[7:02 PM] Minnesota @ #25 Florida State

What will be the GAME RESULT?

Minnesota: Wins or Single Digit Loss

@ #25 Florida State: Wins By Double Digits

 

• Florida State returns from a trip to New York that produced mixed results for a home game on Monday against Minnesota, which will be playing its first road game following an unbeaten six-game start to the season at Williams Arena. The Seminoles squandered a 60-42 lead Thursday against Temple in an NIT Season Tip-Off semifinal, eventually losing 89-86, but rebounded with a solid 71-62 victory over Illinois the next day and now face the Golden Gophers in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge.

• The Gophers are coming off a sluggish 57-45 win over Southern Illinois that followed an impressive 85-71 victory against Arkansas.

• Four newcomers – freshmen Amir Coffey and Eric Curry, junior transfer Reggie Lynch and graduate student Akeem Springs – have provided a huge lift with the Gophers coming off a difficult 2015-16 season. Coffey (team-leading 15.8 points) has combined with junior Nate Mason (13, 5.5 assists) to give the team a dynamic starting backcourt combination while Lynch (9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 18 blocked shots) has been a huge inside presence. Springs (6.7 points), who averaged 13.2 points at Milwaukee last season, gives Pitino a proven backcourt starter off the bench and Curry (8.2, 7.2 rebounds) provides depth up front.

• Bacon (18.2 points, 52 percent shooting) and freshman star Isaac (15.3, 60.3) are the only Seminoles averaging double figures in scoring and they’ve been especially lethal from 3-point range (a combined 26-of-53). One reason no one else is averaging 10-plus points is the team’s depth – FSU has nine players averaging at least 11.5 minutes and four points per game, starting with point guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes (9.8 points, five assists) and ending with forward Jarquez Smith (four points). In addition to Isaac, two other freshmen – Trent Forrest (8.2 points, 12 steals), who sparked the Seminoles with two key steals against Illinois, and CJ Walker (7.3 points – 13 against Illinois) – also have made a big impact.

• Nine of Florida State’s top 11 players are shooting 50 percent or better.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Minnesota: Wins or Single Digit Loss

Confidence: 5/10

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