Barring yet another positive COVID-19 test, the second-seeded Florida State Seminoles will face the no. 4 seed Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the ACC Tournament final on Saturday night. At the Greensboro Coliseum, the Seminoles are listed as 4-point favorites with an over/under 148 points.
The Seminoles only played their first game of the ACC Tournament on Friday night, surviving a scare against North Carolina. With Duke bowing out of the tournament because of a positive test, Florida State’s double-bye turned into a triple-bye. Nevertheless, Leonard Hamilton’s team avenged a late-season loss to UNC and heads to the final winners of six of their last eight games.
Likewise, Georgia Tech is in the ACC final after winning just one game. The Yellow Jackets had a close call with Miami on Thursday afternoon and then got a pass in the semifinals after Virginia had a positive test. Despite that good fortune, Josh Pastner’s team heads into Saturday’s game winners of seven in a row, more than solidifying a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Moses Leads the Way
Georgia Tech forward Moses Wright will hope to lead the Yellow Jackets to an ACC title after winning ACC Player of the Year honors. Wright was unusually quiet against Miami on Thursday, scoring just seven points in 25 minutes before fouling out of the game. However, he was a near-unstoppable force late in the season. Wright had a double-double in four of his last five games of the regular season, averaging 23.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game during that span.
The Yellow Jackets also have a veteran backcourt led by Jose Alvarado, Michael Devoe, and Jordan Usher. All three are upperclassmen, and all average double figures. Alvarado is particularly crafty, not to mention one of the best on-ball defenders on the ACC, averaging 2.9 steals per game. He and Devoe are both capable shooters, while Usher is a bigger guard who can create matchup problems on the wing.
One Out of Many
Few teams embody the team spirit as much as the Seminoles. Hamilton’s rotation goes at least nine deep, with everyone who plays being capable of guarding any position. Florida State’s scoring is also incredibly balanced, with five players averaging at least nine points per game. Of course, the trio of M.J. Walker, RaiQuan Gray, and freshman sensation Scottie Barnes stands out as the team’s most dangerous weapons.
Meanwhile, the Seminoles have an X-factor in center Balsa Koprivica, which provides the size Florida State is accustomed to having. The 7’1’’ sophomore from Serbia is coming off a monster game against North Carolina in the semifinals, recording 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks against UNC’s massive frontline. He will be critical to FSU’s plans to defend Wright and perhaps get the ACC Player of the Year into foul trouble.
Rubber Match
Florida State took care of business against Georgia Tech early in the season, only for the Yellow Jackets to return the favor last month. Georgia Tech’s stars all played well while Walker and Barnes struggled for FSU. After knocking off UNC on Friday night, the Seminoles should be sharp and ready to claim the conference championship they missed out on winning last year. Bet on Florida State to win and cover in the ACC Championship Game.
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