TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (seminoles.com) – Marquee games at Florida, against Tennessee in the Emerald Coast Classic, at Indiana in the ACC / Big Ten Challenge and six games at home in the Donald L. Tucker Center highlight the Florida State Men’s Basketball non-conference schedule which was released today by Seminole Head Coach Leonard Hamilton. The Seminoles will play 11 out-of-conference games in addition to its first 20-game ACC schedule – including their season-opener at Pitt on November 6. Florida State’s game against Pitt marks the first time in school history the Seminoles will play a conference game to begin their overall season.
Following their season opener at Pittsburgh, the Seminoles will play their annual in-state rivalry game at Florida on November 10 as they look for their school-record sixth consecutive victory against the Gators. Florida State has won five consecutive games against Florida including victories in both of its last two trips to Gainesville (73-71 on December 30, 2015 and 83-66 on December 4, 2017). Hamilton has won a school-record nine games against the Gators – he is the winningest coach in school history against the Gators.
“We are going to face a number of challenging games early this season,” said Hamilton. “But this team and these players will be ready to face the competition on the non-conference schedule. With the competition we will face early on – including playing an ACC game to open the season — our preparation from day one will be more important than ever. We are going to be a good team and will be challenged every night we play whether its playing early or playing 20 ACC games.”
Florida State opens its home portion of its non-conference schedule against Western Carolina (November 15) in the first of four consecutive games at home. In addition to the Catamounts coming to Tallahassee (the night prior to the Seminoles’ football game against Alabama State), the Seminoles play host to Chattanooga (November 20), St. Francis (Pa.) (November 23 on an open date for the football team) and Chicago State (November 25). Florida State’s games against Chattanooga and Chicago State are home games as part of the Emerald Coast Classic.
The Seminoles play their holiday tournament in the state of Florida for the second consecutive season as they travel to Niceville, Fla., to play Tennessee (November 29) and either Purdue or VCU (November 30) in the Emerald Coast Classic championship round at The Arena at Northwest Florida State College.
Florida State begins the month of December traveling to play at Indiana (December 3) for just the second time in school history in the ACC / Big Ten Challenge.
Florida State will play host to North Florida (December 17) and North Alabama (December 28).
The Seminoles will play in the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, Fla., on December 21 for the eight consecutive season against an as of yet unnamed opponent.
The Seminoles play two exhibition games in the Donald L. Tucker Center on October 22 and November 1.
Florida State finished the 2018-19 season with a school record for wins and a 29-8 record, a school record for ACC wins and a 13-5 record, its third appearance in the ACC Championship game and its second consecutive NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 birth. The Seminoles advanced to the Elite Eight in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Florida State is 49-3 (.942 winning percentage in its last 52 home games) since the tail end of the 2015-16 season.
The games times and television designations will be announced at a later date.
Season tickets for the 2019-20 season which includes each of their six non-conference games and their 10-game home ACC schedule are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by visiting seminoles.com or by calling the Florida State Ticket office at 1-888-378-6653.
