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Despite a 4-1 start to the season that includes a true road win over the (then No. 6) Florida Gators, the Florida State men’s basketball team remains just outside the latest AP Poll.
How close are the Seminoles to being ranked? No. 25 Xavier (which just lost to UF) has 139 points. FSU, at No. 26, has 137. The 5-2 Gators are No. 24. The ’Noles just smoked the hapless Chicago State Cougars, and if they beat No. 17 Tennessee in Niceville, FL on Friday, they should be in good shape to be ranked for the first time this year. But a Saturday matchup with either No. 20 VCU or Purdue will have something to do with that as well.
Florida State also narrowly missed the Coaches Poll, coming in 29th. Florida hung around in that one too, at No. 25. KenPom’s advanced metrics are much kinder to the Seminoles. KP has the ’Noles 17th among all 353 D1 programs, with the nation’s No. 42 offense and No. 8 defense. As a comparison, FSU finished last season 14th per KenPom, with the No. 36 offense and No. 10 defense.