Florida State vs. Florida: 3 takeaways from the Sunshine Showdown

An opening night rivalry game on Tuesday between Florida and Florida State turned into a massive blowout in favor of the Seminoles.

The Champions Classic was the main course of college basketball’s opening night, but a rivalry game between the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles seemed like a solid hors d’oeuvre.

Two of Florida’s premier teams were meeting at the start of the season for the first time since the turn of the century. Outside of the Champions Classic affairs in Indianapolis, it marked the only game between teams from major conferences.

Yet the game turned out to be decidedly one-sided.

Florida holds the all-time advantage in meetings between the Gators and Seminoles, but Florida State entered on a rivalry winning streak. They continued their streak in convincing fashion, walloping Florida 81-60.

Florida State entered the contest ranked No. 17 in the AP poll, but Florida possessed an intriguing combination of experience and young players ready to step into major roles immediately.

The Seminoles’ experience won the day. With over 70 percent of last season’s scoring from an Elite Eight team returning to Tallahassee, Florida State justified their ranking and then some, easily befriending their home crowd as the fans chanted Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” before the last media timeout.

Florida State played two exhibition games prior to this contest, while Florida played just one. Perhaps the Gators reflected some rust. Or perhaps one game is too small a sample size to derive major takeaways for these two teams. Probably not.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday’s lopsided rivalry game.