When FSU football went into some of the worst years of our lifetime, from 2017 to 2020, FSU basketball gave FSU fans something to cheer on. FSU football righted the ship briefly as FSU basketball fell back to earth, but it looks like the fortunes could reverse again going into the 2024-25 season.
FSU football is experiencing the worst season in most of our lifetimes, and FSU basketball looks to build on its (17-16, 10-10 ACC) record a year ago. It wasn't a great season, but better than the nine-win season in 2022-23.
FSU basketball will open its 2024-25 season in the Tucker Center against Northern Kentucky. FSU won its two exhibition games handily and will open the season as -8 betting favorites over the Northern Kentucky Norse. The over/under points total is 146.5. Those odds imply a 77-69 win for the Noles. Northern Kentucky was (18-15, 12-8 Horizon) in 2023-24.
FSU basketball fans will have a lot of new faces to learn. However, leading scorer Jamir Watkins returns after entering the transfer portal before deciding to return to Tallahassee. FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton lost players to the transfer portal but added some experience like Justin Thomas, who played against Northern Kentucky last year while with Milwaukee. They added Bostyn Holt from South Dakota, Jerry Deng from Hampton, and Taylor Bol Bowen returns for his sophomore season.
FSU has a lot of size and length like vintage FSU basketball teams. Will they gel as a unit and play on both ends of the floor? This opening game will be a good barometer for what we can expect from this team in 2024-25. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. and will air on ACC Extra.
Odds via Draftkings.