Duke at Florida State game preview

Duke at Florida State game preview

Published Feb. 1, 2013 5:27 p.m. ET

Game time: Saturday at 2 p.m.
TV: ESPN

Michael Snaer continues to knock down game-winning shots, and Duke is well-versed in what Florida State's top scorer can do down the stretch.

The fifth-ranked Blue Devils hope to avoid any heroics from Snaer when they visit the Seminoles on Saturday.

The last two home games for Florida State (12-8, 4-3 ACC) have been victories courtesy of Snaer, who banked in a 25-footer at the buzzer in a 60-57 win over Clemson last Thursday before stunning Maryland with a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left in Wednesday's 73-71 victory.

"I got a clean look tonight so I knew it was going in once it left my hand," Snaer said about his latest game-winner. "It just happened."

Florida State won two of three meetings last season against Duke (18-2, 5-2), with Snaer hitting a 3-pointer as time expired in a 76-73 victory in the first matchup that snapped the Blue Devils' 45-game home win streak.

Snaer, who also hit a game-winning 3 to beat Virginia Tech last Feb. 16, averaged 16.0 points on 52.5 percent shooting in 2011-12 against Duke.

"Snaer, I said last year was as tough a kid as there was in the conference and I still believe that," Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He goes right after you."

Duke gained revenge for Snaer's shot with a 74-66 road victory last Feb. 23 before Florida State won 62-59 in the ACC tournament semifinals.

The Blue Devils can probably expect more than what Mason Plumlee gave them against the Seminoles last season when he totaled 15 points and 15 rebounds in the three games. Plumlee is second in the league in scoring at 18.1 points per game and first in rebounding with 11.1 per contest.

Plumlee was at his best with a career-high 32 points in Wednesday's 75-70 victory at Wake Forest. Seth Curry added 21 points as Duke won its second straight with its first road win in three tries.

Curry was also held in check by the Seminoles last season, averaging 10.7 points on 27.0 percent shooting.

Snaer led Florida State with 19 points against the Terrapins, Okaro White added 14 and Ian Miller netted 10 off the bench.

"I also think that you got our three veterans - Okaro White, Michael Snaer and Ian Miller - they really gave us major contributions and leadership," coach Leonard Hamilton said.

White and Miller have combined for only 47 points in seven games between the two against Duke, but Krzyzewski believes they form a formidable trio with Snaer.

"When those three guys are playing well or two of the three are scoring well, then their team takes on a different vibe," the Hall of Fame coach said. "They're tough everywhere but they're especially tough in Tallahassee."

The Blue Devils have won five of their last seven visits to Tallahassee, with the losses coming when they were ranked No. 1 and the wins coming when they were ranked lower.

Florida State is 0-3 against Top 25 teams this season.

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