FSU Basketball Weekly Preview: January 1st-6th

Here’s a preview of FSU basketball and their upcoming games scheduled for play during the 2018-19 season.

With the 2019 calendar year just around the corner, the FSU basketball team might not want 2018 to go away so quickly. After last year’s amazing run to the Elite Eight after rocky play in the ACC, the Seminoles are a top 10 team to start this season after playing what arguably was the toughest non-conference schedule in their history.

It was a schedule that included several teams that made tournament appearances last season and are projected to do so again this season – including one of the three teams Leonard Hamilton’s team beat in their last week of games – with the only loss coming against the defending national champs.

Now, the Noles get ready to start off the new year after having over a week off with their final non-conference game before a three game stretch to start conference play that will show whether or not this team really has the potential to make a deep tournament run.

More from FSU Basketball

Here’s our recap of the last week of game action and a preview of what’s ahead for the Seminoles.

Last Game Week Recap

Back on December 17th, FSU basketball started a three game stretch of games with a home showdown against Southeast Missouri State. The Redhawks came to play early on and were tied at the half with the Seminoles before Trent Forrest dropped some of his game high 23 points and the Noles remembered how to shoot in the second half to get the 85-68 victory.

The game was significant because it marked the return of Phil Cofer, who had been sidelined all season with an injury but played his first five minutes of the season. He wouldn’t play two day later against North Florida, but the Noles again overcame poor shooting from three point range as Mfiondu Kabengele had 24 points and Terance Mann added 17 in the 95-81 victory.

Saturday the 22nd, the Seminoles made their 10th appearance in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic in South Florida – and played their best game of the week as FSU basketball shot 55 percent from the field and three point range as David Nichols dropped 19 and Mann added 17 more in the 81-59 victory over a St. Louis team that could make it to March Madness this year.

Opponent Preview

The Seminoles will ring in the New Year with a home afternoon game against Winthrop inside the Tucker Center. The Eagles come into the game with an 8-4 record having won their last four games with three of their losses coming against traditional tournament teams Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Davidson.

Saturday, FSU basketball is back on the road to open ACC play against the Virginia Cavaliers in a battle of top 10 teams in the conference. The Cavaliers sit at 12-0 on the season and played their final non-conference game against Marshall on Monday. Last season, Virginia came into Tallahassee as the top ranked team and escaped with a four-point win.

Interesting Fact

Getting a win in their ACC opener would be a big deal for FSU basketball as they have done so just three times in the last eight seasons. With a stretch to start off the year against Virginia, Miami and Duke, the Seminoles would like to continue playing hot and at least tie their longest win streak to start conference play – which was four games during the 2016-17 season.

Home/FSU Basketball