Oklahoma State @ Florida State preview

Florida State, one of only six undefeated teams in the nation entering Friday, climbed into the rankings at No. 19 after extending its season-opening start to 9-0 with a 72-53 victory over Tulane on Sunday. The Seminoles now take aim at tying the school record for the best start to a season (10-0 in 2003-04) when they face Oklahoma State for only the second time in their history (1964) in the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday.

The Seminoles have made it into the Top 25 after a big week with victories over No. 22 Florida, Loyola (Md.) and Tulane, but the trick is remaining there. Leonard Hamilton's young Seminoles are solid all around, ranking in the top 25 of the nation in scoring (87.1), margin of victory (21.0) and field-goal percentage defense (37.5), with junior guard Terance Mann topping the team with a career-high 15.6 points per game and field-goal shooting percentage (64.5), while senior forward Phil Cofer leads the team in rebounds (5.8). "We're making progress, but we're not a finished product," Hamilton told reporters. "We have 10 guys who are freshmen or sophomores. We're still growing and maturing." Oklahoma State has had success of its own this season except against its two ranked opponents as the Cowboys fell 72-55 to No. 10 Texas A&M in November and 78-66 to No. 3 Wichita State on Sunday despite career-high performances from Tavarius Shine (20 points) and Mitchell Solomon (17).

TV: 2 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 2

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (7-2): The Cowboys rely on a tenacious defense that produces turnovers - the team has recorded at least 19 in each of its last three outings - and they are averaging 18.3 points off those turnovers per game. Oklahoma State also remains competitive with strong free-throw shooting as it is hitting at a 79.4 percent clip from the charity stripe (eighth best in the nation entering Friday). Solomon not only enjoyed a career outing as a shooter against Wichita State but also topped the team in rebounds for the third time with a total of eight (four offensive).

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (9-0): The Seminoles did not have a strong shooting effort against Tulane, held to 44.8 percent shooting from the floor, including 34.4 percent in the first half as three starters (Cofer, CJ Walker and Ike Obiagu) went a combined 4-for-17. Only three players wound up in double figures, led by senior guard Braian Angola, who hit 4-of-7 from beyond the arc en route to topping the team with 18 points while tying Cofer with a team-best eight rebounds. The Seminoles' defense held Tulane to 35.6 percent shooting - 7-for-22 from 3-point range - and forced 19 turnovers.

TIP-INS

1. Hamilton is in his 16th season at Florida State but he got his head coaching start at Oklahoma State, going 56-63 in four years (1987-90) with the Cowboys.

2. Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton dismissed junior Davon Dillard and freshman Zack Dawson from the team for "failure to meet team standards."

3. Six different players have led the Cowboys in scoring and six different players have led the team in rebounding this season.

PREDICTION: Florida State 83, Oklahoma State 75