Florida State Basketball: 2018-19 keys to success at home against Duke

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – JANUARY 05: Kihei Clark #0 of the Virginia Cavaliers and David Nichols #11 of the Florida State Seminoles reach for a loose ball in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on January 5, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

3. Cherish the basketball

The last key, at least for the purposes of this article, for Florida State to pull off the upset on Saturday will be their ability to hang on to the basketball. Not only does Duke force over 17 turnovers per game, but they also rank 18th in turnover margin at 4.6, and are 2nd in the country in steals per game with 11.3. So, the Seminoles, who rank last in the conference, turning it over 14.9 times per game, that is also the 282nd worst number in the sport.

Looking at the Florida State roster, the turnover issues aren’t centered around one or two players, it’s a problem that plagues the entire team, with four players averaging over two turnovers per game and five others between one and two.

Mann, Forest, as well as guards David Nichols and MJ Walker combine to turn the ball over 8.5 times per game and against any ball-hawking team, never mind the No. 1 team in the country that feeds its transition game off of those turnovers, that is a recipe for disaster.

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In order to pull the upset, Florida State will probably need to keep their turnovers to 10 or less, in order to keep Duke from getting out and running.

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