Despite just a 17-16 record this past season, expectations are high for Florida State’s men’s basketball program for 2015-16. Much of that is due to Leonard Hamilton’s exceptional incoming recruiting class highlighted by McDonald’s All-American Dwayne Bacon. FSU also returns its top six scorers from last season, led by sophomore Xavier Rathan-Mayes.
On Wednesday, Florida State released its non-conference schedule. It features very few marquee match-ups, but there is still a chance for FSU to notch some solid victories early in the season.
The first two contests for the Seminoles will come at the Donald L. Tucker Center against Nicholls State on November 15th and Jacksonville on November 17th. FSU then heads to the Bahamas from November 20-23 for the Paradise Jam where the Seminoles will play three games.
FSU will take on Hofstra on November 20th and either DePaul or South Carolina in the second round. On the other side of the bracket are Indiana State, Tulsa, Ohio and Norfolk State. FSU will play one of those schools in the third round.
The Seminoles will have over a week off before traveling to play Iowa in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. FSU has lost seven straight games in the challenge with its last victory coming over Minnesota late in 2007. Winning in Iowa City will not be easy as the Hawkeyes finished 22-12 a season ago and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
On December 6th, Florida State will take on Virginia Commonwealth in Atlanta. The Seminoles got the better of the Rams when the teams met in the Puerto Rico Shootout two years ago, but it was VCU that eliminated FSU in the Sweet 16 when the teams met at the end of the 2010-11 season. VCU has reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the last five seasons.
After five straight games away from home, the Seminoles return to Tallahassee for two games beginning with Southeastern Louisiana on December 13th. The Seminoles then take on Mississippi State on December 16th. The Bulldogs defeated the Seminoles 62-55 last season in Starkville.
On December 19th, FSU will face Florida Atlantic in Sunrise, Florida for the Orange Bowl Classic. The Seminoles defeated South Florida in last season’s Orange Bowl Classic and have won in Sunrise in each of the last three seasons.
After a home game against Charleston Southern on December 21st, the Seminoles will head to Gainesville to take on rival Florida and conclude the non-conference slate. FSU snapped a 5-game losing streak to the Gators last season in Tallahassee with an improbable 65-63 victory. The winning points for Florida State came on a tip into the wrong basket by Florida forward Jacob Kurtz. The Seminoles have not won in Gainesville however, since November of 2007.
