Florida State will have had a week to rest up as it gets set to take the court for the final time during the regular season against Pittsburgh in Tallahassee on Saturday. FSU will be aiming to avoid just its third losing regular season under Leonard Hamilton while the Panthers hope to halt a 2-game skid.
Florida State comes in an even 15-15 after getting blown out at home by Louisville last Saturday. The Seminoles are 7-10 in conference and assured of their first losing season in ACC play since the 2007-08 season. Pittsburgh comes in fighting for its NCAA Tournament lives. Pitt has lost two straight and is 19-12 for the year and 8-9 in ACC play. Pittsburgh fell at home to fellow ACC bubble team, Miami, on Wednesday night.
Key Players for Pittsburgh
- Michael Young (So.-F): 13.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 53% FG
- Jamel Artis (So.-F): 13.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.2 APG
- James Robinson (Jr.-G): 9.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.2 APG
Key Players for Florida State
- Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Fr.-G): 14.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.4 APG
- Montay Brandon (Jr.-G/F): 12.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 56% FG
- Devon Bookert (Jr.-G): 10.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 40% 3PT
The ‘Noles will be celebrating Senior Day on Saturday and center Kiel Turpin, the team’s lone senior, will be honored. Turpin is averaging better than two rebounds and just under five points-per-game this season.
Turpin and the Florida State front line will look to slow down a very good interior for Pittsburgh led by sophomore Michael Young. Young leads the team in scoring and rebounding and gave the Seminoles fits in the first meetings between the teams this season — a 73-64 Pittsburgh victory. Young finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Panthers.
At 6’7″ Jamel Artis’ versatility could be a problem for Florida State. Artis can play inside or out and will likely be checked by Florida State’s Montay Brandon. Brandon is a slasher who is in the midst of a career-year for the Seminoles. Brandon plays good on-the-ball defense and is shooting 56 percent from the field — a stellar percentage for a swingman.
The point guard match-up will pit two of the ACC’s top assist men against one another. James Robinson is one of five Panthers to average at least eight points and has better than a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Florida State’s Xavier Rathan-Mayes has been a very good facilitator for the Seminoles, but also leads the team in scoring, averaging better than 14 points per contest. Rathan-Mayes tied his own school freshman record last week with 35 points in an 81-77 loss at Miami.
Pittsburgh will be paying its first visit to Tallahassee on Saturday since the 2008-09 season. The teams have split the first two meetings since Pittsburgh joined the ACC prior to last season. Saturday’s game will begin just after noon eastern time and will air on ESPN2.
