No. 19 Florida State will close the regular season with a stretch of three games against teams it has already defeated this season. That stretch begins on Saturday at Clemson. In the first meeting between the team in Tallahassee earlier this month, FSU notched its largest margin of victory in ACC play ever, winning 109-61.
The 48-point drubbing earlier this season has been the exception and not the rule for Clemson. The Tigers are just 4-11 in ACC play, but seven of those losses have come by five points or less. The Tigers beat the Seminoles last year in Greenville, 84-75. The teams have split the two meetings in each of the last three seasons.
The Match-Up
Who: No. 19 Florida State Seminoles (22-6, 10-5 ACC) at Clemson Tigers (14-13, 4-11 ACC)
When: Saturday, Feb. 25 at noon EST (ACC Network)
Where: Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina
Key Players
For Florida State: Dwayne Bacon averages nearly 17 points per game to lead Florida State and tied a career-high with 29 points against Clemson earlier this month. Jonathan Isaac scores nearly 13 points per game in addition to team-high averages of 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Xavier Rathan-Mayes scores better than 10 points per game and averages a team-best 4.7 assists.
For Clemson: Jaron Blossomgame leads the Tigers averaging 17.1 points per game and ranks second the team at 6.1 boards per game. Avry Holmes averages better than 11 points and shoots 46 percent from deep. Marcquise Reed averages 10.3 points per game.
What to Watch For
Dwayne Bacon: After being held scoreless for the first time in his career last weekend at Pittsburgh, Dwayne Bacon bounced back with a team-high 16 points in Monday’s win over Boston College. In the first meeting with Clemson this season, Bacon scored 29 points on 10-for-14 shooting and 6-for-9 from deep. Against Clemson on the road last season, Bacon scored 10 points on just 5-for-16 shooting.
Jaron Blossomgame: Much like Pittsburgh’s Michael Young, Clemson’s Jaron Blossomgame is one of the hidden gems of the ACC. At 6-7, Blossomgame is averaging better than 17 points per game, but is versatile. Blossomgame is capable of banging on the block or beating opponents to the basket off the dribble. Tasked with guarding the Clemson senior for much of the day on Saturday will likely be FSU freshman Jonathan Isaac.
3-point shooting: In the first meeting between the teams this season, FSU filled it up from deep, shooting 17-for-30 from downtown. In last year’s contest in Greenville, 3-point shooting was the difference in Clemson’s favor as the Tigers’ Jordan Roper went 7-for-10 from deep. Roper is no longer on the team and that has been evident as Clemson ranks just 14th in the ACC in 3-point field goal percentage. We’ll see if shots from beyond the arc are again an advantage for the Seminoles.
A close game: As mentioned before, close games have not been Clemson’s friend this season. In ACC games decided by five points or less, the Tigers are just 1-7. In such games for FSU, the Seminoles are 3-0. If this one is close late on Saturday, it’ll be interesting to see how the Tigers respond.
Number to Pay Attention To
23: A victory on Saturday would Florida State 23 regular season wins. That would tie a school-record set during the 1971-72 and 2008-09 seasons.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
You must be logged in to post a comment Login