BLACKSBURG – Playing back in the friendly confines of Cassell Coliseum, the Virginia Tech men's basketball team will play host to its second top-10 opponent at home this season, taking on No. 5/6 Florida State on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.
The Hokies (14-7, 5-5 ACC) will go up against the Seminoles (17-3, 7-2), with both being teams coming off losses this past Tuesday.
The Seminoles lead the all-time series 35-22 and have won five in a row, including the last two in overtime. Tech is 14-10 versus Florida State in Blacksburg, but loss the last time the two teams played in Cassell Coliseum (2018).
The last time these two faced off, the 'Noles edged Tech in an overtime thriller in the quarterfinals of the 2019 ACC Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Tech coach Mike Young has never faced Florida State's coach Leonard Hamilton.
The matchup will be broadcast on regional sports networks (click here), with Tom Werme (play-by-play) and Brian Oliver (analyst) on the call, while Jon Laaser (play-by-play) and Mike Burnop (analyst) will broadcast on Virginia Tech Sports Properties.
GAME INFORMATION
Sat. | 4 p.m. ET vs. No. 5/6 Florida State | Stats | Watch | Radio | Notes
The last time out, Tech dug itself a hole at Miami (Fla.) on Tuesday, trailing by as many as 22 points, but mustered a big comeback with cutting it to a four-point game with a minute left, but fell 71-61. The Hokies posted one of their better games defensively in swiping steals, tying a season-high 11 steals.
Tech, after hitting eight triples last game, ranks first in the ACC in 3-point field goals made per game, averaging 10.3 buckets from downtown. That mark ranks eighth nationally. The Hokies have been a little uncharacteristic as of late, committing 26 TOs their last two games, but still sit third in the nation in turnovers per game, averaging 9.8 a contest.
SCOUTING No. 5/6 FLORIDA STATE
• The Seminoles are coming off a five-point loss at Virginia (14-6, 6-4) this past Tuesday, snapping their 10-game winning streak that dated back to Dec. 8. Devin Vassell had a team-high 17 points and team-best six rebounds in the setback.
• Hamilton enters his 18th season as the head coach in Tallahassee, following his 10-year stint at Miami (Fla.) that started in 1990. The winningest coach in Florida State history, Hamilton led the 'Noles to at least the Sweet 16 in consecutive seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19 for the second time in school history.
• Florida State is paced by Vassell, who averages 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. Vassell ranks eighth in the ACC in steals per game. The 'Noles also have two players averaging in double figures, including Trent Forrest (11.5 points per game) and M.J. Walker (11.1).
• One of the better shot-blocking teams in the nation, Florida State ranks 15th nationally and second in the ACC in blocks per game with 5.6. It also swipes quite a few steals, ranking sixth in the land and first in the league with 9.8 per game.
