Scouting Report: FSU men's basketball takes on LSU in SEC/ACC Challenge
Recent gridiron foes will meet again, this time on the basketball court, as the Florida State Seminoles take on the LSU Tigers tonight at 9 p.m. ET in the SEC/ACC Challenge.
The ‘Noles are coming off four consecutive wins and seem to be playing their best ball as of late. The Tigers have won two straight, including a triple-overtime victory against UCF.
This game will serve as Florida State’s first true road test as the Seminoles head to Baton Rouge to play in the Tigers’ Pete Maravich Assembly Center, where LSU is undefeated this season (4-0). It also will be an opportunity for the Seminoles to earn their first “Quad 1” win of the season; the only other opportunity being the loss against the Florida Gators.
LSU enters tonight’s game ranked 51st in the NCAA’s NET rankings, and the Seminoles are ranked 67th (7th in the ACC).
A Look at LSU
The Tigers are coached by Matt McMahon, who is in his third year with the Tigers. Before his tenure there, McMahon was the head coach of the Murray State Racers and took them to the Big Dance on three separate occasions. And yes one of those teams had a player by the name of Ja Morant (and that squad ended up losing to Florida State in the Tournament coincidentally).
Under McMahon, the Tigers run an offense that heavily relies on ball screens, which open the floor for guards to operate north-and-south. That penetration then leads to ball-reversals from one side of the court to the other in a quick, efficient manner. This offense stresses opposing defenses by requiring those teams’ forwards to concentrate on rotations while also keeping up with the dribble-drives of the Tiger point guards.
Using these ball screens and cutting lanes, the Tigers ultimately look to pound the ball in the paint. LSU ranks 14th in the country when it comes close-proximity shots, and the Tigers execute these close shots at an almost 60 percent rate.
Another facet of the LSU attack is its ability to hit the offensive glass. The Tigers are averaging 12.9 offensive rebounds a game and have recorded 90 total on the season. That’s good for fifth in the SEC and could be an issue for a Florida State team that has struggled in that department this season.
Defensively, the Tigers play a “slow” 2-3 zone. They will come out in a man-to-man look and slowly drop into their zone, trying to confuse opposing offenses. The Tigers focus on protecting the paint and forcing tough perimeter shots late in the shot clock. Their execution has been solid so far this season, as they are allowing opponents to shoot only 25 percent from 3-point range. LSU is also strong at killing possessions defensively. The Tigers rank 28th in the country in defensive rebounding.
A Look at Florida State
The Seminoles enter tonight’s game looking the best they have all season.
Continued game-to-game improvement has been evident in almost every aspect of the team, but now they’ll get to see how they look against another SEC power (after the UF game did not go very well).
Top 10
- 1Hot
12-Team CFP bracket
The updated field is set
- 2
Miami AD shot at Alabama
Dan Radakovich has CFP issues
- 3
Bama over Miami
CFP Chair addresses controversy
- 4New
CFP Top 25 revealed
Controversy is here
- 5Breaking
Kobe Prentice
Alabama WR to transfer
Like LSU, the ‘Noles also focus on pounding the ball into the paint on the offensive side of the floor. In every game this season, FSU has scored 30-plus points in the paint. This can be credited to FSU’s quickness and height at almost every position; the ‘Noles are the second-tallest team in the nation (only behind Duke).
Malique Ewin’s rapid improvement boosts this stat tremendously. He has scored 13, 15, 17 and 12 points in the past four games, while operating with great efficiency. FSU’s ball movement has also been a pleasant surprise this season. Historically, zones have given the Seminoles fits. This season, however, Florida State seems to be able to break down zones efficiently and score easy baskets.
But the Seminoles’ best offensive weapon may actually be their defense. The ‘Noles lead both the ACC and SEC in steals a game, per FSU’s game notes (11.4). Chandler Jackson leads the team in that category, averaging 2.1 steals a game. The havoc that FSU creates for opposing offenses leads to numerous fast-break opportunities that serve as an X-factor for the Florida State offense. The ‘Noles also get things started by protecting the rim and getting out in transition. FSU leads the ACC in blocks per game (5.1).
The improvement of Taylor Bol Bowen this season has served as a major boost for the Seminoles in this category. He is leading the team with 1.6 blocks a game, which ranks third in the ACC. FSU’s energy on defense, as well as its ability to generate turnovers and protect the rim, have helped the Seminoles rank fourth in the ACC with 64.0 points allowed per game.
The Race for Pace
The team that controls the pace of this game will give itself the best chance at securing a win. Florida State loves to play fast and in the open floor; the Seminoles boast the 32nd-fastest pace of play in the country. The Tigers look to slow the game down and get their bigs set in the half-court to go and get those offensive rebounds. LSU ranks 138th in pace of play.
The rebounding battle will also be a key indicator of success. In FSU’s only loss this season, against the Gators, the ‘Noles were dominated on the offensive glass. If the Tigers control the offensive boards and cash in on their second-chance points, the ‘Noles could be in some trouble.
Players to Watch
FSU
F – #1 Jamir Watkins (17.3 ppg and 4.4 rpg; Season-high 30 points in win over Rice)
C – #12 Malique Ewin (10.5 ppg and 4.4 rpg; Career-high 17 points in win over UMass)
LSU
G – #5 Cam Carter (16.7 ppg and 4.0 rpg; 21 pts and 4 rebs in win over Louisiana
Monroe)
G – #1 Jordan Sears (14.7 ppg and 12.9 apg; 16 points in win over Alabama State)
SIGN UP: Join Warchant’s FSU Community for $1 today
***Talk about this story with passionate FSU Basketball fans on the Seminole Hoops***
