Virginia Tech Hokies vs Florida State Seminoles: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

Where: Donald Tucker Center in Tallahassee, FL, USA.

When: Tuesday, March 5th at 7 pm EST.

How (TV/Radio): ESPNU

Virginia Tech Hokies (Away)

Head Coach: Buzz Williams {Overall: 22-6, .786 W-L% | Conference: 11-5, T-4th in ACC}

The Hokies will pay a visit to the Tucker Center looking to spoil Senior Night for the Seminoles and improve their seeding for the NCAA tournament. They enter their lone meeting with Florida State after winning four of their last five contests.

In their most recent game, Virginia Tech pulled off an upset over third-ranked Duke at home in Cassell Coliseum on March 2nd. The Hokies won 77-72, beating a Blue Devils team that was missing star freshman, Zion Williamson. Redshirt junior forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. led the way with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, while senior guard Ahmed Hill scored 17 points.

Florida State Seminoles (Home)

Head Coach: Leonard Hamilton {Overall: 23-6, .793 W-L% | Conference: 11-5, T-4th in ACC}

Like the Hokies, Florida State has been on a tear in recent weeks, winning 10 of their last eleven games. The one loss in that stretch came at North Carolina, which is nothing to be ashamed of for Leonard Hamilton’s squad. With five seniors playing their final game in Tallahassee, and tournament seeding on the line, this game should have a postseason feel to it for the Seminoles.

Florida State is coming off a hard-fought win at home against North Carolina State on March 2nd. The Seminoles took down the Wolfpack 78-73, with redshirt sophomore Mfiondu Kabengele coming off the bench to score 16 points to lead his team in scoring. The 6-10 Canadian, was also a force on defense, blocking four shots in the win.

Virginia Tech Roster Notes

Senior guard Justin Robinson is out indefinitely with a foot injury.

Freshman guard Landers Nolley II is out for the season due to eligibility issues.

Senior forward Chris Clarke is out for the season with a suspension.

Florida State Roster Notes

Florida State has no roster news to report.

Head-to-Head: Ahmed Hill vs Terance Mann

Ahmed Hill

Shooting Guard | 6-5, 210lb (196cm, 95kg) | Aquinas HS | Augusta, GA | Senior

13.0 PPG | 1.5 APG | 3.7 RPG | 0.8 SPG | 0.0 BPG | 1.3 TOV | .430 FG% | .356 3P%

Terance Mann

Shooting Guard | 6-7, 215lb (201cm, 97kg) | Tilton School (Tilton, NH) | Lowell, MA | Senior

11.5 PPG | 2.4 APG | 6.3 RPG | 0.6 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 1.9 TOV | .515 FG% | .464 3P%

With this game being Senior Night in Tallahassee, it seems appropriate to put the spotlight on two fourth-year players. Both of these players have tasted success and failure during their college careers, and will likely end their careers with a trip to the NCAA tournament as a parting gift.

When Ahmed Hill came to Blacksburg in 2014, he joined a Virginia Tech program that had not earned a March Madness birth since 2007. Fast forward four years and the Hokies will in all likelihood be playing in their third straight tournament. Hill has been a stabilizing presence for his short-handed team, as he has only had four games all season with more than two turnovers, which speaks to his ability to take care of the ball.

Like Hill, Terance Mann had joined a program that was coming off a ninth-place finish in the ACC and was stuck watching March Madness on the couch. Mann will also be playing in what should be his third straight NCAA tournament, and he will enter this year’s Big Dance with confidence stemming from last year’s Elite Eight run. The New England native was named to the NCAA All-Region team after leading the Seminoles past the likes of Xavier and Gonzaga before succumbing to eventual runner-up, Michigan.

Virginia Tech at Florida State Predictions and Odds

Oddsmakers are predicting a tight one in Tallahassee, as they favor Florida State by just 4 points over Virginia Tech. The over/under for the game is currently sitting at 135.5.