FSU basketball hosts the Jacksonville Dolphins

One of the most difficult skills to impart on college basketball players is the focus and intensity necessary to be consistent at this level. Players need to focus on the season, focus on each game, focus on each 4-minute interval between media timeouts, focus on every possession.

We'll learn something about this team tonight when they take the court against Jacksonville (0-1). After the Noles dismantled Nicholls State in the season opener, will the team come out just as focused tonight against their 2nd straight over-matched opponent?

Minutes after Sunday's victory, Xavier Rathan-Mayes was asked what that win meant. "You just have to forget about it," he said. "Go to practice tomorrow and work on getting better."

Tonight's opponent is the Jacksonville Dolphins from the Atlantic Sun Conference. FSU and Jacksonville have played six times in Leonard Hamilton's tenure, with FSU winning all six. The outcome of this game should be no different, and Pomeroy has the Noles favored by 21. But that's why you play the games.

Jacksonville features an All-Conference player in 6-4 senior Kori Babineaux. Last year he averaged 14.9 points and 4.0 assists a game. He's joined by a handful of transfers which complement last year's roster. 2nd year head coach Tony Jasick is trying to infuse the program with talent, but he still has a ways to go. They're projected to be a middle of the pack A-Sun team.

Though they did make 43% of their 3s in their opening game, which is probably the one area where FSU could get in trouble.

FSU showed in their debut that they want to get up and down the floor. They will space things well on the offensive end, and look to get to the rim. Still, they've been short-handed though that may change tonight. Earlier reports stated that Montay Brandon and Benji Bell would be back for tonight's game. If so, Coach Hamilton will really be able to begin tinkering with the rotation.

Against Nicholls State, the freshmen accounted for 62 of FSU's 109 points. Dwayne Bacon was named the ACC Freshman of the Week after scoring 23 to go along with eight rebounds. It was a fun game to watch.

Tonight's game tips at 9 PM from the Tuck and will be broadcast regionally and on ESPN3.