Before we discuss this weekend’s basketball contests between Florida State and a pair of New England opponents, the Noled Out staff asks that you please keep Florida State University in your thoughts and prayers regarding a shooting that took place inside the Strozier Library overnight Wednesday. Both members of our very small staff are FSU alumni and this matter is very dear to our hearts. Thank you.
Florida State (1-1) will look to get the bad taste out of its mouth following an embarrassing 76-73 home loss to Northeastern on Tuesday. The Seminoles get set to leave Tallahassee for the first time this season as FSU faces a pair of big name opponents over the weekend at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Florida State will take on Providence Saturday in a game that tips off at 2:30 P.M. eastern time before facing Massachusetts on Sunday at noon. The contest with Providence can be seen on ESPN3 and Sunday’s meeting with the Minutemen will air on ESPNU.
The Friars (2-0) feature a pair of forwards that could give the Seminoles problems on Saturday afternoon. Junior Tyler Harris and senior LaDontae Henton have combined to average 33.5 points and 14 rebounds over Providence’s first two games.
Despite having three 7-footers in the rotation, the Seminoles have struggled to control the glass early on this season. Providence held a 49-26 edge over Binghampton in that area its last time out.
The good news for Florida State is that the Friars have shot just 18 percent from beyond the three-point line early this season. In Tuesday’s loss to Northeastern, the Seminoles allowed the Huskies to go 9-for-15 from deep.
FSU has been carried early on by junior guard Aaron Thomas. Thomas is averaging 19 points-per-game including a season-high 24 against Northeastern. Thomas also recorded six steals in the loss.
While the Seminoles have struggled at center, the forward duo of Montay Brandon and Jarquez Smith have been very good. Brandon, a junior, is second on the team averaging 14 points-per-game and has yet to miss from the field, making all 12 shot attempts early on this year. Brandon also leads FSU in rebounding.
Smith, a 6’9″ sophomore, is shooting 67 percent from the field and has battled down low despite a lack of bulk while freshman Phil Cofer has been Florida State’s best option off the bench. Cofer is averaging nine points as a reserve and is Florida State’s leading shot blocker.
Providence and Florida State will be meeting for the first time since December of 2008 when the Friars beat the Seminoles in a high-scoring affair at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, 101-95.
The Seminoles took down Massachusetts last season in a game that was also played on a neutral court. UMASS was undefeated and ranked 22nd in the country when Florida State handed the Minutemen their first loss in Sunrise, Florida last December.
Florida State closed the game on a 6-0 run to leave with a 60-55 victory. Thomas paced the Seminoles with 18 points while FSU rejected 12 UMASS shots.
Florida State will look to be UMASS’ first loss of the year for a second straight season as the Minutemen come in 3-0. Massachusetts took down Boston College at a neutral site, but needed overtime to top a Manhattan team the Seminoles defeated by 15 this past weekend.
Senior forwards Maxie Esho and Cady Lalanne have been outstanding thus far for UMASS. Esho is averaging a team-high 18.7 points and ranks second, grabbing seven rebounds-per-game while Lalanne, an Orlando native, is scoring better than 16 points and leads the Minutemen in rebounds with 12 per game and blocks with more than four per contest.
The junior guard combination of Derrick Gordon and Trey Harris is also very good for Massachusetts and will create a tough cover for Thomas and Florida State junior point guard Devin Bookert.
Depth however, should be an area where Florida State holds a significant advantage. The Seminoles have seven players averaging better than five points-per-game.
Following Sunday’s contest with UMASS, Florida State will play its next four games at home.
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