Syracuse has been fairly competitive down the stretch of the season, but they'll be up against a better Seminole team which dispatched Syracuse comfortably earlier in the season. The Seminoles should be able to get plenty of good looks and second-chance opportunities against a porous Syracuse defense, particularly because Malique Ewin is back in the lineup after missing a couple weeks. The Seminoles just beat SMU, and if they beat Syracuse, they get SMU again in the 2nd round. I think they believe they can make some noise in the ACC Tournament and it starts tonight.

Florida State crushed Syracuse in early January, and the Seminoles have the extra motivation of trying to keep Coach Leonard Hamilton in his job as long as possible as he will retire after the season, and FSU won't be playing any other postseason hoops barring winning this ACC tourney in Charlotte. Hamilton is one of only four coaches in the history of the league to win 200 or more regular season ACC games. FSU is one of the tallest teams in the nation and leads the ACC in blocks at 4.8 per game.

As Leonard Hamilton gets ready to ride into the sunset after 23 years at FSU, is the ride really going to end after a one-and-done in the ACC Tourney? Keep in mind that the Noles hit a few high notes lately for the retiring Hamilton, including Saturday's 76-69 win over SMU that harms the Mustangs' Big Dance at-large hopes. Former VCU transfer G Jamir Watkins (18.6 ppg) has been reliable all season for FSU, which buried the 'Cuse 90-74 back on January 4 at Tallahassee. Meanwhile, the Orange have disappointed again for Red Autry, at 13-18 entering Charlotte, getting the rumor mill whirring at the Dome as the program continues to regress under Autry after the Jim Boeheim era. Play Florida State (ACC at Charlotte)