Florida State men’s basketball is back in Tallahassee this Wednesday, Jan. 28, as the Seminoles welcome Cal to the Donald L. Tucker Center for a key ACC matchup.
While these two programs don’t have a long history, there’s a bit of intrigue here-this marks just the third all-time meeting between FSU and Cal, and the first ever in Tallahassee. The series is currently tied 1-1, with Cal taking the most recent contest, 77-68, last season in the Golden Bears’ first year as an ACC member.
For Florida State (8-12, 1-6 ACC), it’s been a tough stretch lately, and the road has been both figuratively and literally rough. The Seminoles are coming off a hard-fought 83-80 loss at SMU-a game that extended beyond the court thanks to travel delays caused by a winter storm that swept across much of the country. FSU left for Dallas last Thursday and didn’t make it back home until Monday, which certainly adds a wrinkle to their preparation for this one.
Despite the record, there are bright spots on this Seminoles squad, starting with Robert McCray V. The junior guard has been the engine of this offense, leading the team with 14.3 points per game while also topping the ACC in total assists (130) and dishing out 6.5 per game.
He’s not doing it alone, either-FSU has three other players averaging double figures: Chauncey Wiggins (11.6 PPG), LaJae Jones (11.1 PPG), and Kobe MaGee (10.1 PPG). That kind of scoring balance gives the Seminoles some versatility on the offensive end, even if the results haven’t always followed.
On the other side, Cal (15-5, 3-4 ACC) comes in with momentum after a 78-66 win over Stanford. The Golden Bears have shown they can score, and they’ve got the firepower to back it up.
Junior guard Dai Dai Ames leads the way with 17.1 points per game, and he’s flanked by a trio of double-digit scorers in Justin Pippen (14.8 PPG), John Camden (14 PPG), and Chris Bell (12.8 PPG). That’s a four-headed offensive attack that can stretch defenses and make teams pay from multiple spots on the floor.
This matchup kicks off a key stretch for Florida State, with four of their next six games coming at home. After Cal, the Seminoles will host Stanford, another opportunity to find their footing in conference play and build some momentum heading into February.
Tip-off against Cal is set for Wednesday night, and for Florida State, it’s not just another game-it’s a chance to reset, regroup, and maybe start rewriting the story of their season.