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Syracuse at Florida State: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Brad Cavallaro

SYRACUSE, NY - JANUARY 28: Head coach Leonard Hamilton of the Florida State Seminoles looks on from the sidelines against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on January 28, 2017 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeated Florida State 82-72. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - JANUARY 28: Head coach Leonard Hamilton of the Florida State Seminoles looks on from the sidelines against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the Carrier Dome on January 28, 2017 in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeated Florida State 82-72. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /
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Who will win this pivotal ACC matchup between the Syracuse Orange and the Florida State Seminoles?

TV Listing: Saturday, January 13, 2:00 P.M ET, ACC Network Extra

Arena: Donald L Tucker Civic Center, Tallahassee, Florida

The Syracuse Orange are in the midst of a three-game slide where they have lost to Virginia, Wake Forest, and a shorthanded Notre Dame squad. Breaking this streak will be difficult as they will go on the road to play 23rd ranked Florida State.

The Seminoles have a losing streak of their own. They have lost to Miami and Louisville after earning a signature win over North Carolina and need to win to stay in the Top 25. Florida State has exceeded expectations in the first half season due to multiple players transforming from role players to key starters.

Terrence Mann is the lone returning starter from last season, but he was the glue guy of the starting unit. This season he has elevated his game and has become a serious offensive threat. He is known for his athleticism and slashing ability, but has developed into a more complete player as a junior. Mann is averaging 15.1ppg, 6.2rpg, and 3.1apg while shooting over 61% from the field.

CJ Walker, Trent Forest, and Braian Angola have also made significant improvements and have thrived with additional offensive responsibility. Look out for Angola in this game as his three-point prowess (41.8%) will attract defensive attention. His length and activity will also be useful on the defensive end and do not be surprised if Angola guards Syracuse’s best player, Tyus Battle.

However, Phil Cofer is the most improved Seminole from last season. Cofer struggled with injuries throughout his Florida State career but is averaging 13.0ppg and 5.6rpg as a senior. This is an astronomical improvement from the 2.9ppg and 1.9rpg that he averaged as a junior. The most noticeable improvement has been in his perimeter skillset as he has proved to be a proficient catch and shoot threat from long range.

Florida State’s lineup has gotten a recent boost as Christ Koumadje has returned from injury. Koumadje is an imposing 7’4’’ junior who pairs with 7’0’’ freshman Ike Obiagu to form the most potent rim protecting duo in the conference. Having shot blockers with this type of elite length will deter perimeter players from attacking the basket and will make it nearly impossible for big men to finish over them.

Unfortunately for the Florida State players, they will also have to deal with this type of length as Syracuse is one of the few teams that can match their size. The Orange use 7’2’’ Paschal Chukwu as the anchor to their famous 2-3 zone and he does an excellent job altering shots from the free throw line and in.

Chukwu is not much of an offensive threat outside of lobs and putbacks, but his positive defensive impact makes him a valuable contributor. The Orange get most of their offense from the trio of Frank Howard, Tyus Battle, and Oshae Brissett.

Howard has taken over as the starting PG and while his decision making can still be a bit wild, he has earned the trust of Coach Boeheim. He is averaging 15.6ppg and 5.5apg, but also 4.4 turnovers. His length at the top of the zone is a nice asset and is why he is averaging 2.0 steals per game.

Battle is Syracuse’s leading scorer (19.1ppg) and best perimeter shooter despite his stats (31.6% from three). He is required to create most of the offense for Syracuse and takes many tough contested shots each game. Brissett has been the biggest surprise for Syracuse with his aggressive play and athletic ability. He is averaging 15.2ppg and 9.7rpg.

Depth is an issue for the Orange as they usually only go 6 or 7 deep. The trio of Howard, Battle, and Brissett all average over 37 minutes per game and will probably play the whole game barring foul trouble or injury. Starting forward Matthew Moyer splits time with Marek Dolezaj and Chuwku splits time with Bourama Sidibe, but that is as far as the Syracuse bench goes. Seldom-used guard Howard Washington will only be used when there is serious foul trouble.

According to KenPom, the Orange are last in the country in terms of bench minutes which gives Florida State a major advantage. The Seminoles usually go 9 or 10 deep and are willing to mix and match different lineups depending on the matchup. I would not be surprised if MJ Walker sees more time in this game as he is billed as a knockdown shooter.

Next: Bracketology: January 8th edition

This should be a great game between two strong defensive teams, but I expect Florida State to get the win. The Seminoles are playing at home and have the shooters and creators necessary to break down the zone. This will also be one of the few times that Syracuse does not have a commanding height advantage which is one of their biggest strengths.

Prediction: Florida State 72 Syracuse 60

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