NCAA Tournament: Strengths and weaknesses of top 16 overall seeds

Florida State Seminoles 16-6 (11-4)

Weakness

 Regardless of how adequate Scottie Barnes and RayQuan Evans have managed primary ball-handling responsibilities this season, the fact remains Coach Hamilton does not have a natural point guard. Their season average of over 14 turnovers per game, only half of which are steals, is evidence of their weakness at the point.

The backcourt trio of Barnes, Gray, and MJ Walker combine for an average of over seven turnovers per game. The pressure opponents will apply to the backcourt is only amplified by the limited threat the Seminoles have in the paint.

The progression of 7’1 sophomore Balsa Koprivica (9.2 ppg) has been noticeable, but, by averaging less than twenty minutes per game in Coach Hamilton’s nine-man rotation, 6’9 Malik Osborne is more likely to play the center position than Tanner Ngom or Quincy Ballard.

Strength

 While the lack of point guard is a weakness on offense, it has been beneficial on the defensive end of the court, Regardless of the backcourt combination the guards are able to switch on defense without being caught in a mismatch. This versatility on defense allows Coach Hamilton to show a man-to-man defense in the halfcourt, or apply it full court and drop back into a half-court zone.

Offensively, their top-75 free throw percentage improved three percent during conference play. In just two of their losses did they connect on 70 percent of their free throws and lose.