ACC Basketball: Miami vs. Florida State preview
By Dalton Pence
Florida State hosts Miami in a Top 25 ACC matchup in the Sunflower State.
Location: Donald L. Tucker Center-Tallahassee, Florida
TV: 4:00 p.m. ET, ACC Network
The last weekend of the regular season features two top 25 ACC teams squaring off in Tallahassee for the bragging rights of the state. No. 25 Miami comes into the game riding a 5 game winning streak that includes two victories over Duke and Virginia. However, the Florida State Seminoles have lost three out of their last five (Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and Duke), forcing Leonard Hamilton to find some answers.
A top four finish in the conference is possible for both and a double-bye in the conference tournament is a sincere advantage. Florida State won down in Coral Gables on February 1st 75-57 behind Jonathan Isaac’s and Dwayne Bacon’s 15 points apiece. Will FSU turn it around and get a momentum, resume-boosting win or will the Hurricanes hot streak continue?
Prediction: The home court advantage and size of Florida St will be too much for Miami; Seminoles win 75-64.
Projected Starting Lineups
Miami
#5 G- Davon Reed: 6’6”, Sr, 15.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.4 APG
#11 G- Bruce Brown: 6’5”, Fr, 11.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.4 APG
#15 C- Ebuka Izundu: 6’10”, SOPH, 4.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG
#3 F- Anthony Lawrence Jr: 6’7”, Jr, 7.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG
#21 F- Kamari Murphy: 6’8”, Sr, 7.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG
Florida State (Excluding Senior Day Considerations)
#22 G- Xavier Rathan-Mayes: 6’4”, Jr, 10.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.8 APG
#14 G- Terance Mann: 6’6”, SOPH, 8.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG
#4 G- Dwayne Bacon: 6’7”, SOPH, 16.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG
#1 F- Jonathan Isaac: 6’10”, Fr, 12.6 PPG, 7.4 PPG
#50 C- Michael Ojo: 7’1”, Sr, 5.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Keys to the game and player to watch:
Miami
Key: Limit Isaac and Bacons’ Production
The leading scorers for the Seminoles, Jonathan Isaac and Dwayne Bacon, run the show in central Florida. It is critical that Miami forces both to take tough shots and keeps them out of the lane.
Player to Watch: Guard Ja’Quan Newton
The junior is averaging 14.2 points per contest and just over 3 rebounds and assists. Look for him to provide quality minutes off the bench, which will be much needed in a hostile environment.
Next: Northwestern clinches NCAA berth with buzzer beater
Florida State
Key: Get the Miami forwards in foul trouble
The Hurricanes only go about 4 to 5 deep in the front court with freshman forward Dewan Huell being the primary contributor off the bench. With Florida State’s size, a Miami frontcourt in foul-trouble could spell disaster.
Player to Watch: Forward Jonathan Isaac
This game will probably be the last he plays in Tallahassee as a Seminole and I look for him to go out with a bang. The diaper dandy has a wide arsenal and he will stretch the floor and be a pain for Jim Larranaga’s team.