No. 8 Florida State tries to rebound vs. Syracuse

A period sweep of Atlantic Coast Meeting royalty would’ve been pleasant, but it wasn’t in the playing cards for No. eight Florida State.

Duke made absolutely sure of that.

One particular week taken off from a acquire against North Carolina, the Seminoles had been hunting to make it two-for-two against the ACC’s perennial powerhouses when they took on the No. seven Blue Devils in Durham on Monday. But Duke prevailed, 70-sixty five, knocking the Seminoles to No. 3 in the ACC standings.

But Florida State (twenty-four, 10-3) gets a likelihood to get again to its profitable means Saturday when it hosts Syracuse (fourteen-10, seven-six) in Tallahassee, where by the Seminoles are twelve- this period.

Nevertheless, shaking off the reduction to Duke won’t be uncomplicated the Seminoles felt like they left the acquire on the floor.

“Naturally, we bought conquer by a group that I imagined was a good deal extra economical than we had been in the execution and the offense,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton explained just after the activity. “We failed to shoot properly from the three — we shoot about forty percent in the league from three. We failed to hit our free throws, and I believe we gave up some offensive rebounds at challenging points in the activity.”

Florida State enters this activity obtaining received three of its last four, although it’s the correct opposite for Syracuse, which has misplaced three of its last four, like a seventy nine-seventy four defeat to North Carolina State on Tuesday at residence.

Syracuse was without having junior star Elijah Hughes, who qualified prospects the group in scoring at 18.six points for each activity. Hughes endured what appeared to be a groin harm in pregame warm-ups, then played only three minutes in advance of leaving the activity. He probable will be out yet again against Florida State.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim explained he could not at any time remember a participant acquiring damage in pregame warmups. And it was a huge reduction for his group.

“I have never had a participant in forty four years get damage in warmups, but there is a to start with time for all the things,” Boeheim instructed ESPN.com just after the reduction.

Syracuse trailed by just four points at halftime and made a thrust in the 2nd 50 percent, but it wasn’t sufficient.

“I imagined all people did an unbelievable occupation,” Boeheim explained. “When you lose your very best participant, a single of the three or four very best gamers in the league … it’s tough. But they did all the things they could they bought ideal again in it. They had been pretty very good these days for not obtaining (Elijah). Exceptionally very good.”

Syracuse is in sixth position in the ACC standings and poorly requirements a acquire to improve its seeding for the impending ACC Tournament as properly as its chances to make the NCAA Tournament.

The Orange now are not projected to make the Huge Dance, but with games against two prime 10 ACC opponents left on their plan (FSU and No. five Louisville following week), the Orange could bolster their resume with an upset in a single of those contests.

With Hughes out, Syracuse’s foremost scorer is now guard Buddy Boeheim (16.3 points for each activity), followed by fellow guard Joseph Girard (twelve.six) and forward Marek Dolezaj (10.five), who also qualified prospects the group in rebounds (six.nine for each activity).

M.J. Walker (10.four). Vassell also qualified prospects the group on the glass with an ordinary of five.3 rebounds for each activity.” data-reactid=”26″>Florida State is powered by a trio of guards: Devin Vassell (13.four points for each activity), Trent Forrest (eleven.six) and M.J. Walker (10.four). Vassell also qualified prospects the group on the glass with an ordinary of five.3 rebounds for each activity.

–Field Level Media