Florida State Hosts Cal in Rare Matchup, Looking to Turn the Tide at Home
TALLAHASSEE - It’s not often you see Florida State and Cal face off on the hardwood, and even rarer to see it happen in Tallahassee. But that’s exactly what’s on tap Wednesday night at the Donald L. Tucker Center, as the Seminoles welcome the Golden Bears for a 7 p.m. tipoff on the ACC Network.
This marks the first time Cal has ever played in FSU’s building, and just the third meeting all-time between the two programs. The series is tied 1-1, with the Seminoles taking the first matchup back in 2008 at the Global Sports Classic, and Cal winning the most recent battle in Berkeley last January.
For Florida State, this game comes at a pivotal moment in their season. Sitting at 8-12 overall and 1-6 in ACC play, the ‘Noles are still searching for their first conference win at home.
There have been flashes of promise-most recently a gritty 65-63 road win over Miami-but consistency has eluded them. Saturday’s narrow 83-80 loss at SMU was another reminder of how close this team can be, but also how far it still needs to go.
First-year head coach Luke Loucks is still navigating the ups and downs of a rebuild, trying to establish a new identity while competing in one of college basketball’s most unforgiving leagues. The Seminoles have been solid at home overall (7-4), but they’ll need more than just home-court energy to slow down a Cal team that’s been one of the surprises of the season.
The Golden Bears come in with a 15-5 record and a 3-4 mark in league play. They started the year 12-1-Cal’s best opening stretch since the 1959-60 season-and have picked up momentum again with back-to-back wins. A statement victory over North Carolina at home and a convincing road win at Stanford have them trending in the right direction.
Still, road games have been a challenge for Mark Madsen’s squad. Cal is just 1-3 in true road contests this season and 2-3 overall away from home.
Madsen, now in his third year at the helm in Berkeley, has brought a toughness and structure to the program that’s beginning to pay dividends. His overall record with the Bears sits just under .500 (42-43), but the trajectory is clearly upward.
For Florida State, this is a chance to reset the tone of their season. A win over a surging Cal team could inject some much-needed confidence into a group that’s been battling but hasn’t quite broken through in conference play. For Cal, it’s an opportunity to prove they can take their show on the road-and keep climbing.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday night in Tallahassee.