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- Syracuse entered the game with the 14th best defense in the nation. Against their lengthy zone, it’s important to maximize the possessions where you can attack before the zone has time to set up. FSU accomplished that by forcing 19 Syracuse turnovers. Several of these turnovers were live-ball, and FSU was able to score 13 fast break points, compared to just four for Syracuse.
- Trent Forrest was singled out in the post game for his contributions in his first career start. He repeatedly was able to get inside the Syracuse zone off the dribble, and this led to seven assists. He also had a career high 11 rebounds. He was the first Seminole under 6’6” to grab double-digit rebounds in an ACC game since Aaron Thomas at Wake Forest four years ago.
- Florida State did a good job getting the ball to the foul line against the zone. Trent Forrest played that role a bit, but primarily it was Braian Angola. Angola’s job after the catch was to either a) lob to the rim, 2) make a diagonal pass to the short corner, or D) shoot. Four times he hooked up with Christ Koumadje for a dunk, including on what may have been the most important possession of the game. With four seconds left in the first half, FSU inbounded the ball and found Angola in the middle. There was hardly any time to work with, but Angola calmly pump faked to draw the defense, and then found Koumadje at the rim for the buzzer beating dunk.
- In the double OT game, three Seminoles played at least 40 minutes: Angola (46), Phil Cofer (45), and Forrest (40). Now the ‘Noles have a quick turnaround with a road game against Boston College. The Eagles, meanwhile, didn’t even play an ACC game this weekend. Instead they hosted a horrible Dartmouth team, and cruised to an easy, low energy, win. With Terance Mann and PJ Savoy likely to miss the BC game, the ‘Noles will need the fresh legs of MJ Walker (14 minutes), Mfiondu Kabengele (14), and Ike Obiagu (6).
- FSU won 101-90 in a 90 possession game. The 1.13 points per possession scored by Florida State was the 2nd most this year vs Syracuse. Through five games, FSU has the 4th most efficient offense in the ACC.