Busting Brackets
Fansided

Florida State Basketball: Biggest keys to upsetting North Carolina

By Brian Rauf

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 27: The Florida State Seminoles bench reacts against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center on January 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 27: The Florida State Seminoles bench reacts against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center on January 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 20: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils tries to stop Coby White #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 20: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils tries to stop Coby White #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

2) Pressure Coby White

Florida State’s pressure defense has a tendency to give a lot of opposing point guards problems, and that will likely be the case again on Saturday with Coby White.

As good as the 6-5 freshman is (and he’s legit – I’ve raved about him multiple times), he’s inconsistent and has had a problem with turnovers at times this year.

White averages nearly three turnovers a game, which is the fourth most of anyone in the ACC. He turned it over six times against Duke when going up against significant ball pressure from Tre Jones and has recorded six other games in which he has at least four turnovers.

Now, White isn’t a true point guard – he freshman is a combo guard who is playing point for the Tar Heels – but he is used to having the ball in hands and initiating the offense. His turnovers have been caused by a combination of youth, poor decision making, and over-dribbling, all things the Seminoles will make him pay for.

Florida State forces a turnover on 21.7 percent of opponent’s possessions and ranks in the top 50 nationally in steal percentage, making them one of the country’s best teams when it comes to forcing turnovers.

This game figures to be close, so any easy points the Seminoles can get off of turnovers will be key as well. If they can get to White, they’ll not only give themselves an advantage but will also take away one of UNC’s best players.

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