Florida State Hosts Cal in Rare Matchup, Looking to Snap ACC Home Skid
TALLAHASSEE - Florida State men’s basketball is back on its home court Wednesday night, welcoming the Cal Golden Bears to the Donald L. Tucker Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff on the ACC Network. It’s a rare East Coast-West Coast clash, and the first time these two programs have ever faced off in Tallahassee.
The Seminoles and Golden Bears have only met twice before, most recently in January of 2025 when Cal defended its home floor with a win. Their first meeting came way back in 2008 during the Global Sports Classic, a neutral-site tournament where Florida State came out on top.
This time around, both teams enter the matchup with very different trajectories. Florida State is 8-12 overall and 1-6 in ACC play, still searching for its first conference win at home this season.
The Seminoles have shown flashes, including a gritty 65-63 road win over Miami last week, but consistency has been elusive. Just days after that win, they dropped a tight one at SMU, 83-80.
Still, FSU has been more competitive in Tallahassee, holding a 7-4 record at home.
The Noles are led by first-year head coach Luke Loucks, who’s navigating the growing pains of a rebuild while trying to instill a new identity. Loucks has leaned on a mix of young talent and veteran leadership, but the ACC grind has been unforgiving so far.
On the other side, Cal enters the game at 15-5 overall and 3-4 in conference play. The Bears came out of the gates scorching, starting 12-1 - their best opening stretch since the 1959-60 season. That early momentum has cooled a bit in league play, but they’re currently riding a two-game win streak, including an impressive 84-78 home win over North Carolina and a convincing road victory at rival Stanford, 78-66.
Mark Madsen, now in his third season at the helm in Berkeley, has the Bears playing with confidence. While their road record isn’t stellar - just 1-3 in true road games and 2-3 away from home overall - they’ve shown they can hang with high-level competition when they’re clicking.
This matchup offers a unique midseason test for both squads. For Florida State, it’s a chance to reset and build momentum heading back into ACC play. For Cal, it’s an opportunity to prove they can travel cross-country and still bring the same energy that’s fueled their strong start.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET, and all eyes in Tallahassee will be on whether the Noles can protect home court and turn a corner in front of their fans.