ACC Scouting Report: FSU

Tony Bennett needs some strategy plans to help neutralize FSU’s size advantage.

Trying to turn around a three-game conference losing streak, UVa takes on the defensive-minded Florida State Seminoles at John Paul Jones Arena on Wednesday night. How will the Cavaliers attack the best defense they’ve faced all year? How will they attack FSU’s limited offense? I will try to tackle these questions in this ACC scouting report.

Offense

On the offensive end Florida State has the simplest attack that Virginia will face all season. There isn’t much to break down scheme-wise as the Seminoles have a very NBA-like philosophy to their attack. Florida State finds a few ways to spread the court and then the Noles rely on their athleticism and length to attack mismatches and allow that to lead to good looks. Florida State won’t use a lot of ball movement but will instead space the court and drive. When FSU takes off to the rim, it does an excellent job of sliding a shooter down to provide a kick-out while Solomon Alabi or another Florida State post player tries to seal for the dish or the offensive rebound. The Seminoles do this spread look with a high pick-and-roll game as well as some 4-around-1 sets but scheme is much less important than philosophy in terms of the Seminoles.

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