FSU basketball: 3 keys to Noles upsetting Louisville on the road

FSU basketball will take on No. 7 ranked Louisville in a road match up in ACC Conference play. I discuss three keys to pulling off the upset.

No. 18 FSU basketball (12-2) will hit the road in a big time ACC matchup and No. 7 Louisville Saturday. The game will air on ESPN with at 2 p.m. ET tip-off.

The Noles come into this game winners of five straight, including two conference wins over Clemson and Georgia Tech. Louisville (11-2) come into this game off an overtime road loss against No. 19 Kentucky.

ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Noles a 18.1 percent chance to win the game. However, Louisville’s already laid an egg earlier this year against Texas Tech.

FSU basketball is led by a trio of scorer’s averaging in double digits, lead by Devin Vassell and Trent Forrest at 11 points per game respectively.

However, defensively is where the Noles butter their bread as they create havoc with their speed and length. Let’s look at the three keys to victory for the Noles to pull off the upset.

3 Keys to Victory

• Limit junior forward Jordan Nwora
• Win Battle of Boards
• Use Defense To Power Offense

Louisville seems to go as leading scorer Jordan Nwora goes as he comes into the contest averaging 20.2 ppg. In the two Louisville losses, he’s been held to 14 and eight points respectively. He has great size and the ability to shoot from beyond the arc at 39.5 percent. He is susceptible to turn the ball over as he accounts for 19 percent of the team’s turnovers. The Noles need to force him to give up the ball with good defensive pressure while making him take contested shots.

Louisville comes into this game averaging 40 rebounds per game which is six more than the Noles. FSU is actually slightly better at offensive rebounding, but Louisville doesn’t allow much of that since they’re a really good defensive rebounding team. FSU has been getting beat on the boards by lesser opponents and needs to tighten up this area and not allow the Cardinals second chance opportunities.

FSU basketball does a much better job at forcing steals and protecting the rim and this will be paramount against the Cardinals. FSU comes into the game averaging 9.7 steals and 5.6 blocks per game. Louisville averages 4.9 steals and 2.5 blocks. I’d like to see FSU use its defense to get the offense started as they should look to run as much as possible instead of settling for jump shots.

If the Noles can do these three things they should have a solid shot at pulling off the upset.