ACC-SEC showdown between Florida State and Missouri in West

Published

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) No. 9 seed Florida State (20-11) vs. No. 8 seed Missouri (20-12)

South Region; Nashville, Tennessee, Friday, 9:50 p.m. ET

BOTTOM LINE: It's a battle of Power Five conference teams squaring off with Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin's eighth-seeded Tigers making their NCAA Tournament debut in his first season after tying for fourth in the Southeastern Conference. No. 9 seed Florida State has won its past three NCAA Tournament openers. These Seminoles come in having lost three of their last four, including their lone game at the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.

HEY PORTER: Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr. is healthy. The question is how effective will he be? Porter lasted two minutes in his season debut before hurting a disc in his back that required surgery. He returned for the Tigers' opener in the SEC Tournament on March 8 and had 12 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes.

THIN BENCH: Martin has only seven scholarship players available with senior Jordan Barnett, the Tigers' second-leading scorer averaging 13.7 points per game, suspended against Florida State. Barnett was arrested last weekend for driving while intoxicated in Columbia. But Barnett traveled with Missouri to Nashville and will be available if the Tigers advance to the second round.

OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE: Florida State ranked third in the ACC averaging 81.8 points per game and topped 90 points nine times this season. Missouri has held opponents below its scoring average in 23 of 30 games. The Tigers also ranked second in the SEC in rebounding defense, allowing just 32.6 rebounds per game.

BEEN LONG TIME: This will be the fourth game all-time between these teams, and Florida State leads the series 2-1. But the Seminoles and Tigers haven't met since Dec. 19, 1980, when Florida State won at the Omni in Atlanta.

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