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Florida State basketball: 2019-20 season review and 2020-2021 first-look preview

By Cody Williams

SOUTH BEND, IN - MARCH 04: Devin Vassell #24 and Trent Forrest #3 of the Florida State Seminoles walk off the court after their come from behind win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on March 4, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - MARCH 04: Devin Vassell #24 and Trent Forrest #3 of the Florida State Seminoles walk off the court after their come from behind win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on March 4, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Season-Defining Moments

The season-opening loss to Pittsburgh

Coming into the season, the Seminoles undeniably had their truthers that believed they could be great. However, that opinion seemed to be rooted in folly right out of the gate as they fell, 63-61, on the road against Pittsburgh in the first game of the regular season. But that early wake-up call may have been exactly what this team needed as, from that point on, they seemed to play with a chip on their shoulder to prove any doubters that arose wrong.

Emerald Coast Classic victory

Just two weeks after losing to Pitt, Florida State started the Emerald Coast Classic with a dominant win over Chattanooga and another big victory over Chicago State in the campus games. When they went to Niceville around Thanksgiving for the tournament, they continued to prove their merit as they topped a feisty Tennessee team and then outlasted Purdue to claim the tourney crown, putting the college basketball world on notice that they were there to stay.

A 16-point loss to Indiana in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Of course, right after they earned that overtime victory against Purdue to take the Emerald Coast Classic crown, Hamilton’s squad submitted one of their biggest letdown performances of the season. A team predicated on suffocating defense gave up 80 points to Indiana and their offensive deficiencies showed up as they only put up 64 points. Any concerns about the Noles were raised again with that 16-point defeat in Bloomington.

Securing the sweep of Louisville

The Seminoles finished off an easy end-stretch of the non-conference schedule without another blemish but had a ton to prove as they started ACC play. In the second game against the conference, they took on then-No. 7 Louisville and were dominant in a 13-point road victory. As Florida State continued to establish themselves as viable contenders to win the ACC, they cemented their spot near the top of the standings with a Feb. 24 win over Louisville to complete the season sweep, and doing it once again in dominant fashion with an 82-67 victory.

Clinching the ACC title

Even beating Louisville twice, however, didn’t secure the Seminoles the ACC crown, largely thanks to a late-February loss to Clemson that hung over them. However, Florida State finished strong in their two March games, clawing out a road win over Notre Dame on March 4 and then handling Boston College by 18 points in the regular-season finale to ultimately give them the ACC regular-season title.