Florida State will go for the season sweep of its in-state ACC rival as the Seminoles travel to Coral Gables on Wednesday to face Miami. Florida State erased a 16-point first half deficit to down the Hurricanes 55-54 when the teams met in Tallahassee on February 1st.
The Seminoles hung tough with No. 2 Virginia on Sunday evening, but ultimately fell 51-41. Wednesday’s contest against Miami will be the final road game of the regular season for Florida State, who comes in 15-13 and 7-8 in ACC play. Miami is certainly the more desperate team as the Hurricanes sit on the very edge of the NCAA bubble with a 17-10 record, which includes an even 7-7 mark in conference play.
Key Players for Florida State
- Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Fr.-G): 13.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.4 APG
- Montay Brandon (Jr.-G/F): 12.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 54% FG
- Devon Bookert (Jr.-G): 10.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 42% 3PT
Key Players for Miami
- Sheldon McClellan (Jr.-G): 14.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 52% FG
- Angel Rodriguez (Jr.-G): 12.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, 1.9 SPG
- Tonye Jekiri (Sr.-C): 8.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.6 BPG
Miami comes in as one of the better defensive teams in the ACC. The Hurricanes put a lot of pressure on opposing ball-handlers and have senior Tonye Jekiri, the team’s best shot-blocker and the conference’s leading rebounder, to protect the basket. Miami’s pressure defense forced 16 turnovers in the first meeting this season against a Florida State team that has struggled to take care of the ball.
Montay Brandon shined in the first meeting between the teams scoring 18 points on a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, but Brandon as well as leading scorer Xavier Rathan-Mayes have each struggled of late. Brandon, who averages 12 points-per-game, has failed to score in double-figures in his last three games and in seven of his last 10. Rathan-Mayes has shot just 8-for-29 from the field over the last two games for FSU.
Miami point guard Angel Rodriguez has also had his struggles from the field as the Kansas State transfer is shooting just 32 percent for the season. Sheldon McClellan however, has quietly been one of the more efficient players in the ACC and will be a tough cover for whomever the Seminoles try to cover him with.
Jekiri could be the biggest mismatch for a tall Florida State front line that’s been bullied inside this season and has struggled to rebound. Though inconsistent, senior Kiel Turpin was effective for the Seminoles against him in the first meeting, scoring 10 points including the shot that put FSU ahead for good.
Florida State not only defeated Miami earlier in the season, but the Seminoles also won in their last trip to Miami. FSU topped the Hurricanes in Coral Gables 63-53 last season behind 12 points from Aaron Thomas.
Wednesday’s contest will begin after 9:00 P.M. eastern time and can be seen regionally on the Raycom Sports Network.
