Scouting Report: FSU men open ACC play today at N.C. State

After suffering its second loss of the season last Tuesday at LSU, the Florida State men’s basketball team will look to bounce back in its ACC opener today against the N.C. State Wolfpack.

This game will give Florida State another opportunity for a resume-building victory. N.C. State is ranked 120th in the NET rankings, meaning FSU has a chance to pick up its first Quad 2 win of the season. The Seminoles enter Saturday’s game as the No. 73 team in those same NET rankings.

The Wolfpack enter the weekend contest on a three-game losing streak, but each of those came away from home and against strong competition. They lost 63-59 at Texas on Wednesday, and they fell 72-61 to BYU and 71-61 to Purdue in a neutral-site event in San Diego.

Today’s game is set for 4 p.m. on ESPNU.

Navigating N.C. State

The Wolfpack are coming off one of the greatest seasons in the university’s history, winning their 11th ACC championship and making an improbable run to the Final Four. They no longer have their star duo of guard DJ Horne and big man DJ Burns, however, so the Wolfpack have been trying to find a new identity. Five returning players from last season’s roster should help in this department.

The Wolfpack’s offensive scheme is very similar to the one Florida State just faced against LSU. N.C. State has slowed the game down this season, with a pace of play that ranks 251st in the country, in an effort to score the ball inside. The Wolfpack’s starting forwards, Ben Middlebrooks and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, both stand at 6-foot-10 and are shooting over 50 percent from the field. Both bigs are capable of catching passes inside and finishing around the rim efficiently.

BHH with the tough 🪣 pic.twitter.com/LjXtEUXiOt

— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) November 28, 2024

Pair that with senior guard Jayden Taylor’s ability to operate inside the paint, and the Wolfpack are connecting on 62.8 percent of their shots near the basket. The Wolfpack have won the points-in-the-paint battle in six of their eight games this season.

A key battle inside the battle will be Florida State’s efforts to create pressure on defense against N.C. State’s ability to take care of the basketball. The Wolfpack boast the ACC’s best turnover margin (+4.63), while Florida State is second (4.56).

N.C. State is also a very strong defensive team. The Wolfpack rank second in blocked shots (4.75 per game) and fourth in steals (8.0) in the ACC. Their ability to protect the paint may serve as a challenge to an FSU team that thrives on pounding the ball inside and converting those close shot attempts.

Now the ‘Noles

In a frustrating loss against the Tigers, Florida State lost the turnover battle for the first time this season, 14-11. And LSU scored 20 points off those turnovers. FSU also struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 59.1 percent, after showing recent improvement in that area. For a team that ranks 14th in the nation at getting to the charity stripe, the Seminoles must convert more of those attempts.

Forward Malique Ewin will look to build off his career performance against the Tigers, finishing with 17 points and 17 rebounds. And in a game where the Wolfpack will prioritize rim protection, Ewin will need some help. Look for a Jamir Watkins bounce-back performance to be an X-factor for Florida State. Watkins finished the LSU game with 15 points, but he got off to a slow start and went 6-for-19 from the field, including 0-for-3 from long range..

Something else to watch for in this game is the Seminoles’ shooting from mid-range. FSU is shooting around 44.2 percent from that area, which puts them in the top 50 nationally. Junior guard Chandler Jackson especially seems to excel at those mid-range pull-ups and floaters in the lane. If the Seminoles play to this strength, they might be able to avoid some of the rim protectors N.C. State will have out on the court.

Florida State may have a harder time turning the Wolfpack over, but the Seminoles’ defensive pressure can impact this game in another way. With a more athletic lineup that is capable of better operating Leonard Hamilton’s switching defense this season, Florida State has done a good job of both slowing down drives to the basket and also contesting shots on the perimeter. FSU ranks first in the ACC in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (27.2 percent), and the Wolfpack offense ranks 15th in the league in 3-point shooting at 30.1 percent. If the Seminoles can force N.C. State to shoot frequently from the perimeter, that could create key transition opportunities.

Own the boards, dominate the paint

Rebounding has been a shared struggle for these two teams. Florida State enters ranked 16th in the ACC in rebounding margin, and N.C. State is 17th. Offensive rebounds have been few and far between as well, with the Seminoles ranking 10th and the Wolfpack 13th. Whoever controls this battle should have a major advantage today.

These teams are very similar in the half-court, both seeking to get the ball inside and convert close opportunities. Even in the Seminoles’ loss at LSU, they still scored 30-plus points inside for the ninth consecutive game. The team that converts the most opportunities inside will have a huge edge, especially with 3-pointers not being a strong suit for either team.

Players to watch

FSU
F – #1 Jamir Watkins – 17 ppg (leads team), 4.7 rpg, 1.6 spg
C – # 12 Malique Ewin – 11.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg (leads team)

NC State
G #8 Jayden Taylor – 13.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.9 spg (leads team)
F #34 Ben Middlebrooks – 9.4 ppg, 1.6 bpg (leads team), 40.0 3-point pct.

SIGN UP: Join Warchant’s FSU Community for $1 today

***Talk about this story with passionate FSU Basketball fans on the Seminole Hoops***