$Florida State\'s Top 5 Non-Conference Basketball Games$

Florida State's Top 5 Non-Conference Basketball Games

By Ed Morgans

Florida State's Top 5 Non-Conference Basketball Games

FSU — While the Florida State Seminoles return four starters from last season's team that finished 22-14 overall and 9-9 in the ACC, FSU is definitely in a bit of a rebuilding mode with the departures of forward Okaro White and guard Ian Miller, who combined to score more than 27 points a game for the Seminoles a year ago. Aaron Thomas, a 6-foot-5 junior guard, will be asked to carry more of a load after improving his game as last year went on.

5. Massachusetts (neutral site), November 23

UMass

5. Massachusetts (neutral site), November 23

UMass — Florida State will take on UMass in the second day of games at the Hall of Fame Tip Off Tournament. The Seminoles are joined by ACC rival Notre Dame at the event, though those two teams will not play each other. The games on back-to-back days when FSU plays The Citadel on Nov. 25 will be a good prep for postseason scheduling.

4. Providence (neutral site), November 22

Providence

4. Providence (neutral site), November 22

Providence — The first half of the Hall of Fame Tip Off Classic at the Mohegan Sun will feature Florida State vs. Providence. Providence is somewhat to the Big East what Florida State is to the ACC, with the Friars going 23-12 last season and 10-8 in the conference. However, the Friars are also looking for scoring with the departure of guard Bryce Cotton (21.8 PPG).

3. Home to Nebraska, December 1

Nebraska

3. Home to Nebraska, December 1

Nebraska — Florida State will start off December with a bang against preseason No. 21 Nebraska as part of the 2014 ACC-Big 10 Challenge. While this has generally been more of a rivalry on the football field, the Cornhuskers had a breakthrough season in 2013-14, winning 19 games and making the NCAA tournament for the first time in 16 years. All five Nebraska starters will return, and this will be one of the better games of the Challenge.

2. Away at Mississippi State, January 2

MSU

2. Away to Mississippi State, January 2

MSU — The final two games of Florida State's non-conference schedule will offer an SEC flavor, and the latter of those two games will find the Seminoles in Starkville to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Despite a 3-15 record in the SEC last season, MSU made some improvement year to year under coach Rick Ray, who won 10 games in his debut and 14 last season. M-State didn't lose any double-digit scorers and has experience to challenge FSU.

1. Home to Florida, December 30

Florida

1. Home to Florida, December 30

Florida — When it comes to challenge, there is no bigger non-ACC challenge for Florida State than its matchup with preseason No. 7 Florida on December 30. The Gators were a gaudy 36-3 last year, going mostly unchallenged en route to an SEC title and Final Four appearance. Key guys like Scottie Wilbekin and Casey Prather are gone now, and FSU will see almost an entirely new cast of Gators for this game.

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Florida State Seminoles

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