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FSU basketball: 3 players that need to shine against Michigan

By Kelvin Hunt

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: A view of a hallway leading toward the team entrance area prior to the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Duke Blue Devils during the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional Final at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: A view of a hallway leading toward the team entrance area prior to the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Duke Blue Devils during the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional Final at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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No. 4 seed FSU basketball will take on No. 1 seed Michigan Sunday afternoon in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

We’ve written about several things involving this game and factors that will help determine the winner.

The depth of FSU could pose problems and the three trends that haunt Michigan in all four of their losses.

Oddsmakers are expecting a close game with Michigan continuing to check-in as –2.5 betting favorites. The line hasn’t moved from there, even though the percentage of bets placed on Michigan continues to go up.

We haven’t seen a great game from FSU basketball in a while, yet they continue to shoot over 52 percent overall in two NCAA Tournament games.

What would happen if they begin to hit on all cylinders? We’ve seen that happen several times this year, and it usually involves some key players.

Here are my three players that need to shine against Michigan:

  • RaiQuan Gray
  • M.J. Walker
  • Balsa Koprivica

RaiQuan Gray is the most valuable player for the Noles. I’ve said it multiple times he should have been All-ACC second-team instead of Walker. He averages nearly a double-double, and the offense seems to be productive when the ball is in his hands.

If he wants to get to the basket, defenders can’t stop him, and he shoots a high percentage from close range. He needs to lay off the jump shots.

M.J. Walker hasn’t been a factor on offense since the Notre Dame game. I understand he’s been playing injured, but he’s been cold from the three-point line and a turnover machine. He did have some key plays on defense against Colorado, but the Noles need him to be the leading scorer like he did for much of the season.

Balsa Koprivica only played 11 minutes against Colorado due to foul trouble, and that’s something he’ll need to avoid when matching up against Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson. Koprivica has come into his own offensively in the second half of the season, and he’s averaged nearly a double-double in the last few games.

Final Thoughts

If the Noles play defense against Michigan the way they’ve played in the first two NCAA Tournament games and these three guys deliver on offense? The Noles will advance to the Elite 8.

Next. 3 Trends That Haunt Michigan In Their Four Losses. dark

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