Florida State is coming off consecutive losses for the first time in over a month as the Seminoles dropped road contests to No. 2 Virginia and Miami this past week. The Seminoles are fighting to keep their streak of nine straight winning seasons alive and will face a huge test Saturday as they host No. 17 Louisville.
Florida State comes in with a record of 15-14 overall and 7-9 in ACC play while the Cardinals arrive in Tallahassee with a 22-6 record and a 10-5 mark in conference play in their first season in the ACC. The Cardinals will be seeking a third straight victory on Saturday, but the last two have come by just a combined three points. Florida State will be facing a Rick Pitino coached team for the first time since falling to Kentucky in the 1993 Elite 8.
Key Players for Louisville
- Terry Rozier (So.-G): 17.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG
- Montrezl Harrell (Jr.-F): 15.3 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 57% FG
- Wayne Blackshear (Sr.-G/F): 10.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.2 SPG
Key Players for Florida State
- Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Fr.-G): 14.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.5 APG
- Montay Brandon (Jr.-G/F): 12.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 55% FG
- Devon Bookert (Jr.-G): 10.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 41% 3PT
Louisville will be a tough match-up for Florida State as the Cardinals are one of the better rebounding teams in the ACC. Montrezl Harrell is an absolute beast on the glass and will be a difficult player to contain for the Seminoles. FSU has a lot of size, but that hasn’t translated into a rebounding advantage. FSU was outrebounded 37-23 in Wednesday’s loss to Miami with Tonye Jekiri, the ACC’s leader in that category, grabbing 11 boards for the Hurricanes.
The Cardinals are one of the nation’s best defensive teams as well, ranking in the top 20 in fewest points allowed, blocked shots and steals-per-game. Florida State has shot the ball well this season, but the problem for FSU has been turnovers. The Seminoles have the worst turnover margin in the ACC.
Louisville’s Chris Jones had been leading the ACC in steals, but was recently dismissed from the team. That could free things up for freshman guard and leading scorer for Florida State, Xavier Rathan-Mayes. In Wednesday’s 81-77 loss to Miami, Rathan-Mayes scored 30 points in a 4:39 span including 26 straight for the Seminoles at one point. Rathan-Mayes tied his own FSU freshman record set earlier this season against North Carolina with 35 points.
Saturday’s game in Tallahassee will be the first meeting between the schools since Florida State defeated Louisville 76-69 for the Metro Conference championship in 1991. Doug Edwards paced the Seminoles that day with 22 points while Charlie Ward added 18 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Saturday’s contest will get underway just after noon eastern time and will air nationally on ESPN2.
