Florida State Aims to End Losing Streak Against Virginia Tonight

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In a critical matchup, Florida State men’s basketball team (16-13, 7-11 ACC) seeks to halt its three-game losing streak against Virginia (14-15, 7-11 ACC) tonight at 9 PM ET at John Paul Jones Arena. This game marks the only meeting between the two teams during the 2024-25 season.

The Seminoles are coming off a devastating 100-65 loss to Duke, their worst defeat of the year. Now, with the clock ticking on the regular season, they are looking to gather momentum ahead of their upcoming game against SMU this Saturday.

On the other side, Virginia, celebrating Senior Night, aims to improve its position in the conference standings by leapfrogging the Seminoles for the first time this season. Virginia has recently turned their season around, bouncing back from a five-game losing streak earlier in January to finish February more consistently.

According to ESPN, Florida State enters the game as 4.5-point underdogs, a situation that head coach Leonard Hamilton and his players feel is an opportunity for redemption. Hamilton is eyeing his 200th ACC victory, a milestone he hopes to achieve tonight.

While tonight may not be Florida State’s last chance for a win, it presents one of their better opportunities, as they face a Virginia team that has had its own struggles, particularly in rebounding. The Cavaliers rank 351st out of 364 teams in offensive rebounds per game, with an average of 5.8.

Players to watch include Virginia guard Isaac McKneely, who leads the Cavaliers with 14 points per game and plays a significant role at 34 minutes per game. Florida State’s Jamir Watkins is the team’s scoring leader and will be crucial for the Seminoles as they seek to break their slide.

The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network, providing fans with several viewing options through local TV providers or streaming on ESPN+. It’s a pivotal clash as both teams fight for redemption and a better standing before the ACC Tournament.