BOTTOM LINE: XAVIER WILL LOOK TO SEAN O'MARA IN THE PAINT AGAINST FLORIDA STATE THE MUSKETEERS WILL LIKELY HAVE TO TURN TO PERIMETER SHOOTING TO TAKE DOWN FLORIDA STATE. THE SEMINOLES HAVE THE ABILITY TO DOMINATE THE PAINT WITH 7-FOOT-1 MICHAEL OJO AND 7-FOOT-4 CHRIST KOUMADJE. IF THE MUSKETEERS' LEADING SCORERS TREVON BLUIETT AND J.P. MACURA GET HOT, THE SEMINOLES WILL HAVE TO DISCIPLINED DOWN THE STRETCH.
STAR WATCH: FLORIDA STATE SOPHOMORE DWAYNE BACON IS TOUGH MATCHUP. THE 6-FOOT-7 GUARD CAN BLOW PAST OPPONENTS AND CAN POST UP SMALLER GUARDS. HE IS COMING OFF A 25-POINT PERFORMANCE AGAINST FGCU IN WHICH HE SHOT 11 OF 17 FROM THE FIELD AND PULLED DOWN NINE REBOUNDS.
SCORING MACHINE: XAVIER'S TREVON BLUIETT HAD A SLOW START AGAINST MARYLAND, MISSING HIS FIRST SEVEN SHOTS AND SCORING JUST THREE POINTS IN THE FIRST HALF. HE FINISHED WITH 21 POINTS IN THE WIN AGAINST THE TERRAPINS AND IS ATHLETIC ENOUGH TO GET TO THE RIM AGAINST FLORIDA STATE. BUT HIS STRENGTH IS ON THE PERIMETER WHERE HE KNOCKED DOWN FIVE 3-POINTERS AGAINST THE TERPS; HE IS SHOOTING NEARLY 37 PERCENT FOR THE SEASON. HE HAS SCORED AT LEAST 20 POINTS IN 17 GAMES THIS SEASON, INCLUDING A 40-POINT SCORING OUTING AGAINST CINCINNATI IN JANUARY.
DID YOU KNOW: THE SEMINOLES HAD NINE BLOCKED SHOTS AGAINST FGCU WITH KOUMADJE (FOUR) AND OJO (TWO) ACCOUNTING FOR A COMBINED SIX REJECTIONS. XAVIER IS 13-1 WHEN IT HOLDS ITS OPPONENTS UNDER 70 POINTS.