Terance Mann could only smile thinking about the irony of the latest rankings earlier this week.
After Florida State’s 48-point dismantling of Clemson on Sunday, the Seminoles moved up only one spot in the Associated Press top 25 rankings to No. 14.
The slight in the rankings is just another reminder of the uphill battle Florida State faces in the Atlantic Coast Conference despite one of the best seasons in program history.
“The thing that is driving us really is just to prove everybody wrong,” said Mann, FSU’s sophomore forward. “We’re not really worried about a top seed in the ACC tournament. ... We’re really just to prove everyone [wrong] who didn’t think we’d be this good.”
FSU (21-4, 9-3 ACC) might not have the historic allure of teams like Duke or North Carolina in the conference, but has a chance regain first place in the ACC standings with a win at Notre Dame (18-7, 7-5) on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
UNC’s loss at Duke on Thursday night puts the Seminoles in position to be in first place for the first time since Jan. 13. FSU could possibly re-enter the top 10 after a two-week hiatus.
FSU was 4-0 atop the conference before its Jan. 14 loss at North Carolina, which broke a 12-game winning streak. UNC (21-5, 9-3) does own the tie-breaker if both teams are tied atop the standings at the end of the season.
Florida State freshman forward Jonathan Isaac speaks after the Seminoles' win over NC State on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2016.
Florida State freshman forward Jonathan Isaac speaks after the Seminoles' win over NC State on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2016.
Florida State freshman forward Jonathan Isaac speaks after the Seminoles' win over NC State on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2016.
Florida State freshman forward Jonathan Isaac speaks after the Seminoles' win over NC State on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2016.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton talks about NC State standout guard Dennis Smith Jr. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, a day before both teams play at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton talks about NC State standout guard Dennis Smith Jr. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, a day before both teams play at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee.
Florida State guard Dwayne Bacon speaks to media after a 109-61 win over Clemson on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017.
Florida State guard Dwayne Bacon speaks to media after a 109-61 win over Clemson on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton speaks to media after a 109-61 win over Clemson on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton speaks to media after a 109-61 win over Clemson on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017.
FSU came out on top while UCF turned in a solid effort. Florida rallied and USF made a huge comback from the bottom of the ladder.
FSU came out on top while UCF turned in a solid effort. Florida rallied and USF made a huge comback from the bottom of the ladder.
The Seminoles enter their final stretch of the regular season with four of the final six games on the road, a challenge that could hinder them after losses at Georgia Tech and Syracuse bounced the team from the top 10 two weeks ago.
“The bad thing is we have four games on the road,” Hamilton said. “But the good thing is we have four games on the road because road games are very, very important this time of year.
“We just have to take the challenge, and hopefully we can be successful.”
FSU has regained its footing in the ACC with double-digit blowout wins against Miami, Clemson and NC State in its last three games.
Hamilton and his players have all said the Seminoles regained their playing identity with improved play on the defensive end.
FSU has also had standout performances from their standout duo of freshman forward Jonathan Isaac, who scored 21 points against NC State Wednesday, and sophomore guard Dwayne Bacon, who tied a career-high with 29 points against Clemson.
“When we start with that great intensity, we see that we destroy teams,” Isaac said. “We got to keep doing that.”
The Seminoles beat Notre Dame earlier this season, 83-80 on Jan. 18, during a stretch of six games against top 25 opponents that saw FSU finish with a 5-1 record.
Even weeks after the matchup, Hamilton is still “finding it hard to believe” the Seminoles beat the Irish despite Notre Dame shooting 71 percent (15 of 21) from 3-point range.
Notre Dame has only won two games, against Syracuse and Wake Forest, since losing in Tallahassee seven games ago.
“We got to be very focused going into South Bend, [Indiana] because they kinda hit a little skid like most teams do,” Hamilton said. “They’re going to be very hungry for a victory.”
The Seminoles are hopeful their success at home can translate into wins on the road before the ACC tournament begins on March 6 in Brooklyn.
“We know they’re going to come and try to get a big win over us,” Bacon said. “We just have to do what we’ve been doing the last three games.”
Email Safid Deen at sdeen@orlandosentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Safid_Deen and @osfsu. Also, like our Florida State Facebook page for the latest updates on the Seminoles.
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