3 things to watch:
Wait, this wasn?t the matchup you had when you filled out your bracket?
It?s Michigan against Florida State in the Elite Eight. The winner goes to San Antonio and the Final Four, where either ninth-seeded Kansas State or 11th-seeded Loyola-Chicago awaits.
The Wolverines are a 4 point favorite against the Seminoles. They?ll also be a lopsided favorite in the national semifinal ? if they advance. A loss to Florida State would be an all-time ?What if?? if Michigan stumbles. John Beilein has a veteran-laden team infused with a youthful collection of talent that comes together like a beautiful 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle.
This could be the 65-year-old?s year.
3 Keys for Michigan-Florida State
1. Depth: Florida State might be the deepest team in the country. Ten players average double-digit minutes per game, an unheard of number. FSU had 30 bench points in its upset of Gonzaga, and it pressed all game. The length, athleticism, and amount of bodies are beneficial during the short turnaround times.
2. Defense: And not just Michigan?s. Everyone is aware of Zavier Simpson?s lockdown D. Florida State was not a good defensive team in the regular season. But FSU flipped a switch in the NCAA tournament ? every opponent has been held to 70 or fewer points with a per game average of 61.3. The Seminoles average seven steals per game, with guards Braian Angola and Terance Mann guiding the effort. If they get another noteworthy defensive performance, the Seminoles could be bound for Texas.
3. Guard play: This game could be extremely fast-paced, especially if Florida State decides to press Michigan. With both defenses likely to perform at a high level, guards, as they always are in the NCAA tournament, will be of utmost importance. For Michigan, Simpson and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman must avoid turnovers and keep the offense flowing. Angola and Mann carry the same responsibility for Florida State. Whichever duo plays best almost will certainly lead their team to the Final Four.
Wait, this wasn?t the matchup you had when you filled out your bracket?
It?s Michigan against Florida State in the Elite Eight. The winner goes to San Antonio and the Final Four, where either ninth-seeded Kansas State or 11th-seeded Loyola-Chicago awaits.
The Wolverines are a 4 point favorite against the Seminoles. They?ll also be a lopsided favorite in the national semifinal ? if they advance. A loss to Florida State would be an all-time ?What if?? if Michigan stumbles. John Beilein has a veteran-laden team infused with a youthful collection of talent that comes together like a beautiful 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle.
This could be the 65-year-old?s year.
3 Keys for Michigan-Florida State
1. Depth: Florida State might be the deepest team in the country. Ten players average double-digit minutes per game, an unheard of number. FSU had 30 bench points in its upset of Gonzaga, and it pressed all game. The length, athleticism, and amount of bodies are beneficial during the short turnaround times.
2. Defense: And not just Michigan?s. Everyone is aware of Zavier Simpson?s lockdown D. Florida State was not a good defensive team in the regular season. But FSU flipped a switch in the NCAA tournament ? every opponent has been held to 70 or fewer points with a per game average of 61.3. The Seminoles average seven steals per game, with guards Braian Angola and Terance Mann guiding the effort. If they get another noteworthy defensive performance, the Seminoles could be bound for Texas.
3. Guard play: This game could be extremely fast-paced, especially if Florida State decides to press Michigan. With both defenses likely to perform at a high level, guards, as they always are in the NCAA tournament, will be of utmost importance. For Michigan, Simpson and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman must avoid turnovers and keep the offense flowing. Angola and Mann carry the same responsibility for Florida State. Whichever duo plays best almost will certainly lead their team to the Final Four.
