Game Preview: Florida State vs Georgia Tech

Florida State returns residence after dropping on the highway at Duke final Saturday, and now will get the prospect to play a Georgia Tech workforce that simply picked up an enormous upset win over Miami this week. It ought to give FSU a superb alternative to construct upon some issues they’ve discovered during the last couple of video games. 

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This recreation might be at 1 pm on Regional Sports activities Networks, reside from the Donald L. Tucker Civic Heart in Tallahassee, FL. 

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Breakdown

Heading into this week, Georgia Tech hadn’t received an ACC recreation, granted they got a brutal begin. UNC, Clemson, and Virginia are all powerful opponents to this point this season, and it wasn’t unreasonable for GT to be 0-3 via that stretch, however they stunned many with who they beat for his or her first ACC win: Miami. Miami was 13-1 heading into the sport, with their solely loss approaching a impartial flooring to a superb Maryland workforce, and having crushed Rutgers, Virginia, and Windfall. That they had a superb resume. So after they traveled to Atlanta and misplaced to the Yellow Jackets, it opened a number of eyes and plenty of puzzled the way it occurred.

First, Miami was ice chilly from 3, simply 5/32 general. Nijel Pack was 3/12 and Isaiah Wong was 0/8 from deep. When these two are struggling as a lot as that, it is onerous to win video games. Norchad Omier fouled out in 21 minutes for Miami, which opened up 14 offensive rebounds for GT. Secondly, Lance Terry was phenomenal, scoring 24 factors on simply 13 photographs (6 free throws), grabbing 6 rebounds, and snatching a steal as effectively. 

Terry transferred over from Gardner-Webb the place he averaged a profession 10.9 PPG and a couple of.7 RPG. He is been streaky this season, by no means scoring in double figures in back-to-back video games, however he clearly has the expertise to attain with one of the best of them, as he confirmed towards Miami. 

Georgia Tech’s finest participant has been Miles Kelly, as the one Yellow Jacket averaging double-figure factors with 14.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.0 APG on capturing splits of 42.2/39.3/88.2. He is been in double figures in each recreation besides for 2 video games on the finish of November, and is averaging 18 PPG in ACC play to this point. The Kelly/Matthew Cleveland matchup ought to be a number of enjoyable. He and Terry are the one gamers capturing higher than 33% from 3 on the workforce. 

Dallan Coleman was somebody FSU closely recruited a number of years in the past, however GT was capable of give him extra early taking part in time, and he is beginning to profit from it, averaging 9.7 PPG and three.0 RPG. He is nonetheless a bit of inefficient, capturing simply 40.2% from the ground and 32.8% from deep. Coleman is a type of gamers the place the extra photographs he takes, the much less environment friendly he’s. 

Jalon Moore is the opposite scorer near double figures at 9.5 PPG and 5.8 RPG, and is among the workforce’s higher defenders averaging 2.3 blocks+steals per recreation. His 2.1 offensive rebounds per recreation are one thing FSU goes to have to observe for. 

This can be a workforce that’s nonetheless discovering out what they need to be. 9 completely different gamers have began no less than two video games, and all 9 of these guys play 12 minutes per recreation or extra. Javon Franklin, Rodney Howard, and Deivion Smith are all nice rebounders, and mix for five.4 offensive rebounds per recreation. Smith and Kyle Sturdivant are one of the best playmakers on the workforce averaging a mixed 5.8 assists per recreation. Then there’s Tristan Maxwell, who… performs? I am truthfully unsure what he is good at. 

Florida State Seminoles Breakdown

It was a disappointing consequence for Florida State in Durham this previous weekend as they misplaced 86-67 to Duke. The teaching employees was pleased with how they fought and did not hand over ultimately, however they might by no means discover the momentum they wanted. Anytime they bought a glimmer of hope, a foul move in transition or a missed free throw killed all of it. They nonetheless should be happy with the best way Caleb Mills and Darin Inexperienced Jr carried out, and Matthew Cleveland added a 4th straight double-double via largely free throws. 

That is going to be a difficult matchup towards Georgia Tech’s difficult protection, FSU’s important ball handlers in Jalen Warley, Chandler Jackson, and Caleb Mills. They’ll should be sturdy with the ball, make right passes on time, and get issues organized to ensure the offense runs as easily as doable. 

Baba Miller solely has to take a seat yet another recreation earlier than he can return to motion. I do know he is chomping on the bit to get again on the market, and FSU cannot wait to have him. We’ll speak extra about him subsequent recreation. 

Damage Report

Jaylan Gainey is out for the season with a torn ACL. 

Cam’Ron Fletcher is out for the season with a knee harm. 

Baba Miller might be again subsequent recreation towards Wake Forest, however has to take a seat this one final recreation. 

Jeremiah Bembry was seen with a boot on for the Duke recreation. 

Tristan Maxwell and Jordan Meka have missed the final two video games with an sickness for Georgia Tech, however are prone to be again for this recreation. They have been possible for the Miami recreation however nonetheless did not play, I am anticipating them to be a go on this one. 

Projected Starters

Florida State

G: Jalen Warley

G: Caleb Mills

G: Darin Inexperienced Jr

F: Matthew Cleveland

C: Cameron Corhen

Georgia Tech

G: Lance Terry

G: Dallan Coleman

G: Miles Kelly

F: Jalon Moore

C: Rodney Howard

Keys to the Sport

Do not Drive 3s

Georgia Tech has one of the best 3-point protection within the ACC, permitting groups to shoot simply 27.3% from 3 to this point this season. As Miami discovered this previous recreation, in case you take too many 3s, you’re taking away helpful photographs that you can in any other case have. Taking 20 3s is probably going too many (Miami took 32, making 5), so except FSU is blistering sizzling from 3 on this recreation, they need to deal with getting inside. 

Sturdy With the Basketball

Even with out the pesky Jose Alvarado, this can be a difficult GT protection to attain on. When it comes to efficient area aim share, they’re permitting one of many 50 lowest percentages. They don’t seem to be forcing as many turnovers or blocking as many photographs as regular, however you continue to cannot be awful with the basketball. Make good, crisp passes, generate open photographs with ball motion. 

Free Throw Disparity

It is crucial Florida State defends with out fouling on this one. In video games the place Georgia Tech’s free throw fee (free throw makes an attempt per area aim makes an attempt) is beneath 30%, they’re simply 2-5, with the wins coming over lowly Alabama State and Northern Illinois. On the flip aspect, FSU must get to the free-throw line. In video games the place Georgia Tech permits a free throw fee of larger than 36%, they’re 2-4. 

Sport Prediction

FSU is favored by 2.5 factors with an over/below of 144.5.

Florida State ought to have sufficient athletes to defend Georgia Tech, it is actually going to rely upon if FSU can get sufficient high quality photographs and free throws to attain sufficient. I just like the ‘Noles on this one. 

FSU 72 GT 68

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