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Florida State Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Seminoles

By Brian Rauf

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Head coach head coach Leonard Hamilton of the Florida State Seminoles speaks to his team during the first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Vermont Catamounts at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Head coach head coach Leonard Hamilton of the Florida State Seminoles speaks to his team during the first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Vermont Catamounts at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 15: Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Florida Gators celebrates in the game against the LSU Tigers during the Quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 15: Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Florida Gators celebrates in the game against the LSU Tigers during the Quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 15, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Non-conference schedule

Nov. 10 – at Florida
Nov. 15 – Western Carolina
Nov. 20 – Chattanooga
Nov. 23 – Saint Francis (PA)
Nov. 25 – Chicago State
Nov. 29 – vs. Tennessee (Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, FL)
Nov. 30 – vs. Purdue/VCU (Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, FL)
Dec. 3 – at Indiana
Dec. 17 – North Florida
Dec. 21 – vs. USF (Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, FL)
Dec. 28 – North Alabama

The first two months of Florida State’s season will be weird.

They will start with a road conference game at Pitt on November 6th, which is part of the ACC’s slate of season-opening conference games. Every ACC team will play a conference game on the first or second day of the season with the exception of Duke, who will be playing Kansas in the Champions Classic. ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced this in March as part of the league’s move to a 20-game conference schedule.

“Next year begins our move to a 20-game conference schedule, and to be able to open the season with a round of conference games makes it truly unique. We believe it will be a great way to tipoff another outstanding season of ACC basketball for our coaches, student-athletes and fans.  In addition, we’re pleased to have a terrific partner in ESPN to televise these games on the new ACC Network and its other channels.”

Florida State will also another early ACC game against Clemson on December 8 to further break up their non-conference schedule.

That has limited the amount of non-conference games the Seminoles will play and they are evenly split between five tough tests and six (projected) easy cakewalks.

Those tough tests start with their first non-conference game at a Florida team that I think can win the SEC. That will be their biggest road test with that trip to Indiana being a close second. No one really knows what to make of the Hoosiers, but Assembly Hall is one of the toughest places to play in the country.

That game against the Gators is also FSU’s biggest “measuring-stick game,” and they won’t get another until the Emerald Coast Classic later that month – Tennessee, Purdue, and VCU make up that loaded field. No matter who FSU plays in the second game, they are going to face two NCAA Tournament-quality teams on a neutral court, which is a great chance to boost their resume.

They’ll get another chance right before Christmas against South Florida, as the Bulls are projected to be a bubble team.

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