Who has the edge?
Guards
McKinley Wright IV waited four years to dance on the March Madness stage. If Saturday’s performance (12 points, 13 assists, zero turnovers) against Georgetown is any indication, CU’s starting point guard can step with the best of them when the stakes are high. Now comes an even bigger challenge against a long, athletic FSU backcourt led by 6foot-4 senior M.J. Walker (12.5 ppg, 43.6% from 3) and 6-5 redshirt junior Anthony Polite (9.5 ppg, 42.6% from 3). Walker is a second-team All-ACC selection and a possible second-round pick in this summer’s NBA draft, while Polite is one of the Seminoles’ top defenders and a deadly shooter. Expect Buffs defensive stopper Eli Parquet to get the assignment on the former in what could be a critical matchup. Edge: Buffs
Wings
In his best performance of the season, CU senior D’Shawn Schwartz was nearly flawless against the Hoyas, sinking five straight 3s and 6-of-8 from the field en route to an 18-point, four-assist game. All of which was more than enough to make up for an uncharacteristically off night from senior grad transfer Jeriah Horne (1-of-7, two points) and quiet showings from the Buffs’ reserve wings.
Next up: ACC freshman of the year and future NBA lottery pick Scottie Barnes — a bouncy 6-9 forward who can create for himself and others. The Florida native came off the bench in all but seven games this season but leads the Seminoles in assists per game (4.1) while averaging 10.6 points on 50.5% shooting. It will be imperative that the Buffs wall off the paint from his dribble drives. Edge: ’Noles
Big men
Much like the rest of the Seminoles roster, the FSU front line is sizeable. Third-team all-ACC pick Raiquan Gray is a 6-8, 260-pound bruiser who should give CU power forward Evan Battey all he can handle. And 7-1 Serbian center Balsa Koprivica provides solid rim protection on the back end of FSU’s excellent half-court defense. Throw in another 7-1 center behind him (Tanor Ngom), and Buffs 7-footer Dallas Walton figures to have his work cut out for him. If freshman super-sub Jabari Walker can remain hot from behind the arc — he was a perfect 5-of-5 Saturday — CU might be able to pull one of those bigs out of the paint. Edge: Even
Coaching
Leonard Hamilton is an old hat when it comes to March Madness. Now in his 19th year in Tallahassee, the 72-yearold has taken FSU to the tourney eight times in the past 13 seasons, with the ‘Noles reaching the Sweet 16 or better each of their past two visits. Armed with yet another talented roster filled with size and skill, this could be Hamilton’s best chance yet at an elusive Final Four appearance. If Tad Boyle is to guide the Buffs to their first Sweet 16 of the expanded tournament era, he’s going to have to earn it.