The ACC is arguably college basketball’s best conference on a annual basis. This year is no different, as the conference boasts a multitude of teams poised for runs late into March and April.
The Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee will play host to a critical matchup early on in the conference schedule, as the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils will look to avoid an upset loss to Florida State in a tough road atmosphere.
Game Information
Matchup: No. 1 Duke @ No. 13 Florida State
Location: Donald L. Tucker Civic Center- Tallahassee, FL
Watch: Saturday at 2 PM ET on ESPN
What to Watch
Duke: It is no secret that the Blue Devils are a young team, as they seem to be one of the youngest in the nation year in and year out. They are coming off of their first true road game of the season, a 87-65 win at Wake Forest. However, they will be facing a much more difficult test this weekend as they face a talented Seminole squad. It was Zion Williamson who showed out in the win in Winston-Salem on Tuesday, scoring a career-high 30 points. To avoid a loss, they will need Cam Reddish to be on his A-game. R.J. Barrett will need to be efficient shooting the ball, as taking low-percentage shots could prove fatal against the Noles. Leaving with a win will rest on the young stars’ ability to maintain their composure and avoid mistakes.
FSU: This battle could potentially be one of the biggest in program history. After making a run to the Elite Eight last season, people are finally catching onto the machine Leonard Hamilton is building in the sunshine state. This could very easily be a top ten team if not for a tough loss at Virginia last Saturday. If the Noles want to pull off this massive win, they will have to control the turnover battle and not give up easy looks down low for Duke’s bigs. This FSU defense should do a solid job of limiting outside productivity for the Blue Devils, as this will be crucial to a Seminole victory. FSU guard Terrance Mann will need to hit shots when he has the chance. This Duke offense can score in groves, and the Noles will either need to shut them down, or get into a scoring battle. If the Seminoles want to win, they will have to play the defensive game of their lives.
The Verdict
My Prediction: No. 1 Duke def. No. 13 Florida State 84-74
I fully believe the Noles are capable of pulling off the upset, but I think that the Blue Devils’ scoring ability will just be too much for FSU to handle.
Images via:
Yahoo Sports
https://sports.yahoo.com/r-j-barrett-asserts-himself-054017218.html
Bradenton Herald
https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article183168946.html
