FSU Looks to Rebound Against Georgia in ACC/SEC Challenge Clash
Florida State men’s basketball is staring down a pivotal early-season moment. After a humbling loss to Texas A&M on Nov. 28 - a 36-point drubbing that served as a wake-up call - the Seminoles are back in Tallahassee, hoping to right the ship against a surging Georgia squad in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
This isn’t just another non-conference matchup. It’s a chance for FSU (5-2) to reassert its identity against a quality SEC opponent and prove that the blowout in Tampa was more of a blip than a blueprint.
Shooting Slump Meets Shooting Identity
One of the keys to Florida State’s early success this season has been its perimeter shooting. At their best, the Seminoles have looked like one of the most dangerous three-point shooting teams in the nation - stretching defenses, creating lanes, and burying open looks.
But lately, the shots just haven’t been falling.
Over the last three games, FSU has gone ice-cold from deep, hitting just 17 of its last 73 attempts from beyond the arc. That’s under 24% - a far cry from the kind of efficiency they showed earlier in the season. And not coincidentally, both of the Seminoles’ losses have come against SEC opponents: Florida and Texas A&M.
Now comes their third crack at the SEC, this time against a Georgia team that’s quietly put together a strong start at 7-1.
Bulldogs Bring Firepower
Georgia’s only loss came in overtime against Clemson, and they’ve looked sharp otherwise. The backcourt duo of sophomore Jeremiah Wilkinson and junior Blue Cain is leading the charge - Wilkinson is averaging 16.5 points per game, while Cain adds 15.3.
They’re a dynamic pair who can score at all three levels, and they’ll test FSU’s perimeter defense, which struggled mightily against Texas A&M’s guards. If the Seminoles can’t contain dribble penetration or close out on shooters, Georgia has the tools to make them pay.
A Familiar Challenge on Home Court
This will be the second time Florida State hosts Georgia in the ACC/SEC Challenge, a three-year event designed to pit two of college basketball’s premier conferences against each other. The Seminoles will have the home crowd behind them at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, and they’ll need that energy to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET, with coverage on the ACC Network and streaming available via FuboTV.
What’s Ahead for the Seminoles
Tuesday’s game kicks off a critical December stretch for Florida State. After Georgia, they’ll hit the road to face Houston on Dec. 6 - a top-tier opponent and a major test of FSU’s toughness. Then it’s UMass, Dayton, and Mississippi Valley State before ACC play ramps up in earnest.
Here’s a look at the full upcoming schedule:
- Dec. 2 - vs. Georgia (ACC/SEC Challenge), 9 p.m.
- Dec. 6 - at Houston, 8 p.m.
- Dec. 13 - vs.
UMass (Sunrise, FL), Noon
- Dec. 16 - at Dayton, Noon
- Dec. 19 - vs. Mississippi Valley State, 7 p.m.
- Dec. 22 - vs. Jacksonville, 7 p.m.
- Dec. 30 or 31 - at North Carolina, 7 p.m.
- Jan. 3 - vs.
Duke, 3:45 p.m.
- Jan. 10 - vs.
NC State, Noon
- Jan. 13 - at Syracuse, 9 p.m.
- Jan. 17 - vs. Wake Forest, 6 p.m.
- Jan. 20 - at Miami, 7 p.m.
- Jan. 24 - at SMU
- Jan. 28 - vs. California, 7 p.m.
- Jan. 31 - vs. Stanford, 6 p.m.
- Feb. 7 - at Notre Dame, 4 p.m.
- Feb. 10 - vs.
Virginia, 7 p.m.
- Feb. 14 - at Virginia Tech, 2 p.m.
- Feb. 17 or 18 - vs. Boston College, 6 p.m.
- Feb. 21 or 26 - at Clemson, Noon
- Feb. 24 or 25 - vs.
Miami, 9 p.m.
- Feb. 28 - at Georgia Tech, Noon
- March 4 - at Pittsburgh, 9 p.m.
- March 7 - vs.
SMU, 2 p.m.
Final Word
The Seminoles have shown flashes of being a dangerous team this season, but consistency - particularly from the perimeter - remains the missing piece. Tuesday night’s matchup with Georgia is more than just another game on the calendar. It’s a measuring stick, a chance to prove they can bounce back, and a shot to reestablish their rhythm before the schedule gets even tougher.
We’ll see if FSU can rediscover its shooting touch - and its swagger - when the lights come on in Tallahassee.