Florida State Seminoles vs Syracuse Orange Picks and Predictions March 11th 2025

Florida State Begins New Era as Leonard Hamilton’s Tenure Ends

As the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament gets underway in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday night, Florida State and Syracuse will clash in the first round under very different circumstances.

The 11th-seeded Seminoles (17-14) announced on Monday that Sacramento Kings assistant coach and Florida State alum Luke Loucks will take over the program next season. This tournament will mark the final run for 76-year-old Leonard Hamilton, who is retiring after 22 seasons as Florida State’s head coach.

“I’m not signing up to bounce somewhere for a better job,” Loucks said when introduced as the Seminoles’ next coach. “I’m hoping this is my last job. The way to do that is to be successful. I’m coming here to win.”

While Loucks will be observing from the sidelines this week, it will be Hamilton who leads the team in what could be his final game.

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Florida State Snaps Skid Ahead of Tournament

Florida State ended a four-game losing streak on Saturday with a 76-69 win over SMU, giving Hamilton a victorious sendoff in his final home game. Malique Ewin had a breakout performance, scoring 26 points and grabbing eight rebounds. His return from an ankle injury is a boost for a Seminoles team that has been inconsistent down the stretch.

FSU has performed best when Ewin and Jamir Watkins, the team’s leading scorer at 18.5 points per game, are at their peak. The Seminoles will need both players to be sharp against a Syracuse squad that enters the tournament with momentum.

Syracuse Sticking with Adrian Autry Despite Down Season

The 14th-seeded Orange (13-18) finished the regular season with an 84-70 victory over Virginia on Saturday. Though the season has been a struggle, the school reaffirmed its commitment to second-year head coach Adrian Autry, announcing this week that he will return for a third season.

While the news was met with some surprise by fans and analysts, Syracuse players did not seem to have any doubts about Autry’s future.

“I didn’t even see that,” said center Eddie Lampkin Jr., who leads the team with 9.6 rebounds per game. “I don’t keep up with none of that. It’s a blessing. He deserves another year and I know he’s going to do the right thing. But I didn’t even know that.”

Syracuse has struggled after going 20-12 in Autry’s first season following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim. The Orange have not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2021 and are likely to finish with their second losing record in the past four seasons unless they make a deep run in the ACC tournament.

J.J. Starling continues to lead the Orange in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game. His playmaking ability will be critical in Syracuse’s attempt to extend its season.

Keys to the Game

Florida State Must

• Take advantage of its size and athleticism to control the boards.
• Continue to feed Malique Ewin and Jamir Watkins to create scoring opportunities.
• Avoid turnovers against Syracuse’s active perimeter defense.

Syracuse Must

• Slow the game down and limit FSU’s transition scoring.
• Get consistent offensive production from J.J. Starling and Chris Bell.
• Defend the paint against Florida State’s size advantage.

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What’s at Stake

The winner of this first-round matchup will advance to face No. 6 seed SMU in the next round. For Florida State, it’s about extending Hamilton’s storied career for at least one more game. For Syracuse, it’s a chance to prove that the program is still on the right track under Autry.

With both teams desperate to keep their seasons alive, this game could come down to which squad handles the pressure better in a win-or-go-home situation.