NCAA Basketball: 2021-22 keys and storylines for Florida State vs Florida

By Bryan Mauro | Nov 12, 2021

Florida State Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton against the Colorado Buffaloes in the second half during the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 22, 2021, at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Ind. Mandatory Credit: Albert Cesare/IndyStar via USA TODAY Sports /

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Home Court

Early in the season, this is going to be a story almost everywhere. Fans are back and it is going to be a huge factor in this game. Neither team played with fans last year and it may be an adjustment for some players. The game is in Gainesville and the Gator fans are going to be rowdy with their rivals coming into town. The Exactech Arena is going to be rocking.

Hostile home crowds can change a game as they are going to create the energy for the home team especially after a run or a huge defensive stand. Florida State isn’t going to be affected by the crowd as they have an experienced team. Playing in the ACC this won’t be the last time that the Seminoles play in a hostile environment.

The Gators also have enough experience that they are going to be able to create their own energy most of the time, but there is going to be a little extra energy in the building as their fans have so much pent up energy from not being able to cheer in person last year, that it is going to be all left out there for their rivalry matchup.

Florida went 11-4 at home in the 2019-2020 season and one of those losses was against Florida State in a game that the Gators were completely shut down. In fact, the Gators have not beaten Florida State since 2013-2014 so there is going to be a lot of added motivation in this game from the fans to make this one of the toughest places to play for at least one Sunday.

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