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Not ranked, received 9 votes in the ESPN/USA Today Poll, none in the AP. Not a tourney team last year. From the few previews I could access, they weren't predicted to finish in the top half of the ACC.

This is by no means an exhaustive analysis so people out there in the know please chime in. I don't expect a win, but on the surface this isn't an impossible game.

Lots of talent (some NBA quality) but very inconsistent. When on, they can drill ANYONE in the country (esp in Tallahassee) by 20 or so. But can also look awful.

Came close to making tourney last year and I suspect they will make NCAAs this year

There is no comparison talent-wise between FSU and SMU. IF FSU plays well, SMU has zero chance no matter how well SMU plays. Luckily, FSU is very inconsistent and that is something to hang the SMU hat on

Nice schedule after they play us:

11/24 at #5 Pittsburgh 7:30 PM
11/28 at #9 Wisconsin 7:30 PM
12/03 at #1 Florida

Pony_Fan wrote:Nice schedule after they play us:

11/24 at #5 Pittsburgh 7:30 PM
11/28 at #9 Wisconsin 7:30 PM
12/03 at #1 Florida

Good luck with all that, Leonard Hamilton

If my memory serves me correct, FSU gave Duke their only loss in the regular season last year. If the play "team" ball and compete to their full level, the can hang with any top 25 team in the country. Should be a good test for us.

The trend for the Noles in the first two games is that they have put themselves in 9-point and 10-point holes before they played like the better team.

They shot about 54 percent in their 73-59 win over Illinois State.

FSU has gone primarily with a 9 man rotation, Al Thornton is a 6'8" forward who can play inside and out, and he's their go-to guy, but they're getting nice production from their bench, as well. They havent shot too many 3's, but their hitting a nice percentage, particularly Ralph Mims a guard coming off the bench. As a group, FSU's starting 5 is shooting better than 55% from the floor, it looks like their getting alot of points in the paint, and in transition. Jerel Allen, another guard off the bench, is shooting 62% from the floor, and 40% from the 3-point arc.

They arent great free-throw shooters as a group, but Thornton is hitting around 77% at the line, and if its a close game I would expect they would have him handle the ball on every inbounds.

FSU isnt a particularly tall team, we should have a height advantage. Uche Echefu starts at center, he's a pretty big body, but not that productive, only averaging about 3 rebounds per game. AFter Thornton and Echefu FSU gets pretty weak in the frontcourt. Freshman Ryan Reid is playing consistent minutes and scoring 4 points a game, off the bench.

I almost forgot how much I enjoy the XTC reports. Thanks.

Florida St. is favored by 13 points tonight...

Go ponies!