Florida State: A Quiet Contender
Posted by Charlie Maikis on January 10th, 2017Just a little over a week into the ACC schedule, the conference race has thus far been a jumbled mess. Every team has at least one win in conference play, and the only two unbeaten teams are a pair of unlikely candidates, Notre Dame and Florida State (both 3-0). While the talk of surprising teams nationally is predictably being dominated by #1 Baylor, Leonard Hamilton’s team assuredly falls into the next tier. Anchored by future first-round draft picks Dwayne Bacon and Jonathan Isaac, the Seminoles have won 11 straight games heading into tonight’s battle with Duke at the Tucker Center. We’re only one-sixth of the way through the conference regular season slate, but can Florida State continue its push and make a run at the school’s first regular-season ACC title?
Florida State (USA Today Images)
In their three ACC wins over Wake Forest, Virginia and Virginia Tech, the Seminoles have relied on their size, winning the rebounding battle each time. As the nation’s second-tallest team (featuring two seven-footers and five players 6’9″ or taller), Florida State will lean on that inherent advantage to control the boards and defend all over the floor. The Seminoles’ long-distance shooting has appeared to turn a corner in recent weeks as well. They’ve converted 42.1 percent of their attempts in ACC play, including a blistering 15-of-32 in the last two wins. Last month I wrote about how Bacon’s improved three-point stroke has opened things up for his team, and he came through on that point by draining six threes in their two-point win at Virginia. If Florida State can leverage its prolific size to gain extra possessions and then cash those in by shooting at a high percentage, they’ll be in great position for success no matter which ACC powerhouse is lined up across the Seminoles.
The test begins this week — tonight’s game with Duke is followed by North Carolina, Notre Dame and Louisville. With the exception of a trip to Chapel Hill this weekend, three of the four are at home. If the Seminoles can survive that stretch, they will be rewarded with just two of their final 11 ACC games coming against ranked teams. Such a relatively easy closing stretch is uncommon in a loaded conference like the ACC, so Hamilton’s group will have a great chance to build momentum toward the postseason. As the rest of the league contenders face backloaded schedules in February and early March, Florida State will have the opportunity to play with a lead in the standings. Coming off a relatively disappointing football season, the people of Tallahassee can turn their attention to another team chasing a championship — only, this time, on the hardwood.
