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FSU Basketball: 3 keys to beating Gonzaga and advancing to Elite 8

By Kelvin Hunt

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 18: PJ Savoy #5 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts after defeating the Xavier Musketeers during the second half in the second round of the 2018 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 18, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 18: PJ Savoy #5 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts after defeating the Xavier Musketeers during the second half in the second round of the 2018 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 18, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

Defense

That’s the God’s honest truth right there. There have been times this season where FSU players did not buy in on defense and it showed as teams ran up and down the court on them or blasted them from beyond the arc.

The Noles held Missouri to just 32.7 percent shooting in the first round. They held Xavier to 46.9 percent shooting which isn’t great, but they went without a field goal for over six minutes at one point in the second half. Gonzaga shoots it at a 50.2 percent clip from the floor overall so they take highly efficient shots and don’t force much.

The Bulldogs only average 11 turnovers per game, but FSU averages seven steals per game on the season and have forced 34 turnovers in the first two games of the NCAA Tournament.

Turnovers have been big keys in the four losses Gonzaga has on the season.

Next: Top 5 Questions Going Into Spring Camp 2018

If the Noles can turn Gonzaga over and hold them near 46 percent shooting or less it should be a recipe for success.

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