After watching its 8-game winning streak come to an end in Chapel Hill on Saturday, No. 16 Florida State won’t have to wait long to try to get back into the win column. After a 77-59 loss to North Carolina, the Seminoles will host Notre Dame on Monday night to begin a 3-game homestand.
Things haven’t gone swimmingly for Notre Dame this season as the Fighting Irish are just 13-14 for the season, 3-11 in ACC play and riding a 3-game losing streak. Notre Dame topped FSU last season in South Bend, 84-69. Since the Fighting Irish joined the ACC for the 2013-14, the home team has won every regular season match-up.
The Match-Up
Who: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-14, 3-11 ACC) at No. 16 Florida State Seminoles (21-6, 9-5 ACC)
When: Monday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Where: Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida
Key Players
For Notre Dame
T.J. Gibbs, G (Jr.): 14.4 PPG, 3.4 APG, 1.3 SPG
John Mooney, F (Jr.): 14 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 48% FG
D.J. Harvey, G, (So.): 10.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 77% FT
For FSU
Mfiondu Kabengele, F (So.): 13.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 53% FG
Terance Mann, G (Sr.): 11.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 52% FG
Trent Forrest, G (Jr.): 9 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2 SPG
What to Watch For
Rebounding: Florida State was manhandled on the glass on Saturday by a 47-32 margin in an 18-point loss to North Carolina. Come Monday, that’s an area where the Seminoles should have the advantage. Notre Dame ranks 12th in the ACC in rebounding margin and gives up more rebounds than any other team. Despite Saturday’s dismal showing, FSU is a good rebounding team. The teams were even on the glass last season in the Fighting Irish’s 84-69 win in South Bend.
Versatile bigs: One fun match-up for Monday worth watching will be Notre Dame junior John Moody and FSU’s Mfiondu Kabengele go at it. Moody is the only player in the ACC averaging a double-double and can beat teams inside or out. Kabengele is the only player in the country leading his team in scoring without starting a single game. Like Moody, Kabengele can play inside or out, but was held to eight points in Saturday’s loss at North Carolina.
3-point shooting: One key component for Notre Dame in recent meetings for FSU is 3-point shooting. Although they left with an 83-80 defeat two years ago, the Fighting Irish shot an ungodly 15-for-21 from deep against the Seminoles in their last trip to Tallahassee. Notre Dame has not shot well percentage-wise this season, but makes the fourth-most 3s per game in the ACC. FSU shot nearly 40 percent from deep during its 8-game winning streak, but went just 10-for-31 against the Tar Heels on Saturday. T.J. Gibbs for Notre Dame and P.J. Savoy for FSU are the two marksmen to watch, although Terance Mann has shot 46 percent from deep for the Seminoles this season.
Number to Pay Attention To
43-3: That’s Florida State’s record at home over the last three seasons and none of those losses came to a team with a losing record. Two of the three came against teams ranked in the top 2.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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