With the holidays quickly approaching, it is shaping up to be another week where contests are few and far between for Florida State’s athletic department. Still, this next week should be a big one, beginning on Wednesday.
As is customary, here’s a look at what to watch for over the seven days in FSU athletics:
1. FSU looks for strong Early Signing Day
New Florida State head coach Mike Norvell wasn’t afforded much time to improve FSU’s recruiting class, but how far he’s come will likely be known on Wednesday for Early Signing Day. The Seminoles enter the day with the No. 26 overall class in the country and the fifth best class in the ACC, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The good news is that FSU looks like it will sign the majority of its 13 current commitments on Wednesday. More than 15 FSU targets and commitments are expected to sign on Wednesday.
2. Norvell puts together a staff
New head coach Mike Norvell has already started putting together a staff at Florida State, but that staff could be completed or close to it in the next week. So far, Norvell has retained wide receivers coach Ron Dugans and defensive line coach Odell Haggins. Norvell also has both of his coordinators in place in former Auburn offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham and former Memphis defensive coordinator Adam Fuller.
3. FSU women’s hoops wraps up non-conference
At 10-0 and ranked No. 8 in the country, FSU will try to tie a school record for consecutive wins to start a season as it wraps up non-conference play this week. Fresh off their closest game of the season — a 74-70 win over St. John’s — the Seminoles will host North Florida on Wednesday before taking on No. 24 Michigan in Connecticut on Sunday. FSU is led by a 3-headed monster of guards Nausia Woolfolk and Nikki Ekhomu and forward Kiah Gillespie.
Woolfolk and Gillespie each average 15.9 points per game to lead the team. Gillespie also averages a double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds per contest. Ekhomu averages a team-high 4.8 assists per game. Wednesday’s game against a 5-5 North Florida team will begin at 7 p.m. EST and air on ACC Network Extra. Michigan is currently 9-1 on the season with its only loss coming to Notre Dame. Michigan is led by sophomore forward Naz Hillman, who averages 15.6 points and 8.4 rebounds on 62 percent shooting. The Seminoles and Wolverines meet at 1:30 p.m. EST on Sunday in a contest that will air on the ACC Network.
4. FSU hoops faces South Florida in Orange Bowl Classic
Florida State men’s hoops’ final neutral-site game of the regular season will come on Saturday as the Seminoles take on South Florida in Sunrise for the Orange Bowl Classic. FSU is 9-2 on the season and coming off a 98-81 win over North Florida in a contest where seven Seminoles scored in double-figures, paced by Balsa Koprivica’s career-high 15 points. Guards Trent Forrest and Devin Vassell headline the FSU lineup. At 6-4 on the season, South Florida is led by junior guard David Collins, who shoots 48 percent from the field and averages better than 15 points per game. The Bulls and Seminoles will tip things off at 12 p.m. EST in a contest that airs on Fox Sports 2.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login