The Daily Nole

What to Watch For Wednesday: FSU Hoops Teams Visit Top-10 Squads, Softball Kicks Off 2020

John Neiser/FSU athletics

Before the month ends, every Florida State sport will have gotten underway this athletic year.

On the hardwood, both the FSU men and women have a top-10 road match-up over the next seven days. Another FSU sport will get underway with a very busy weekend upcoming. As is customary, here is what to watch for over the next week in Seminoles’ athletics:

1. FSU women visits No. 5 Louisville, hosts Virginia
No. 17 Florida State women’s hoops will have its toughest test of the season yet on Thursday night as the Seminoles head to the KFC Yum! Center to take on No. 5 Louisville. Nicki Ekhomu is coming off a 25-point performance for FSU and is behind only star forward Kiah Gillespie for the team scoring lead. Louisville is 21-1 on the season and undefeated in ACC play. Junior Dana Evans averages nearly 19 points per game to lead the Cardinals. Louisville won last season in Tallahassee, but the Seminoles did upset the No. 2 Cardinals in their last trip two years ago, 50-49. Thursday’s contest begins at 8 p.m. EST and airs on ACC Network.

After a trip to Louisville, FSU returns home to take on Virginia on Sunday. The Cavaliers have the ACC’s leading scorer in Jocelyn Willoughby, who averages 19.4 points per contest. The Cavaliers are just 9-13 on the season and 4-7 against the ACC. FSU pulled out a 63-61 victory last season in Charlottesville and has won five of six in the series. The teams play on Sunday at noon EST on ACC Network Extra.

2. FSU hoops hosts Miami, visits Duke
Florida State basketball will have another quick turnaround this week as it goes for the season sweep of Miami on Saturday before visiting No. 7 Duke on Monday night. The Seminoles needed overtime to take down the rival Hurricanes late last month, 83-79. Devin Vassell finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds for FSU in the win while M.J. Walker added 19 points, including the triple that forced overtime. Chris Lykes led Miami with 24 points. Lykes averages a team-high 15.7 points per game. Vassell, Walker and guard Trent Forrest all average in double figures for the Seminoles. Miami is 11-10 overall and 3-8 in ACC play. Saturday’s contest begins at 12 p.m. EST and airs on ACC Network.

On Monday, No. 8 FSU looks for its first win at Cameron Indoor Stadium since 2012. Duke is tied with FSU for second place in the ACC at 9-2 in conference. Both teams are 19-3 overall. Forward Vernon Carey and guard Tre Jones lead four Blue Devils scoring in double figures. Carey averages nearly 18 points and nine rebounds per game. Jones averages better than 15 points and an ACC-best 6.7 assists per game. Cam Reddish hit the game-winning 3-pointer for Duke in last season’s 80-78 win over FSU in Tallahassee. The teams square off Monday at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN.

3. FSU softball opens 2020 with JoAnne Graf Classic
Florida State softball begins the 2020 season at home on Friday with the JoAnne Graf Classic. The Seminoles will play five games over three days, including two match-ups with No. 1 Alabama. FSU opens the season with North Carolina, but will also play Detroit Mercy twice over the three days. The Seminoles begin the year ranked No. 10 after a 55-10 campaign last season. Notable returnees are infielder Sydney Sherrill, utility Elizabeth Mason, catcher Anna Shelnutt, outfielder Dani Morgan and utility Cassidy Davis. All games during the JoAnne Graf Classic stream on ACC Network Extra.

4. FSU men’s tennis visits Auburn
Florida State men’s tennis will look to end a mini 2-game skid against the top 2 teams in America when they hit the courts on Friday against Auburn. Rana Roop Bhullar and Sebastian Arcila are a combined 23-11 in singles matches this season for FSU. The Seminoles are 6-2 and ranked No. 21 in the ITA rankings. Auburn is off to a 6-1 start this season. Finn Murgett leads the Tigers with six singles victories.

5. National Signing Day
First-year FSU head football coach Mike Norvell will look to wrap up his first recruiting class with a strong finish. National Signing Day takes place on Wednesday. Currently with the No. 20 overall class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, FSU will look to hold on to its current commitments. Other key targets include linebacker D.J. Lundy, safeties Sidney Williams and Donovan Kaufman and defensive end T.J. Davis. Also high on FSU’s priority list will be holding on to 2-sport star Malachi Wideman.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.

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