Virginia @ Florida State preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 15, 2019 ) Florida State 69, Virginia 59

Defending national champion Virginia has lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2017 and it won’t be easy to snap the string when the Cavaliers pay a visit to ninth-ranked Florida State on Wednesday night for an ACC battle. Virginia, which is unranked for the first time since early in the 2017-18 season, lost at Boston College 60-53 on Tuesday before dropping a 63-55 decision at home against Syracuse on Saturday.

Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett said his team has to lose together and grow from it, while junior center Jay Huff told reporters: “That’s where the pillar of unity comes in. Coach said it after the game, we can’t get too down on ourselves. Now is when we’ve got to come together a little bit instead of pointing fingers.” Virginia has dropped three of the last five meetings with the Seminoles, including a 69-59 loss in last year’s ACC tournament semifinals, and is facing a team that leans on its defense as well. Florida State has won seven straight contests after winning at No. 10 Louisville (78-65) along with Wake Forest (76-68) in its last two games and getting a week of rest before trying to improve to 9-0 at home this season. “I’m just proud we were able to find a way to win while we’re still growing,” Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton told reporters after the latest triumph. “We’re extremely inexperienced. … so we’re trying to find our way.”

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2

ABOUT VIRGINIA (11-4, 3-2 ACC): The Cavaliers still lead the nation in scoring defense (48.7) and field goal percentage defense (34.6), but are struggling on the offensive end while connecting on 39.9 percent of their shots from the floor. Senior forward Mamadi Diakite leads the team in scoring (12.9), but has managed just 8.3 per game over the past four, and senior guard Braxton Key adds 10.5 points along with a team-high 7.7 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Kihei Clark (10.1 points, team-best 5.9 assists) has struggled to 6-for-25 shooting in the last two games, but dished out nine assists Saturday.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (14-2, 4-1): The Seminoles wear down teams with their depth and balance on offense as the top four scorers produce between 12.3 and 8.8 points per game, and they lead the ACC in free throw shooting (75.9 percent). Sophomore guard Devin Vassell averaged 15 points the last three games to pump up his team-leading mark to 12.3 and senior guard Trent Forrest (12.2, team-high 3.9 assists) notched his first double-double of the season against Wake Forest (14 points, 10 boards). Junior guard M.J. Walker combined to score 38 points in his last two games and is third on the team at 11.6.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Hamilton needs one victory to pass Lefty Driesell (348) for the sixth-most among ACC coaches in league history.

2. Huff registered his second double-double of the season - both against Syracuse - by recording 16 points and 10 boards Saturday.

3. Florida State sophomore F Malik Osborne leads the team in rebounding (5.2) and averaged 9.3 points the past four games.

PREDICTION: Florida State 62, Virginia 54