2014-15 Boston College Basketball Opponent Previews: Florida State Seminoles

Team Name: Florida State Seminoles

Conference: ACC

Head Coach: Leonard Hamilton, 241-157 (.603) overall, 98-98 (.500) ACC in 12 seasons with the Seminoles.

SB Nation Community: Tomahawk Nation

Last Year Record: 22-14, 9-9, tied 7th place in the ACC

Final Kenpom Ranking: 41

Key Losses: Ian Miller (13.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.8 apg), Okaro White (13.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.9 apg)

Key Returnees: Aaron Thomas (14.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.8 apg), Devon Bookert (8.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg), Montay Brandon (7.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.5 apg), Boris Bojanovsky (5.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.5 apg)

Additions (Transfers, Recruits): Phil Cofer (freshman from Fayetteville, Ga.), Xavier Rathan-Mayes (freshman from Scarborough, Ontario), Robbie Berwick (freshman from Atascadero, Calif.), Dayshawn Watkins (Holmes CC transfer from North Little Rock, Ark.), Michael Saxton (Tallahassee CC transfer from Orlando, Fla.)

Games vs. BC: February 18 in Tallahassee, 9:00 p.m., ACC Network

Projected Starting Lineup:

G Aaron Thomas, junior
G Devon Bookert, junior
G Montay Brandon, junior
F Jarquez Smith, sophomore
C Michael Ojo, junior

He's a Dude: Aaron Thomas, junior guard. The Cincinnati, Ohio product lead all Seminole players with 14.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, while averaging 31.6 minutes a game. Thomas is the ACC's fourth leading returning scorer. Shot 37.1 percent from three last year, making 39-of-105. He's more scorer than floor general, as BC fans are well aware (26 points in last year's 74-70 victory over the Eagles).

All-Time Series vs. Boston College: 6-5 Florida State

First Meeting: Boston College 90, Florida State 87 (January 14, 2006)
Last Meeting: Florida State 74, Boston College 70 (March 4, 2014)
Last Meeting at Tucker Center: Florida State 69, Boston College 66 (February 16, 2013)

Last Five Meetings:

L - Florida State 74, Boston College 70 (March 4, 2014)
L - Florida State 69, Boston College 66 (February 16, 2013)
W - Boston College 64, Florida State 60 (February 8, 2012)
L - Florida State 67, Boston College 51 (January 22, 2011)
L - Florida State 62, Boston College 47 (February 14, 2010)

How they match up with Boston College: Boston College has played Florida State close over the past two seasons but hasn't been able to pull away from the Seminoles. The bad news is Florida State returns much of the roster that won 9 conference games last year and surprised a bunch of teams last year. While the Noles lose both Ian Miller (13.7 ppg) and Okaro White (13.6 ppg), they do return some familiar faces that should make FSU just as dangerous a team as they were a season ago.

PG Aaron Thomas is a scoring point guard, very similar to Olivier Hanlan. Devon Bookert and Montay Brandon also return, giving the Seminoles a bunch of experience. It's the Seminoles' front court that gets an immediate boost this year. FSU's roster boasts three seven-footers, with starter Michael Ojo leading the way. Florida State also gets back the services of senior center Kiel Turpin, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility after a knee injury sidelined him last season. Junior center Boris Bojanovsky stands at 7-foot-3 and also was a solid contributor for the Noles last season. That's a lot of height that guys like Clifford, Diallo and Magarity will have to deal with in their late February trip to Tallahassee.

GIF if Boston College wins:

GIF if Boston College loses:

Way Too Early Prediction: Florida State 75, Boston College 66

BC has played Leonard Hamilton's team tough the last two years but come up empty both times in close losses. Given all of FSU's height, this is a pretty bad matchup for BC. That the game is in Tallahassee this year does not bode well for the Eagles.