Furman Basketball: 3 keys to upsetting Virginia in 2023 NCAA Tournament

Furman needs to play at a pace they’re comfortable with

The final key to a Furman upset in the first round in the NCAA Tournament is being able to play at a pace they are comfortable playing at. That is to say, don’t get caught up in the snail’s pace that Virginia likes to play at.

I’ve already talked about how efficient this team that averages 82 points per game is on offense. Playing at a pace that will get them to that number will be very important because it does two things. Offensively it makes them more comfortable and would force Virginia to play at a faster pace than they would like. Playing at a faster pace would also make it more difficult for Virginia to set up their halfcourt defense which could lead to either layups or less contested jump shots.

Playing at a quicker pace is also important for the Paladins because it will allow them to get to the rim against a team that averages the same height as they do. If they can use that pace to their advantage and get to the middle of the floor, they can also take advantage of their 65% field goal percentage around the rim which is top 30 in the country.

If this game looks like it is on pace to be in the upper 70s to 80s that is a good sign for Furman that things are going their way and the crowd in Orlando will be jumping.