by Bill from Tampa
OK, I know it's nearly college football season with our favorite college team putting the toe to leather (as Gene Deckerhoff likes to say) in less than a month and few are thinking ahead to the start of basketball season.
But in a week or two the season schedule of FSU's basketball team will be released. So let's go over what we know as to who will be on the schedule or who might be.
The Mercer Bears will be an early season opponent coming to the civic center on November 23rd to finish that home and home contract. The 'Noles destroyed the Bears last year 89-50.
We know that the Seminoles will play Billy Donovan's team in Tallahassee on November 28th, the day after the annual football clash. Donovan's team, which returns all five starters, is expected to be ranked in the top ten in the preseason polls and should be highly ranked when they come to town.
FSU will also host Ohio State as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on November 30th at 7:30. No Evan Turner this time, but Jon Diebler who lit the Seminoles up from three point land a la Scott Wood is back.
On December 23rd, the 'Noles will take on Hawaii for the first time in 39 years (since the infamous game in which Hugh Durham was tossed by the ref and then refused to leave the floor forcing the refs to call the game as a forfeit, and Hawaii later in that tournament beating FSU 81-76) as part of the Diamond Head Classic. A game with Butler or Utah awaits after that game. Oh, and be sure to take a nap prior to the game with the Rainbows as tip off will be after 1:00 AM EST.
A few days before that the Seminoles will make use of the trip out west by playing at Loyola Marymount, prior to heading to Hawaii. The Lions were 18-16 last season, that included wins over Notre Dame and Gonzaga.
Other out of conference teams FSU has on the schedule is the return game at Auburn, FSU won last year 76-72, and a well placed source tells me UNCG will be coming to Tallahassee.
Other possibilities include Stetson, which has been on the schedule annually the last several years, and Jacksonville, the opponent FSU has played the most in its history (but they don't consult with me for some reason putting the schedule together, so we will have to see when the schedule is released how correct I am).
There was also talk a few years ago that once the College of Charleston built its new facility that they wanted FSU to come visit. I'm not sure if that has been finalized or not, but if it is I would think it would be a home and home series. You probably also recall former Seminole player Andrew Wilson is an assistant coach there.
As for the ACC part of the schedule, obviously the 'Noles will play home and home versus Clemson and Miami, the Seminoles primary conference partners. Home and away conference games will also include UNC, NC State, and Wake Forest. Conference home games only with no return trip will be Boston College, Duke, and Virginia. FSU will travel to Georgia Tech, Maryland (no Greveis Vasquez, aka Shimmy Boy, anymore to torture FSU fans), and Virginia Tech.
So it looks to be a pretty decent home schedule that FSU fans should enjoy coming out to see.
Comments? Questions? Kudos?