FSU Basketball 2019 ACC Tournament Semifinal Preview: vs. Virginia
By Jason Parker
Here’s a preview of FSU basketball and their upcoming game scheduled for play during the 2018-19 season.
As the FSU basketball team entered Charlotte for the 2019 edition of the ACC Tournament, the Seminoles knew they were going to be facing a team they had plenty of recent experience against having played their foes in the quarterfinals just less than a week and a half before to get that coveted double bye.
What the Seminoles didn’t expect was that they were again going to have to play some extra basketball against that same team with another wild finish that would send them back to the semifinal round for just the fifth time since joining the conference nearly three decades before.
Now, the Noles find themselves facing a team who may be in the running for top overall seed in next week’s NCAA Tournament for the right to play for the conference title on Saturday night.
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Here’s our recap of the last game action and a preview of what’s ahead for the Seminoles.
Last Week Recap
After beating Virginia Tech in the home finale in overtime back on March 5th, it was the Seminoles and Hokies for the right to move on to the semis. For FSU basketball, the first half was one that they want to bottle up and keep the rest of the tournament and through March Madness as they had a 13 point lead early on.
But, the Hokies took a page from what took place in Tallahassee and cut the lead down to two points at the half – and while the Seminoles would lead almost all of the second half, Virginia Tech’s Kerry Blackshear hit two straight baskets to give the Hokies a three point lead. With just seconds left in regulation, Devin Vassell hit three of his team high 14 points and sent the game to overtime.
In overtime, Virginia Tech would take a three point lead with over a minute and a half left before FSU basketball got a three pointer from Phil Cofer and – after a Hokies miss – a shot from Terance Mann that hit all parts of the rim and backboard to go in for two of his 10 points and give the Noles a two point victory.
Opponent Preview
Next up for FSU basketball is a semifinal showdown with the second ranked team in the country and the top seed in the ACC tournament, the Virginia Cavaliers. The men from Charlottesville entered the tournament with a 28-2 record that included a 13-point victory over the Seminoles in the conference opener for both teams.
In their tournament opener on Thursday, the Cavaliers played like anything but the top seeded team when they were down by two points at the half against eighth seeded N.C. State. The second half was a different story as they scored 49 points and cruised to a 20 point victory over the Wolfpack.
Must Read. History making season final real title chance for Noles. light
Interesting Fact
With a win on Friday, FSU basketball will be able to do something that is very rare of late – having a win over both the Cavaliers and Virginia Tech in the same season. Over the previous six seasons, it has only happen one time when the Noles got a victory over the commonwealth in the 2016-17 season before being a third seed in the NCAA tournament.