Florida State will look to bounce back from a disheartening ACC-opening loss to Virginia. The Seminoles will now try to even their conference record as they play their first ACC home game against rival Miami.
The Hurricanes and Seminoles split the season series last season with each team winning at home. Miami has dropped its first two ACC games and six of nine overall.
The Match-Up
Who: Miami Hurricanes (8-6, 0-2 ACC) at No. 13 Florida State Seminoles (12-2, 0-1 ACC)
When: Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. EST (ACC Network)
Where: Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida
Key Players
For Miami
Chris Lykes, G (So.): 17.5 PPG, 3.6 APG, 1.6 SPG
Zach Johnson, G (Sr.): 14.3 PPG, 2.4 APG, 46% FG
Anthony Lawrence II, G/F (Sr.): 12.5 PPG, 5.9 PPG, 1 BPG
For FSU
Terance Mann, G (Sr.): 12.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 54% FG
Mfiondu Kabengele, F (So.): 11.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 48% FG
Trent Forrest, G (Jr.): 10 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.2 SPG
What to Watch For
3-point shooting: Among ACC teams, Miami ranks fourth in made 3-pointers per game with just under nine. During last season’s contest in Tallahassee — a 103-94 overtime win for the Seminoles — Miami set a new program record with 17 made triples while going 17-for-34 from deep. Dejan Vasiljevic, now a senior, was responsible for six of those makes. Vasiljevic currently ranks second in the ACC behind Virginia’s Kyle Guy when it comes to made 3s per game. FSU currently has four players shooting 40 percent or better from deep, with P.J. Savoy leading the team with 22 makes.
Rebounding: With Dewan Hernandez awaiting an NCAA appeal, the Hurricanes have been manhandled on the glass this season. Miami ranks last in the ACC in rebounding margin and next-to-last in offensive rebounds per game. FSU grabs fewer defensive rebounds per game than any team in the ACC, but the Seminoles are among the best offensive rebounding teams in the conference. FSU has four players averaging at least 4.5 rebounds per game, led by Terance Mann at 6.4. Ebuka Izundu averages 9.4 boards per game to lead the Hurricanes.
Phil Cofer: After missing the first nine games this season with a foot injury, Phil Cofer appears to slowly be returning to form for the Seminoles. A redshirt senior and last season’s leading scorer, Cofer has averaged 26.5 minutes over his last two games after recording just 22 total in his first two appearances. Cofer led FSU with nine points his last time out against Virginia and is shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc in four games this season. Cofer finished with 21 points on 6-for-11 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in last season’s home win against the Hurricanes.
Number to Pay Attention To
10-5: That’s Leonard Hamilton’s record at home against Miami. Hamilton coached the Hurricanes from 1990 to 2000 before leaving as the program’s all-time winningest coach.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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