Stanford is favored by 4.5. Florida State is 13-6, 4-4 in the ACC, 1-4 on the road (only road win @ Rice). Best win was over Pitt. Worst loss was Wednesday at Cal. The Seminoles led 51-49 with 12 minutes to play, but Cal went on a run to go up 67-55 with about 5 minutes left. Cal ended up winning 77-68.
FSU Head Coach Leonard Hamilton began his career as a grad assistant way back in 1971. He became a head coach at Oklahoma State in 1986, moved on to Miami in 1990 & the NBA Washington Wizards in 2000, before getting to Florida State in 2002. His teams are characterized by aggresive man-to-man defense utilizing a roster of tall, lean, athletic players. His current roster ranks 2nd in the nation in height (Duke is #1). So far this season, the 'Noles rank: 3rd in the ACC in FG % defense (40.3); 2nd in 3-pt FG % defense (30.7); 1st in blocks per game (5.5); 2nd in steals per game (8.6); and 4th in TO margin (+2.5).
Florida State is led by Jamir Watkins & Malique Ewin. Watkins (#1, 6'7/210 RSr G) was voted onto the pre-season All-ACC 2nd team. He is in his 2nd year as a full-time starter at FSU, after spending 3 years at Virginia Commonwealth. He averages 18.5 ppg (5th in the ACC) and 4.8 rpg. He is their most prolific 3-pt shooter (33-97, 34%). Ewin (#12, 6'11/230 Jr F) spent a year at Mississippi, then played JC ball, and became the #1 ranked JC center and an NJCAA 1st team All-American. He averages 14.3 ppg (17th in the ACC) on 58.9% shooting (1st), and pulls down 8.2 rpg (5th).
Other starters vs. Cal were: Taylor Bol Bowen (#10, 6'10/205 So F) averaging 8.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, & 1.6 blocks; Daquan Davis (#5, 6'1/176 Fr G) averaging 8.9 ppg & 2.8 assists; and Justin Thomas (#25, 6'7/184 Sr G) who is playing at his 5th school in 5 years!
Chandler Jackson has started 17 games, but did not play at all vs. Cal. AJ Swinton has played in 17 games (none as a starter), but also did not play vs. Cal. I'm not aware of the status of these players.
Other players averaging double figures in minutes played per game are: Jerry Deng (#7, 6'9/220 So F), Bostyn Holt (#3, 6'7/200 Sr g), & Alier Maluk (#21, 7'0/218 Fr F).
This is the toughest of the 3 games on the current home stand. Getting a 3rd straight win (does that qualify as a streak?) would go a long way toward solidifying Stanford's recent rise in the ACC standings and in the various rankings.
FSU Head Coach Leonard Hamilton began his career as a grad assistant way back in 1971. He became a head coach at Oklahoma State in 1986, moved on to Miami in 1990 & the NBA Washington Wizards in 2000, before getting to Florida State in 2002. His teams are characterized by aggresive man-to-man defense utilizing a roster of tall, lean, athletic players. His current roster ranks 2nd in the nation in height (Duke is #1). So far this season, the 'Noles rank: 3rd in the ACC in FG % defense (40.3); 2nd in 3-pt FG % defense (30.7); 1st in blocks per game (5.5); 2nd in steals per game (8.6); and 4th in TO margin (+2.5).
Florida State is led by Jamir Watkins & Malique Ewin. Watkins (#1, 6'7/210 RSr G) was voted onto the pre-season All-ACC 2nd team. He is in his 2nd year as a full-time starter at FSU, after spending 3 years at Virginia Commonwealth. He averages 18.5 ppg (5th in the ACC) and 4.8 rpg. He is their most prolific 3-pt shooter (33-97, 34%). Ewin (#12, 6'11/230 Jr F) spent a year at Mississippi, then played JC ball, and became the #1 ranked JC center and an NJCAA 1st team All-American. He averages 14.3 ppg (17th in the ACC) on 58.9% shooting (1st), and pulls down 8.2 rpg (5th).
Other starters vs. Cal were: Taylor Bol Bowen (#10, 6'10/205 So F) averaging 8.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, & 1.6 blocks; Daquan Davis (#5, 6'1/176 Fr G) averaging 8.9 ppg & 2.8 assists; and Justin Thomas (#25, 6'7/184 Sr G) who is playing at his 5th school in 5 years!
Chandler Jackson has started 17 games, but did not play at all vs. Cal. AJ Swinton has played in 17 games (none as a starter), but also did not play vs. Cal. I'm not aware of the status of these players.
Other players averaging double figures in minutes played per game are: Jerry Deng (#7, 6'9/220 So F), Bostyn Holt (#3, 6'7/200 Sr g), & Alier Maluk (#21, 7'0/218 Fr F).
This is the toughest of the 3 games on the current home stand. Getting a 3rd straight win (does that qualify as a streak?) would go a long way toward solidifying Stanford's recent rise in the ACC standings and in the various rankings.