IU basketball: Indiana at Florida State game day essentials

It is a Big Ten / ACC Challenge rematch as Indiana gets set to face its fourth consecutive high major non-conference opponent.

Next up, defending ACC champion Florida State in Tallahassee.

Indiana defeated the Seminoles 80-64 in connection with the event last season in Bloomington.  Senior guard Devonte Green made five three-pointers and scored 30 points in the contest.  Indiana shot 55 percent from the field and outrebounded FSU 35-25 for the game.

IU is 8-11 all-time in Big Ten / ACC Challenge contests.

GAME DAY ESSENTIALS

Indiana (3-1) at No. 20/21 Florida State (1-0) — Big Ten / ACC Challenge

• Tip time:  7:15 p.m. ET
• Location: Donald L. Tucker Arena, Tallahassee, Fla.
• Television:  ESPN (Dave O’Brien and Jay Bilas) | Stream
• IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, Joe Smith) | Tune In
• Series:  Indiana leads 5-0 (Indiana won last meeting 80-64 in 2019)
• Point Spread:  FSU is a 3-point favorite
• KenPom has No. 21 Florida State by 2 points over No. 20 Indiana

[Complete 2020-21 IU schedule]

See also: 

Miller, Phinisee and Galloway preview the game

FSU coach Leonard Hamilton previews the game

2019 game Report Card

Meet the Seminoles

Florida State defeated North Florida by an 86-58 margin on December 2 in Tallahassee in its season opener and lone 2020-21 contest.

Indiana fans might have a misguided perception of the Seminoles based on IU’s 80-64 win in Bloomington last year.

Truth be told, FSU has been one of college basketball’s best teams over the last two seasons.

Florida State is 56-13 (.812 winning percentage) since the start of the 2018-19 season. The Seminoles finished 29-8 in 2018-19, 26-5 in 2019-20 and are 1-0 this season.

Since falling to Indiana in the 2019 ACC / Big Ten Challenge on December 4, 2019, the Seminoles have won nearly 90 percent of their games with a record of 20-3.

Florida State has been especially difficult to deal with at home.

The Seminoles have won 39 consecutive non-ACC home games, and 24 consecutive games at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee

Florida State Head Coach Leonard Hamilton enters Wednesday’s game against Indiana as the fifth winningest coach in ACC history. Hamilton became only the sixth coach in ACC history to win 350 career games with the Seminoles’ victory over Miami on January 18, 2020.

Defending ACC Champion Florida State is picked to finish third in the 2020-21 league standings and newcomer Scottie Barnes was chosen as the Preseason ACC Freshman of the Year.  A top-10, 5-star recruit, Barnes is on numerous preseason watch lists.

Shooting guard M.J. Walker is on the Jerry West award for shooting guards preseason list.

With two Seminoles playing at 7-0 or better (Balsa Koprivica and Tanor Ngom) and a third at 6-11 (Quincy Ballard), Florida State is one of the top five tallest teams (by average height in inches) in Division I Basketball for the 2020-21 season.

The Seminoles lost key contributors from a season ago, including Trent Forrest, Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams.  The trio combined for 28 points in last year’s meeting.  Williams and Vassell were NBA Draft lottery picks.

STARTING LINEUP FOR FLORIDA STATE…
F #1 RaiQuan Gray 6-8, 260 (8.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg; 8 pts and 3 rebs vs. Indiana, December 4, 2019)
C #5 Balsa Koprivica 7-1, 240 (13 ppg, 5.0 rpg; 0 pts and 1 reb vs. Indiana, December 4, 2019)
G #2 Anthony Polite 6-6, 215 (7.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg; 7 pts and 3 rebs vs. Indiana, December 4, 2019)
G #4 Scottie Barnes 6-9, 227 (8 ppg, 6.0 rpg; First career game vs. Indiana)
G #23 M.J. Walker 6-5, 213 (17.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg; 10 pts and 4 rebs vs. Indiana, December 4, 2019)

…AND TOP RESERVES
G #0 RayQuan Evans, 6-4, 210 (4.0 ppg and 1.0 apg; 0 pts and 0 rebs vs. Indiana, December 4, 2019)
F #10 Malik Osborne, 6-9, 225 (6.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg; 7 pts and 3 rebs vs. Indiana, December 4, 2019)
G #31 Wyatt Wilkes, 6-8, 220 (4.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg; 0 pts and 0 rebs vs. Indiana, December 4, 2019)
C #15 Quincy Ballard, 6-11, 240 (2.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg; First career game vs. Indiana)
G #24 Sardaar Calhoun, 6-6, 220 (8.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg; First career game vs. Indiana)
G #11 Nathanael Jack, 6-5, 195 (6.0 ppg and 1.0 apg; First career game vs. Indiana)
C #34 Tanor Ngom, 7-2, 236 (3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg; First career game vs. Indiana)

ARCHIE MILLER ON FLORIDA STATE

Indiana head coach Archie Miller spoke to the media on Tuesday regarding his impressions of Florida State:

“We have the outmost respect for what they are doing there with their program,” Miller said.  “They are very similar to what they were a year ago. In talking to a lot of people, feel like Florida State feels like, not speaking for them, but Florida State has a chance to contend for another ACC championship.

“Playing against a great opponent on the road. For our guys it is going to be a good test. We have to deal with a lot of pressure, that is what this game comes down to. Having some real feedback coming out of Asheville, a week ago and seeing the different styles we played there, hopefully our guys are a little more mature and experienced in game situations. This one is going to present a lot of challenges. Going down there and playing them at their place where they have had tremendous success recently and they have a great culture of winning right now.

“It has got to be one of the biggest teams in college basketball year in and year out. Not just inside, but the perimeter guys are all very, very physically gifted, long and athletic. That is what they do with their system. They bring 10-12 players a game. They are able to use their depth and their physicality over the course of the game to pressure you and wear you down.”

DURHAM A GAME TIME DECISION, BRUNK WON’T PLAY

Miller spoke on Tuesday about the availability of his two senior captains, Al Durham and Joey Brunk.

Durham is dealing with a sprained ankle, while Brunk has had a back issue.

“Joey hasn’t participated in anything. I doubt he will be available in the near future just because we are trying to figure out what the best plan of action is for him,” Miller said.  “We are not planning on having Joey right now or in the immediate future unless something changes.

“Al has been very slow on his recovery. Realistically he had a tough ankle sprain. It has been about a week. He has started to increase his activity. He did a little more yesterday in practice, which was a live practice. His live action wasn’t very much. We will see how he feel today and then we don’t play until tomorrow night. I assume he will continue to do his treatment and get better. It will be more of a game time decision to see how he feels.”

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