College Basketball Bubble Watch: Oregon needs a win

CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach John Beilein of the Michigan Wolverines reacts on the bench against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Dean Smith Center on November 29, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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GAINESVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 04: Terance Mann #14 of the Florida State Seminoles points to the crowd after scoring a basket during a NCAA basketball game against the Florida Gators at the Stephen C. O’ Connell Center on December 4, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

Florida State Seminoles

After losing a ton of talent from last year’s 26-9 squad, nobody expected the Seminoles to contend in the ACC, but Leonard Hamilton’s team is enjoying a terrific start to the season.

Florida State rolled to a 6-0 start against a soft schedule to open the season, with highlight wins including the likes of Rutgers and Colorado State. The Seminoles legitimized that record on Monday with an impressive 83-66 road win against rival Florida, which looked like a Final Four contender during the PK80, surging to the right side of the early bubble in the process.

As the ACC is looking as brutal as ever, the Seminoles will need to keep it going this week against Loyola Maryland and Tulane. Florida State should obviously handle both opponents with ease, but could be ripe for a crushing let down after the huge upset earlier in the week.

With a strong balance of offense and defense, the Seminoles are up to No. 28 in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted efficiency ratings, just two spots lower than last season’s ultra-talented team finished. Top returner Terance Mann is leading the way with 16.7 points per game and went off for 25 to key the upset of the Gators.

Florida State could benefit tremendously from running the table in nonconference play, as it faces an absolutely brutal four-game stretch to open the ACC season. Sunday’s contest against Tulane has the potential to be a trap game, as Mike Dunleavy has the Green Wave quickly headed in the right direction.