Former mayor is new head of Orange Bowl

Former Coral Gables mayor Don Slesnick has become the Orange Bowl Committee’s 79th president and chair.

Slesnick has been a member of the Orange Bowl Committee since 1997 and succeeds Michael Chavies as president and chair.

Slesnick will oversee the committee’s work in South Florida, including the Capital One Orange Bowl, the football game to be held Dec. 30.

The Orange Bowl also invests nearly $1 million in the South Florida community each year, funding community events, academic programs, scholarships and youth sports programs.

“I am truly honored to serve as President and Chair of the Orange Bowl Committee – an organization of community leaders whose work I have admired since my youth,” Slesnick said in a press release.

Sean Pittman moves into Slesnick’s former role as president-elect and chair-elect and will serve as the 80th president and chair during the 2018-19 year. José C. Romano will serve as the first vice-chair and will become President and Chair in 2019-20.

Eric Poms enters his 12th year as the chief executive officer and marks his 24th year with the Orange Bowl Committee.

FSU men move to 14th

After two wins by a combined 66 points last week, the Florida State men’s basketball team climbed only one spot to No. 14 in the latest Associated Press top 25 rankings on Monday.

The Seminoles (20-4, 8-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) rebounded from losing two consecutive road games to unranked teams with an 18-point road win at Miami and a 48-point blowout of Clemson on Sunday.

FSU’s recent two-game win streak saw the Seminoles play some of their best basketball of the season, outside of beating 5 of 6 ranked teams during a January stretch to begin conference play.

The Seminoles sit second behind No. 8 North Carolina (21-4, 9-2) in the conference standings, and will host NC State (14-10, 3-8) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before ending the regular season with four of six games on the road.

The Seminoles are projected to be a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament starting in the East region against No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast in Orlando, according to Monday’s ESPN Bracketology with analyst Joe Lunardi. FSU hopes to make its first NCAA Tournament since 2012.

No. 17 Florida (18-5, 8-2 Southeastern Conference) is also projected as a No. 3 seed in the Midwest region, also starting in Orlando.

Gonzaga (24-0), Villinova (22-2), Kansas (20-3), Louisville (19-4), Oregon (21-3), Baylor (20-3), Wisconsin (20-3), UNC, Arizona (21-3) and UCLA (21-3) make up the AP top 10.