Florida State's basketball season took a dramatic turn starting with their first clash against rival Miami. Sitting at 7-11 and winless in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Seminoles ignited their resurgence with a narrow 65-63 victory over Miami on January 20. This win sparked a streak of seven victories in their last nine games.
Now, Miami is eager for redemption as they head to Tallahassee to face Florida State once more.
Under the guidance of first-year coach Jai Lucas, Miami (21-6, 10-4 ACC) has enjoyed a strong season. They've claimed victory in six of their last eight matchups, including a significant win over North Carolina.
However, they're coming off a tough 86-83 loss to then-No. 14 Virginia, a game that could have boosted them in the rankings.
Miami's dynamic trio of Malik Reneau, Tre Donaldson, and Shelton Henderson shone against Virginia, each contributing over 16 points. Yet, turnovers proved costly, with Reneau responsible for six of the team's nine. Donaldson's late foul on a 3-point attempt with just 3.6 seconds left allowed Virginia to clinch the game.
Coach Lucas reflected, "It's one possession here or there that kind of changed the game. It's nothing really to be upset about because my team played good. I'm just more frustrated we weren't able to pull it out in the end."
On the other side, Florida State (14-13, 7-7) is still far from the NCAA Tournament conversation. However, their recent form has salvaged what seemed like a derailed debut season for former Seminole Luke Loucks as head coach.
The Seminoles have won six of their last seven, most recently securing a 70-65 victory at Clemson. Robert McCray V was the standout performer, scoring 29 points, including the team's final 10, raising his average to a team-best 15.7 points per game. Since the first Miami game, McCray has been on fire, averaging 19.9 points.
"He was a grown man," Loucks praised McCray's performance. "He put the team on his back and really did what I, the coaching staff, and his teammates expect of him. He won the game for us."
Florida State has had the upper hand in this rivalry, winning the last six meetings and 15 of the last 16 against Miami. This upcoming clash promises to be another thrilling chapter in their storied rivalry.