Miami, which had a 10-game win streak broken over the weekend, is set to return home to face its biggest rival in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.
Miami (15-3, 4-1 ACC) will host Florida State (7-11, 0-5) on Tuesday night in Coral Gables, Fla.
The Hurricanes have four double-figure scorers this season: Malik Reneau (19.8 ppg), Tre Donaldson (16.3), Shelton Henderson (14.1) and Tru Washington (12.2).
However, in a 69-59 loss at then-No. 22 Clemson on Saturday, Donaldson was held to a season-low five points and his lowest shooting percentage of the season (2-for-10). Reneau encountered foul trouble and scored a season-low 11 points, and Washington scored a season-low four points.
“We’re a physical team, and this was the first time that a team could punch back at us,” Miami coach Jai Lucas said. “We needed this reality check.”
Lucas added that Donaldson, prior to Clemson, was a “Player of the Year candidate” in the ACC. Lucas also said Miami needs to “get Washington going — he’s our X-factor.”
Meanwhile, Florida State has lost five straight games. However, other than a 44-point loss to North Carolina State, the Seminoles have played some close games.
In their most recent game, for example, the Seminoles lost 69-68 to visiting Wake Forest on Saturday.
Robert McCray V leads Florida State in scoring (13.6). However, he is coming off a brutal game against Wake Forest as he had 11 of his team’s 16 turnovers. For the season, McCray is averaging a team-high 4.2 turnovers per game, and he is shooting just 29.7% from 3-point range.
Florida State’s other double-figure scorers are Chauncey Wiggins (12.1), Lajae Jones (11.1) and Kobe MaGee (10.8).
Among Florida State’s regulars, its top-two 3-point shooters are Martin Somerville (38.0%) and MaGee (33.1).
“We need Kobe to make shots for us to have a chance,” Seminoles coach Luke Loucks said. “Kobe can shoot the ball at such a high level.”
–Field Level Media
