Georgia Tech @ Florida State preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 16, 2019 ) Florida State 69, Georgia Tech 47

Leonard Hamilton likes where his Florida State team is entering the bulk of ACC play starting with Tuesday’s home matchup against Georgia Tech, after the No. 20 Seminoles finished non-conference play with another convincing victory. Saturday’s 88-71 triumph over North Alabama saw several players in their first year at Florida State excel, as sophomore junior college transfer Malik Osborne led the way with 14 points and two freshmen - Balsa Koprivica and Patrick Williams - combined for 25.

“We want them to continue to get better and I think we saw signs (Saturday) that they’re improving and they’re comfortable,” Hamilton told reporters afterward. “They are showing a level of maturity and becoming more consistent.” The early season for Georgia Tech has been more difficult due to injuries and lack of offensive continuity, but the return of junior guard Jose Alvarado helped the Yellow Jackets win two of three games at the Diamond Head Classic. Sophomore guard Michael Devoe scored 18 points while Alvarado added eight points, five rebounds and four assists to lift the Yellow Jackets to a 70-53 Christmas Day victory over Hawaii in the third-place game. “I thought Michael Devoe had some really good plays and Jose just led us the right way,” Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner told the media postgame.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNU

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (6-6, 1-1 ACC): Alvarado’s return has provided more balance for the Yellow Jackets, as last year’s team leader in scoring and assists has tallied 29 points with nine assists in three games since coming back. Devoe averages 17.8 points and is shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range. Junior guard/forward Jordan Usher is averaging 10 points and 4.5 rebounds in four games since becoming eligible after transferring from USC.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (11-2, 1-1): Senior guard Trent Forrest scored 10 points to go along with six assists against North Alabama, and leads the Seminoles in scoring at 11.8 points. Osborne, who sat out last season after transferring from Rice, played his best game of the season Saturday in shooting 6-for-12 from the field. The Seminoles, who shot a perfect 17-for-17 from the free-throw line Saturday, lead the ACC and rank in the top 30 nationally in free-throw shooting at 76.6 percent.

TIP-INS

1. Georgia Tech junior F Moses Wright averaged 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in the Diamond Head Classic.

2. Florida State is 7-0 at home this season and has won 40 of its past 50 games in Tallahassee.

3. The Seminoles have won three in a row against Georgia Tech and 13 of the last 15 matchups.

PREDICTION: Florida State 71, Georgia Tech 58