Florida State vs. LSU in the SEC/ACC Challenge

The recent rivals meet again, this time on the basketball court, when the Florida State Seminoles take on the LSU Tigers in the SEC/ACC Challenge tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET.

The ‘Noles have rattled off four straight wins and appear to be playing their best ball of late. The Tigers have won two straight, including a triple overtime victory against UCF.

This game will be the first real test for Florida State as the Seminoles travel to Baton Rouge to play at the Tigers’ Pete Maravich Assembly Center, where LSU is undefeated this season (4-0). It will also be an opportunity for the Seminoles to get their first “Quad 1” win of the season; The only other chance was the loss to the Florida Gators.

LSU enters tonight’s game ranked 51st NCAA NET rankingsand the Seminoles are ranked 67th (7th in the ACC).

A look at LSU

The Tigers are coached by Matt McMahonwho is in his third year with the Tigers. Prior to his time there, McMahon was the head coach of the Murray State Racers and took them to the Big Dance three times. And yes, one of those teams had a player named Ja Morant (and that squad happened to lose to Florida State in the tournament).

Under McMahon, the Tigers run an offense that relies heavily on ball screens, which open up space for guards to operate in a north-south direction. This penetration then leads to quick and efficient ball turnovers from one side of the pitch to the other. This offense puts a strain on opposing defenses by requiring these teams’ forwards to focus on rotations while keeping up with the dribbling of the Tiger point guards.

Using these ball screens and cutting lanes, the Tigers ultimately attempt to pound the ball into the paint. LSU ranks 14th nationally when it comes to close-range shots, and the Tigers make those close-range shots at a rate of nearly 60 percent.

Another aspect of the LSU offense is its ability to hit the offensive glass. The Tigers are averaging 12.9 offensive rebounds per game and have totaled 90 this season. That’s good for fifth place in the SEC and could be a problem for a Florida State team that has struggled in that department this season.

Defensively, the Tigers play a “slow” 2-3 zone. They will play man-to-man and slowly move into their zone to confuse opposing attacks. The Tigers focus on protecting the paint and forcing tough outside shots late in the shot clock. Their performance has been solid so far this season, as they are allowing their opponents to shoot just 25 percent from 3-point range. LSU is also strong at killing possessions defensively. The Tigers rank 28th nationally in defensive rebounding.

A look at the state of Florida

The Seminoles come into today’s game looking as good as they have all season.

The continued game-to-game improvement was evident in almost every aspect of the team, but now they’ll see how they look against another SEC power (after the UF game didn’t go very well).

Like LSU, the ‘Noles focus on driving the ball into the paint on the offensive side of the court. FSU has scored more than 30 points in every game this season. This is due to FSU’s speed and size at almost every position; The ‘Noles are the second-ranked team in the nation (only behind Duke).

Malique Ewins A quick improvement increases this value enormously. He has scored 13, 15, 17 and 12 points in the last four games and has performed with great efficiency. FSU’s ball movement has also been a pleasant surprise this season. Historically, zones have given the Seminoles fits. However, this season, Florida State appears to be able to split zones efficiently and score easy baskets.

But the Seminoles’ best offensive weapon may actually be their defense. According to FSU’s game notes (11.4), the Noles lead both the ACC and SEC in steals in a game. Chandler Jackson leads the team in this category with a 2.1 average and steals a game. The havoc FSU wreaks on opposing offenses leads to numerous fast break opportunities that serve as an X-factor for Florida State’s offense. The ‘Noles also get 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 given the Seminoles a big boost in this category. He leads the team with 1.6 blocks per game, which ranks third in the ACC. FSU’s energy on defense, as well as its ability to create turnovers and protect the rim, has helped the Seminoles rank fourth in the ACC with 64.0 points allowed per game.

The race for speed

The team that controls the pace of this game has the best chance of winning. Florida State loves to play fast and outdoors; The Seminoles have the 32nd fastest pace of play in the country. The Tigers try to slow the game down and place their big players in the half court to get the offensive rebounds. LSU ranks 138th in pace of play.

The catch-up battle will also be an important indicator of success. In FSU’s only loss this season, against the Gators, the ‘Noles were dominated on offense. If the Tigers control the offensive boards and score their second-chance points, the ‘Noles could be in trouble.

Players to keep an eye on

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 points and 4 Rebels in win over Louisiana
Monroe)
G – #1 Jordan Sears (14.7 ppg and 12.9 apg; 16 points in win over Alabama State)

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