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ACC basketball: Florida State Vs. Virginia Tech preview, prediction, TV schedule

By Brock Zimmermann

Feb 28, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Dwayne Bacon (4) drives the ball against Duke Blue Devils guard Matt Jones (13) in the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Dwayne Bacon (4) drives the ball against Duke Blue Devils guard Matt Jones (13) in the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /
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The No. 16 Florida State Seminoles will take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in the ACC basketball tournament quarterfinal on Thursday.

TV Schedule: Thursday, March 9, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

Arena: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York

The ACC basketball tournament has already given us some great games, and the quarterfinal game between the Seminoles and Hokies shouldn’t disappoint. The Hokies are coming off their second-highest scoring performance of the season following a 99-90 second round win over Wake Forest.

Zach DeLay had a career night with 31 points and 15 rebounds, both of which are season highs. He helped pull the Hokies out of a halftime deficit and iced the game with several free throws late in the second half. DeLay made 14-of-18 total free throws on Wednesday.

He will need to have a big game to give Virginia Tech a chance against Florida State. He, along with Seth Allen, the ACC Sixth Man of the Year, will need to be on their game early. Allen didn’t play against the Seminoles in their only meeting this season and DeLay put up 19 points in the 93-78 loss in Tallahassee.

Dwayne Bacon leads Florida State in points per game and scored 17 against the Hokies in the first meeting. Three other Seminoles scored in double figures and Florida State pulled away midway through the first and would never trail after halftime.

Florida State had home-court advantage in the first meeting but should manage a victory against the Hokies in Brooklyn. The offense struggles away from home but they have a great bench that should match up well against Virginia Tech.

Next: Duke vs. Louisville preview

The Seminoles typically play up to 12 players compared to Virginia Tech’s seven or eight. The Seminoles also have an extra day of rest and will get added energy from their bench players. Virginia Tech has improved its tournament resume but Florida State should take care of business.

Prediction: Florida State 84, Virginia Tech 77