FSU basketball: Noles improve to No. 17 in latest AP Rankings

FSU basketball (10-3, 6-2 ACC) hasn’t played in over a week after pausing activities due to COVID-19.

However, the team improved three spots in the latest rankings released by the Associated Press.

The Noles haven’t played since an 11-point loss against unranked Georgia Tech but saw their ranking improve with teams previously ranked in front of them suffering losses.

FSU basketball returns to action Saturday as they host Wake Forest (5-8, 2-8 ACC)  at noon. The Noles have played the last few games without guard Anthony Polite, who’s been battling a shoulder injury.

It sounds like he could return to action soon, which should be a big boost to the team. Polite was averaging career highs in nearly every category through nine games. He’s averaging 9.6 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and is connecting on 53 percent of his three-point attempts.

Polite has made some timely baskets this year and likely be slowly worked back into the lineup when he’s ready. The Noles have seven regular-season games remaining, with only two of against ranked teams, including ACC leader Virginia.

It’ll be a chance for the Noles to win outright and claim their second consecutive ACC regular-season title. However, they’ll need to find the focus and intensity they had coming out of their first COVID-related pause at the beginning of the year that saw them win five consecutive games.

The last two games have featured sloppy turnovers, lack of consistent intensity, and poor shot selections.

FSU basketball projects as the No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament at the moment, but a solid finish to the season could improve that seeding a couple of spots with the ACC not being as strong as normal this season.

Here’s to hoping the guys find the formula they had a few games ago and get back to obliterating the competition.