Revisting FSU’s Sweet 16 History (March 16, 1972: FSU 70, Minnesota 56)

per Mike:

FSU 70, Minnesota 56
March 16, 1972
Mideast Region in Dayton, Ohio
The second ever trip for Florida State to the NCAA Tournament resulted in a trip to the national championship game. The Sweet 16 match-up pitted the Seminoles against Minnesota in Dayton. Rowland Garrett stole the show for FSU, leading five Seminoles in double-figures by finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds. A stifling FSU defense held the Golden Gophers to just 33 percent shooting from the field. Clyde Turner led Minnesota with 19 points.

https://www.thedailynole.com/2019/03/27/revisting-fsus-sweet-16-history/

Go Gophers!!

I was at that game in Dayton. The other 2 participants in the Mideast Regional that year were Kentucky and Marquette. What many folks don't remember is that they actually played a 3rd place game in the regional. The Gophers beat Marquette in that meaningless game.

FSU had a small, lightning-fast guard (Otto Petty) who zipped up and down the court, neutralizing the Gophers vaunted full court press. FSU won the regional, easily beating Kentucky, then went on to the Final Four eventually losing a close game to undefeated UCLA. That was an excellent FSU team and gave the Bruins all they could handle in the Final.