After a disappointing 1-3 start to ACC play, Florida State will look to right recent wrongs on Sunday as it travels north to take on Boston College. The Seminoles have yet to win a road game in conference during the early parts of ACC play. Boston College will be searching for its first ACC win.
FSU and BC split a pair of meetings last season with each winning at home. The Eagles held off FSU early in the season, 81-75, but the Seminoles managed to bounce back on Senior Day with an 85-76 win to conclude the regular season.
The Match-Up
Who: No. 11 Florida State Seminoles (13-4, 1-3 ACC) at Boston College Eagles (9-7, 0-4 ACC)
When: Sunday, Jan. 20 at 12 p.m. EST (ESPNU)
Where: Silvio Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Key Players
For FSU
Mfiondu Kabengele, F (So.): 11.8 PPG, 5 RPG, 49% FG
Terance Mann, G (Sr.): 11.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 53% FG
Trent Forrest, G (Jr.): 10 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.2 SPG
For Boston College
Ky Bowman, G (Jr.): 19.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.6 APG
Wynston Tabbs, G (Fr.): 14.1 PPG, 2.7 APG, 1.1 SPG
Nik Popovic, F (Jr.): 13.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 56% FG
What to Watch For
Jordan Chatman: With Jerome Robinson gone, Jordan Chatman hasn’t had the breakout senior season that some would have expected. But Chatman is coming off a 21-point performance in a loss to Louisville and was a thorn in FSU’s side last season. In two games against the Seminoles, Chatman averaged 17 points on 7-for-15 from beyond the 3-point arc. Chatman may be the x-factor for the Eagles on Sunday.
3-point shooting: Florida State’s struggles from beyond the arc served as a huge blow to FSU in Monday’s 75-62 upset loss at Pittsburgh. The Seminoles shot just 2-for-22 from deep and at one point, had missed 19 straight triples. Among ACC teams, FSU ranks just 13th in 3-point percentage. Among those that are worse is Boston College. P.J. Savoy is the leader in made 3s for the Seminoles while Ky Bowman holds that title for the Eagles with 36 this season.
Foul shooting: A definite sore spot for FSU a season ago, the Seminoles have cleaned things up from the free throw line, shooting nearly 74 percent. The problem on Monday night at Pittsburgh was that FSU couldn’t avoid getting whistles as the Panthers shot 46 free throws and made 38. Boston College ranks just 13th in the ACC in field goal percentage at just over 70 percent. Interestingly enough, the Eagles and Seminoles rank first and second in the ACC, respectively, in opponents’ free throw percentage.
Number to Pay Attention To
65: That’s the number of points per game that Florida State is averaging in ACC play this season — a 12.5-point drop-off from its regular totals. Only Boston College and Clemson are scoring fewer in conference play.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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