How FSU-Miami basketball became a crucial ACC game

FSU basketball hits the court Sunday night in the first of two games this season against their in-state foes in what has become must see ACC action.

On Sunday night, the FSU basketball team will be in South Florida for a showdown with the rival Miami Hurricanes in what will be a historical game for the two programs – as it will be the first time the Seminoles and Canes have met on the basketball court with both teams ranked at the same time.

While most of that has to do with the fact the Hurricanes didn’t play the sport for nearly a decade and a half along with the fact that both football factories don’t have the deepest basketball legacy, it’s also a sign that Florida State and Miami are turning the corner and ready to compete with the ACC on a yearly basis.

It started during the 2011-12 season when FSU basketball brought home their first ever ACC Tournament championship, designating them as the winners of the conference for that season. The following season, it was the Hurricanes who were crowned the champs and those in the league offices in North Carolina didn’t know what to do with themselves.

In the last six seasons entering the 2017-18 campaign, the two schools have combined to five NCAA Tournament trips, two trips to the NIT Final Four in New York along with those beloved conference crowns. The annual game between the Seminoles and Canes has not just become important in the Sunshine State – it’s huge in the whole 15 team league.

For both teams, this Sunday’s game is as close to a must win as possible despite having 15 conference games left. FSU basketball, at 12-2, would love to get a win to finish with a 2-1 record in their opening three game stretch against ranked opponents and keep some momentum with games against Louisville and Syracuse in coming days.

For the 12-2 Hurricanes, the must win comes from the fact they lost a game Wednesday to a bad Georgia Tech team on Wednesday and have games against ranked Clemson and ranked Duke in the coming days after facing the Seminoles.

Next: Noles avoid late letdown to upset No. 12 North Carolina

We all know that anytime the Noles and Canes meet, it’s beyond important for bragging rights and beating the best of the best. For the better part of this decade, that importance picks up when both teams can compete for a conference crown – as they were predicted to do before the season – if they play up to their potential.