CBB: No. 24 Miami at No. 11 Florida State
Week 16 was all about the East Coast during the week as Syracuse upset No. 10 Duke and No. 5 North Carolina defeated No. 9 Louisville, but the weekend focused on the West Coast when No. 4 UCLA took down No. 7 Arizona and No. 1 Gonzaga's perfect season was ruined by BYU.
Week 17, better known as Rivalry Week, is the final seven days of the regular season before we prepare ourselves for Champ Week. Given the name of the week, we will be witnessing a lot of hate as teams scratch and claw their way towards the top of their respective conferences. We will be keeping a tight eye on No. 11 Florida State at No. 12 Duke, No. 23 Notre Dame at No. 9 Louisville, No. 12 Duke at No. 4 North Carolina, and our game-to-watch; No. 24 Miami (FL) at No. 11 Florida State.
Tunde Aduroja and I will be giving out our final mid-season composite top-25, a handful of players that we think have a shot at the Wooden Award, some predictions for Rivalry Week's best matchups, and a short preview of the clash in Tallahassee. Enjoy!
Composite Top-25:
1. Kansas (27-3)
2. Villanova (27-3)
3. UCLA (26-3)
4. North Carolina (25-6)
5. Oregon (26-4)
6. Gonzaga (29-1)
7. Arizona (26-4)
8. Baylor (24-6)
9. Louisville (23-6)
10. Kentucky (24-5)
11. Florida State (23-6)
12. Duke (22-7)
13. Florida (23-6)
14. St. Mary's (26-3)
15. SMU (25-4)
16. Purdue (23-6)
17. West Virginia (23-7)
18. Butler (23-6)
19. Wisconsin (22-7)
20. Creighton (22-7)
21. Cincinnati (25-4)
22. South Carolina (21-8)
23. Notre Dame (22-7)
24. Miami (FL) (20-9)
25. Michigan (19-10)
On the Bubble:
26. Maryland (22-7)
27. Arkansas (22-7)
28. USC (21-8)
29. Virginia (20-9)
30. Iowa State (19-9)
Post:
Indiana at No. 16 Purdue
No. 11 Florida State at No. 12 Duke
Arkansas at No. 13 Florida
No. 9 Louisville at Wake Forest
Iowa State at No. 17 West Virginia
No. 13 Florida at Vanderbilt
No. 23 Notre Dame at No. 9 Louisville
No. 24 Miami (FL) at No. 11 Florida State
No. 1 Kansas at Oklahoma State
No. 12 Duke at No. 4 North Carolina
Week 16 Record: 6-4.
Overall Record: 123-47.
Winning Percentage: 72.4%.
Indiana at No. 16 Purdue
No. 11 Florida State at No. 12 Duke
Arkansas at No. 13 Florida
No. 9 Louisville at Wake Forest
Iowa State at No. 17 West Virginia
No. 13 Florida at Vanderbilt
No. 23 Notre Dame at No. 9 Louisville
No. 24 Miami (FL) at No. 11 Florida State
No. 1 Kansas at Oklahoma State
No. 12 Duke at No. 4 North Carolina
Week 16 Record: 7-3.
Overall Record: 24-6.
Winning Percentage: 80.0%.
Stoll:
Week 16 Record: N/A.
Overall Record: 78-42.
Winning Percentage: 65.0%.
No. 24 Miami (FL) (20-9, 10-7) at No. 11 Florida State (23-6, 11-5)
Post: When these teams met about a month ago, Florida State's talent was on full display. The Seminoles are led by Dwayne Bacon (16.6 points per game) and Jonathan Isaac (7.3 rebounds per game), who are both going to be NBA players sooner rather than later. Even though I like how Miami (FL) has been playing, winning four of their last five games, mainly because of Kamari Murphy's (7.4 rebounds per game) incredible work ethic, I will take the 'Noles, 75-70.
Aduroja: The first time these teams played, Florida State used their athleticism to bother Miami's shooters. Miami was only able to shoot 18 percent from the 3-point line. I believe that will be the key. Can Miami shoot the 3 ball well? Against a team with the size and rim protection of Florida State, knocking down outside shots will be crucial. One problem, though: 3 point shots are easier to make when you can get penetration, and Florida State simply doesn't allow much of that. This game will look relatively similar to the first game. Final score: Florida State 81-65.
Current No. 1 Seeds:
Midwest — Kansas (27-3, 15-2)
East — Villanova (27-3, 14-3)
West — UCLA (26-3, 13-3)
South — North Carolina (25-6, 13-4)
Current No. 2 Seeds:
Midwest — Oregon (26-4, 15-2)
East — Gonzaga (29-1, 15-1)
West — Arizona (26-4, 15-2)
South — Baylor (24-6, 11-6)
Last Four In:
Syracuse (17-13, 9-8)
Xavier (18-12, 8-9)
Michigan State (18-12, 10-7)
Rhode Island (20-9, 12-5)
First Four Out:
Vanderbilt (16-14, 9-8)
Kansas State (18-12, 7-10)
Utah (18-10, 9-7)
BYU (21-10, 12-6)
Final Four Picks:
Wooden Award Standings:
1. Frank Mason (Kansas PG) — 20.2 points, 4.9 assists per game.
2. Josh Hart (Villanova SG) — 18.7 points, 6.6 rebounds per game.
3. Justin Jackson (North Carolina SF) — 18.8 points, 4.8 rebounds per game.
4. Caleb Swanigan (Purdue PF) — 19.0 points, 12.8 rebounds per game.
5. Josh Jackson (Kansas SF) — 16.3 points, 7.2 rebounds per game.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports.
