For 12 days DWHoops has counted down the ACC with three items about each team - including factoids, new players to note, trends or other observations. Today we conclude the series with our pick to again win the ACC Regular Season, the Florida State Seminoles
Florida State
DWHoops ACC Prediction: #1
- They are deep. They lost their starting backcourt from last season, but
their freshman class this year has two redshirts who are providing big-time
help. Alexa DeLuzio has been a boost both in terms of shooting and
ballhandling, while Chasity Clayton is an athletic marvel who's been wreaking
havoc off the bench.. Having a year to watch and/or practice with the team was
obviously a big benefit for both players. They are going to get even deeper
soon, when Spanish player Leonor Rodriquez becomes eligible. This guard will
give them extra firepower off the bench.
- They share the ball. FSU has any number of players who can score: Jacinta
Monroe and Cierra Bravard in the post, Alysha Harvin and Angel Gray at the
wings, and Courtney Ward at point. This is a group that's been playing
together for a while, and they know each other's tendencies.
- They have no apparent flaws. FSU is solid in every area of the game:
experience, size, depth, shooting, passing, ballhandling, etc. Two possible
areas of concern: they don't have a go-to scorer who can them a bucket when
it's absolutely necessary, and I'm not sure how mentally tough this team is. They
were handled with surprising ease by DePaul, a team that really had no
business beating them. This appeared to be their annual inexplicable loss
which at least came at the hands of a slightly higher brand of opponent than
usual. FSU was missing shots in that game and then couldn't convert offensive
rebounds, and then they got soft at the defensive end. While UConn beat them
by 19 points, it was only a 6-point margin at the half. Considering that the
Huskies have been a wrecking ball this year, it was actually a decent showing,
especially from frosh Chasity Clayton, who was quick enough to compete with
UConn's athletes. Still, FSU will need to continue to show mental toughness
and get wins as a result.
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