in to see which one wins out at 9:57 p.m. Eastern from San Antonio on Friday. Marv Albert and Steve Kerr will have the call on TBS.

The knock on Florida State all year has been simple: yes, Leonard Hamilton’s defense is superb (tops in defensive efficiency, and allowing opponents to shoot less than 40% on both twos and threes), but can the Seminoles score? They did on Sunday against the middling Notre Dame defense, especially from deep (nine of 19 threes went down), and if they can combine that sort of punch with the chokehold their lanky, athletic half-court defense can create, the ‘Noles might well head to Houston for the Final Four. But, uh, don’t count on that: casual might be a kind adjective for FSU’s ball security, and getting flustered by an ad hoc press from the Fighting Irish bodes ill against the signature VCU press.