The Syracuse Orange (11-5, 2-1) return back home after a successful week to face the reeling Florida State Seminoles (7-9, 0-3). Tip-off is 9:00 pm on the ACC Network and here’s what we’re watching for in this one:
Kevin: Continue the strong starts
The last two games had the Orange playing with intensity and focus from the beginning. Facing a Florida State team that was just demolished at home by NC State, getting a good push will be important. It’s another late game and if Syracuse can get the fans
into it early they can feed off the crowd’s energy.
Max: Don’t let the Seminoles hang around
FSU’s defensive unit has been absolutely atrocious in conference play, allowing an ACC-worst 94.3 points per game. There’s no reason to think the Seminoles will improve anytime soon, so let’s make sure the Orange aren’t the ones to get them back on track. If SU continues to pound the rock inside and dominates the paint, we should see a similar result to the Pitt game. Just don’t get cute.
Dom: Don’t let the threes be a killer
Coach Autry noted this on the most recent ACC Coaches call and the numbers definitely agree: FSU may not make its threes well, but it will definitely jack them up. The Seminoles have already shot 564 threes in 16 games (21 more than second-place Louisville). That’s over 35 attempts per game from the perimeter. While Florida State is only converting on 31.7% of them (second-worst percentage in the ACC), the pure volume means it can get hot at any moment. It would be really tough for the Orange to make up those points if the Seminoles get hot from there.
Augie: Take advantage of FSU’s poor defense
Florida State comes into the matchup against the Orange with a record of 7-9, and while sometimes a team’s record does not always tell the entire story, in the case of the Seminoles, it does. FSU is allowing 81.3 points per game this season, which is good for 311th in the NCAA. While this Syracuse team sometimes takes pride in its defense and looks to win lower-scoring games, this is a game in which they need to just attack offensively. Taking advantage of the poor defense has worked for opponents of the ‘Noles to date, and Syracuse should look to try and stick to that formula.
Szuba: Tempo
Florida State wants to get out and run on offense. The Seminoles play at the sixth-fastest pace in the country. Syracuse, meantime, forces opponents to work hard for their offense. The Orange rank top 50 in length of defensive possession. Something has to give with two contrasting styles of play. Can the Orange — in both man and zone — slow the pace or does Florida State dictate tempo?
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What will you be watching for in this one?
