No. 25 Louisville Aims for Season Sweep vs. Florida State

No. 25 Louisville Aims for Season Sweep vs. Florida State in ACC Showdown

The ACC race heats up as No. 25 Louisville hosts Florida State on Saturday, looking to sweep the season series and strengthen its NCAA Tournament positioning.

The Cardinals (20-6, 13-2 ACC) have been one of the hottest teams in college basketball, winning 14 of their last 15 games and putting themselves in prime position for a double-bye in the ACC Tournament. Meanwhile, the Seminoles (16-10, 7-8 ACC) are fighting to boost their résumé and earn a statement road win.

With legendary coach Leonard Hamilton set to retire after this season, Florida State will be motivated to send him off with a big win in what could be his final game coaching in Kentucky.

Louisville: From Underdog to ACC Contender

The Cardinals’ season turned around after their 90-76 win over Florida State on Dec. 21. That victory sparked a 10-game winning streak, making Louisville one of the biggest surprises in college basketball.

First-year coach Pat Kelsey has his team locked in and focused only on the present.

“We never, ever, ever talk about (the NCAA Tournament),” Kelsey said. “Our sole focus is the next thing we do.”

Key Players for Louisville:

Chucky Hepburn (15.0 PPG, 6.2 APG, ACC leader in steals) – The Wisconsin transfer has been the engine of Louisville’s success.
Terrence Edwards Jr. (14.8 PPG) – A consistent scorer who provides versatility on both ends.
Reyne Smith (14.3 PPG, 100 made 3-pointers) – Leads all major-conference players in three-pointers made and hit six threes in the first meeting vs. FSU.
J’Vonne Hadley (12.4 PPG) – A physical presence inside who contributes across the board.

The Cardinals torched Florida State from deep in their December meeting, shooting 15-for-29 from three-point range (51.7%)—the best any team has shot against the Seminoles this season.

Louisville knows that replicating that perimeter success could be key to sweeping the series.

Louisville basketball player in a red uniform dribbling the ball.

Florida State: Can the Seminoles Pull the Upset?

Florida State is coming off a 74-66 win over Miami, snapping a three-game losing streak and keeping their faint NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Coach Leonard Hamilton believes Louisville is one of the best teams in the country, but he sees Saturday’s game as an opportunity for his squad.

“It really gives us an opportunity to go play against one of the better teams in the country,” Hamilton said. “We got to do everything we can to take advantage of that opportunity.”

Key Players for Florida State:

Jamir Watkins (17.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG) – The Seminoles’ top scorer, dropped 25 points in the first meeting vs. Louisville.
Malique Ewin (14.2 PPG, 58.1 FG%) – Coming off a career-high 24 points, hitting all 10 of his shots vs. Miami.
CJ Wilcher & Zhuric Phelps – Both scored in double figures vs. Mississippi State and provide perimeter scoring threats.

The Seminoles must improve defensively against the three-point shot, as Louisville’s 15 threes were the most they’ve allowed this season. If they can limit perimeter damage and control the paint, they could make things interesting.

Florida State basketball players celebrating on the court after a big play against Notre Dame.

Leonard Hamilton’s Farewell Tour Continues

With Hamilton set to retire at the end of this season, this could be his final time coaching in Kentucky.

Hamilton’s career began in the Bluegrass State, serving as an assistant coach at Kentucky from 1974 to 1986 before moving on to head coaching jobs at Oklahoma State, Miami, and Florida State.

His legacy at Florida State is secure, but a win over Louisville would be a memorable sendoff in a place that holds special meaning to his coaching journey.

Prediction: Will Louisville Stay Hot or Can FSU Pull Off an Upset?

This game favors Louisville on paper:

The Cardinals are red-hot and nearly unstoppable at home.
They dominated FSU in the first matchup, shooting lights out from three.
Louisville’s defense—led by Hepburn and Edwards Jr.—can pressure Florida State into mistakes.However, Florida State won’t go down without a fight.
If Watkins and Ewin get hot, the Seminoles could make this a tight game.
If Louisville cools off from three, FSU might have a chance to control the tempo.

Final Verdict:

Louisville wins if they hit threes and force turnovers.
FSU can pull an upset if they slow the game down and control the glass.

With Louisville playing at an elite level, they should be too much for the Seminoles to handle at home.

Louisville Cardinals vs Florida State Seminoles Picks and Predictions February 22nd 2025