Report: Florida State to be Without 3 Players in Matchup Against No. 2 Purdue Basketball
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The No. 2 Purdue basketball program looks to improve on its league-best record in the 2021 Big Ten/ACC challenge Tuesday night against Florida State. The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
But when the Seminoles come to Mackey Arena, they will be without three scholarship players, according to a report from Sports Illustrated's NoleGameday.com.
The Florida State basketball program announced Monday afternoon that senior point guard RayQuan Evans, senior center Tanor Ngom and junior center Naheem McLeod will all be out for various reasons.
Evans, the team's starting point guard, is averaging 7.2 points and a team-high 3.4 assists per game this season. The 6-foot-4 senior has recorded 20 minutes on the floor per contest for Florida State.
Ngom and McLeod are two of Florida State's four players listed at 7-foot or taller. The duo have each contributed about 10 minutes per game so far this season. Now, the Seminoles will be forced to rely on other players in order to slow down Purdue sophomore center Zach Edey and senior forward Trevion Williams.
Standing at 7-foot-4, Edey has averaged 17.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this season. He is also shooting 75% from the field through six games. Williams has put up 13 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest.
Purdue basketball is 0-4 all-time against Florida State, with three losses coming by three points or fewer. The two teams last met on Nov. 30, 2019 in Destin, Florida, with the Seminoles taking a 63-60 overtime victory.
Florida State enters the matchup at 5-1 on the season. Purdue, which sits at 6-0, will look to continue its undefeated start to the year.
Stories Related to Purdue Basketball
- PURDUE RANKED SECOND IN AP POLL: Purdue basketball moved up to No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll, matching the highest ranking in school history. The team was previously ranked No. 3 in the nation after claiming victories over North Carolina and Villanova in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. CLICK HERE
- BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE SCHEDULE: The Big Ten has dominated the Big Ten/ACC Challenge over the past dozen years, and conference pride is at stake once again with the annual event starting Monday. There are 14 games this year, two on Monday, and six more each on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here are all the game times and TV information, plus the latest on the point spreads. CLICK HERE
- JADEN IVEY TO JOIN SASHA LIVE! PODCAST: Sophomore guard Jaden Ivey, a potential All-American candidate this season for Purdue's highly regarded basketball team, will join teammate Sasha Stefanovic for this week's episode of the Sasha Live! podcast. Fans are welcome to come to Mad Mushroom Pizza in West Lafayette to watch the 7 p.m. ET show live and get pictures and autographs afterward. CLICK HERE
- PURDUE HAMMERS OMAHA: Purdue raised its record to 6-0 last Friday with an easy 97-40 victory over Omaha at sold-out Mackey Arena. The team's 35-point lead at halftime was tied for the third-largest in program history. CLICK HERE
- HUNTER SAYS 'NO CEILING' FOR BOILERS: Purdue guard Eric Hunter Jr. was a guest on the Sasha Live! podcast this week and talked about the big weekend wins over North Carolina and Villanova, and the high expectations for the future this season. "There is no ceiling for this team,'' he said. Watch the entire podcast here. CLICK HERE
- PURDUE TAKES DOWN VILLANOVA: Purdue battled back from down 11 points in the second half to defeat Villanova in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament on Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Casino. Sophomore center Zach Edey led the way with 21 points. CLICK HERE
- BOILERMAKERS DEFEAT NORTH CAROLINA: No. 6 Purdue had three players score 20 points or more in a 93-84 victory over No. 18 North Carolina on Saturday. CLICK HERE
Become Part of the Boilermakers Country Community!
- Follow D.J. Fezler on Twitter: @DJFezler
- Follow Boilermakers Country on Twitter: @sports_purdue
- Like and follow Boilermakers Country on Facebook
D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.