March 12, 2023 – ACC Finals
(1) #5 Florida State (25-5,13-3 ACC) vs (2) #6 Georgia Tech (22-7, 11-5 ACC)
TEAM: FSU|GT
OVR: 94|96
OFF: 92|95
DEF: 94|94
SHT: 93|100
REB: 96|100
COA: 88|96
Tech's shooting and rebounding have both improved from 99 to 100 since we last met. In our last matchup we missed countless transition buckets and shot 3-13 from 3. We either need to score better in transition today or just not run and try to really slow the game down into the 50s. I would prefer to score in transition. We must shoot better from 3, not necessarily shoot a lot more 3's, but when we get open looks they must go in.
I don't know if we've ever stopped Shavies. He scored 26 the last time we played. And Axton at 7'4” just completely controls the middle. The other big problem we've had against them is rebounding, rebounding margins of 15-6 and such in the first half of our last two games.
Scouting
PG Justin Covington – SR – 89 OVR – 94 speed/94 quickness. 89 defense/75 steals. 89 close/81 med/82 3/85 off the dribble. 9.5/4.9 apg. Covington took the starting job for the final 8 games last year and of course all this season.
SG Femi Shavies – JR – 88 OVR – Shavies is truly scary. 89 speed/90 quickness. 81 defense/84 steals. 91 close/80 med/86 3/83 off the dribble/81 in traffic. Good awareness, good strength. 13.4 ppg, he's averaged in double figures all 3 years, unusual for a SG, who usually have lower shooting tendencies than big men. His tendencies were maxxed out last year though, he's insanely talented and will shoot the second he touches the ball any time he's open. Holding him under 20 is likely impossible.
SF Jibran Grizzard – SR – 92 OVR – 6'7” SF – 88 speed/82 quickness. 86 defense/82 steals. 95 close/85 med/79 3. 93 vert, 84 off awareness/75 def awareness. Grizzard has never been a big scorer despite the ratings. 9.6 ppg this year is 2 points better than last season.
PF Immanuel Bing – SR – 88 OVR – 6'10” PF – 87 orb/88 drb. 85 post off/80 post def. 96 close/90 in traffic, good shot blocker, good steals for a big, 83 str is huge. 84 off awareness/77 def awareness. Bing was overshadowed by super forward Aly Richards the last couple years but he's taken the reins and is having his best year by far, 12.7 ppg/5.8 rpg, 3 points over his average last year.
C Dalron Axton – SR – 83 OVR – 7'4”, I mentioned Axton last year, when he came off the bench. 88 str(A). 89 orb/82 drb. 79 post off/78 post def. 94 close/88 in traffic. 9.0 ppg/5.2 rpg
Unity is 93 for us, 90 for Tech.
Half
| Time
| FSU
| GT
| Notes
|
1
| 15:00
| 7
| 11
| We're doing a good job slowing it down, believe it or not. Georgia Tech has not missed a shot yet..
|
1
| 12:55
| 9
| 15
| They miss a shot finally but get the putback when they do. Forte misses the only 3 we take, wide freaking open. Backups are in.
|
1
| 10:15
| 17
| 17
| There we go! Alloway and McClurkin each hit open 3's and we force a steal, 8-2 run and its a tie game. This is shaping up like another half where we both might shoot near 80%. The rebound margin is currently 4-1 Tech. They get a timeout after getting the ball past halfcourt. Axton sits.
|
1
| 7:35
| 19
| 23
| Tech scores 6 straight, Sneed gets a bucket finally for us. Tech calls a timeout. They sub out another starter, I bring mine back in.
|
1
| 6:40
| 19
| 28
| A dunk and a 3 point play after a turnover and its an 9 point game... they are resting 3 of their starters btw, ugh ugh ugh.
|
1
| 5:35
| 21
| 31
| We get a dunk from Sanders, they get a 3 point play on their end... McCants and Ozier both have two fouls now. Axton is back in for them.
|
1
| 4:35
| 21
| 33
| I call a timeout and bring Alloway in for Ozier. I don't want Ozier getting his 3rd foul, and they are running 3 guards right now, Grizzard is on the bench, so I can afford to go 3 guards for a bit as well.
I should point out that I'm shooting 64% from the floor, and trailing by 12. How does Georgia Tech have 7 losses? This team is un-fucking-stoppable.
|
1
| 3:45
| 26
| 33
| McCants with 5 straight, a 3 point play on a big dunk in transition, we get a 6th man boost. They make a couple subs, getting their big SF back out there.
|
| HALF
| 32
| 39
| We get as close as 5, 35-30. Forte misses another wide open 3 that could have cut the lead to 2, they score 4 straight, Barrett gets us a bucket at the end of the half and its a 7 point game.
This is just impossible. We're shooting 13-20, 4-5 from 3. 65% from the field. What the hell are we supposed to do if we shoot 65% and don't lead for a second of the game? Of course, Tech is shooting 75%. They're 15-20. They also draw more fouls and are 7-8 from the line, compared to our 4-5.
They have a 7-3 edge on the boards, including 2 offensive boards. Grizzard 9, Shavies 8, Covington 6, Bing 6.
McCants has 7 for us, Alloway 7. Sanders 4, Barrett 4, a few others with 2 or 3. Forte has missed 3 open 3 pointers. That's just killing me. That's his shot, pump fake, side step, stroke the 3. He's shooting 43% on the season, but he gets a Georga Tech uniform up in the air and goes 0 for however many times he tries it. I am baffled. We'll keep trying obviously, its within reach, but it feels like we've executed a near perfect half and are just a couple possessions away from them leading by double digits.
|
2
| 19:35
| 34
| 39
| Ozier is back in for Alloway, the full starting lineup is out there. Barret drives by covington and draws a foul on him, nice start.
|
2
| 18:12
| 39
| 39
| Georgia Tech misses 4 straight shots, only 1 less than they missed the entire first half, Ozier gets a great 3 point play in transition and Barrett has 6 and we've tied the game up!
|
2
| 17:30
| 39
| 42
| What a fucked up way for momentum to shift. McCants with a great block inside, Barrett attacks and draws a foul. He misses both free throws, and Shavies drains a 3 on the other end. We lose our 6th man boost and they gain one. I get the ball over half court and call a timeout.
|
2
| 15:05
| 41
| 48
| And things are right back to normal. Forte misses a contested 3(shot clock expriing) and a tough runner in the lane, and they are back up 7.
|
2
| 13:03
| 48
| 48
| Another great run for us, ozier misses a free throw that could have given us the lead but we're on a 7-0 run and tied it back up. This time it feels a lot more like tough defense than just luck that they're missing, we're forcing them to take some bad shots and are all over the boards unlike the first half.
|
2
| 11:25
| 50
| 52
| McCants with his 3rd foul, and this is as good a time as any to get the backups in. We have yet to lead in this game despite tying it up twice now.
|
2
| 10:15
| 52
| 55
| Hah. Their 7'4 guy just hit a 3 pointer. He's actually rated 65 from 3, which is good enough to hit super wide open 3's, and I was sagging way off him to help in the lane w/ Sneed. Owell.
|
To be Continued
