ACC Basketball: 5 key storylines for No. 11 Florida State vs. North Carolina

Florida State can neutralize UNC rebounding advantage

Since the 2014-15 season, North Carolina has finished as a top-3 rebounding team in the nation in all but one year (2015-16). Their dominance on the glass has been a huge advantage and key to their overall production and success on the court. It’s been such a big part of their style for years, that if they can control this aspect of the game they can dominate in any way they choose.

Carolina features three physical frontcourt players, Garrison Brooks, Armando Bacot, and Day’Ron Sharpe, each pulling down over seven rebounds per game this season. This level of production should be a big advantage for the team in a high-level matchup against Florida State.

However, the Noles have the capability to neutralize this advantage for the Tar Heels. Also ranked inside the top-100 nationally for rebounding, Leonard Hamilton’s group have used the rebounding battle as a cog in their formula for winning.

Over their last 10 games, Florida State has accumulated a +70 rebounding margin over their opponents. While they are not as dominant on the glass as North Carolina has been, the Seminoles have been winning their head-to-head battles against their opponents to secure victory and limit second-chance opportunities.

This team possesses quality length and athleticism to compete with the Tar Heels all night and make it difficult to pull out a victory. In their first meeting earlier this year, Florida State held North Carolina to a +1 rebounding margin and 16 rebounds lower than their season average. With Barnes back in the fold to crash the glass and make shots more difficult, the likelihood that Florida State replicates this performance and controls the glass is very high.