Florida State will aim for its third straight victory on Monday as it plays host to Nebraska in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
After a 1-3 start, the Seminoles have won consecutive games to get back to .500. FSU has been without its starting backcourt for the better part of the last three games, so Florida State has resorted to winning with defense, holding its last two opponents to a combined 102 points.
With starting guards Aaron Thomas and Devon Bookert out, redshirt freshman Xavier Rathan-Mayes has carried the Florida State offense. Over his last three games, Rathan-Mayes has averaged better than 21 points.
Junior forward Montay Brandon continues to be the most steady Seminole on the season. Brandon is Florida State’s leading rebounder and ranks third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 points-per-game while shooting 65 percent from the field.
The ‘Noles have a trio of 7-footers that see playing time, but the biggest presence for Florida State on the block this season has been 6’8″ freshman Phil Cofer. Cofer averages better than five rebounds and just under eight points-per-game.
The recently stout Florida State defense will have its hands full on Monday as Nebraska owns two of the Big Ten’s premier scorers. Juniors Shavon Shields and Terran Petteway have combined to average 40 of Nebraska’s 76 points-per-game.
Petteway has always been able to score in bunches and has limitless range while Shields is shaping up to be one of the nation’s more improved players. After averaging 12.8 points last season, Shields is getting nearly 20 a game this year and is making good on 60 percent of his field goal attempts. A 6’7″ slasher, Shields leads the team averaging better than seven rebounds.
After making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 16 years last season, the Cornhuskers are off to a 4-1 start this season with their only loss coming on the road to Rhode Island.
Florida State and Nebraska will be facing one another for the first time since New Year’s Eve in 2005. FSU won that match-up in Sunrise, 74-60 behind 16 points from Isaiah Swann. The Seminoles will also look to snap a six-game losing streak in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The last victory for Florida State in the challenge came over Minnesota in November of 2007.
Monday’s contest at the Donald L. Tucker Center will be the first chance for both schools to play in front of a national television audience. The Cornhuskers and Seminoles are set to tip things off just after 7:00 P.M. eastern time. The game can be seen on ESPN2.
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