Game #30: Florida State

Today is Senior Day and we will honor five seniors: Ashleigh, Christie, Crystal, Jade and Laura for all their accomplishments. They are the first class to record four-straight 20+ win seasons and thus are the winningest class in school history. These four (and Christie) bought into Coach Brenda's vision and without each one of them, 2006 would have never happened nor would the reestablishment of Maryland as one of the elite programs in the country. I could go on and on about what they have done in their careers, but most of you all know that by now. Plus, we all have a ceremony to sit through and posting all their accomplishments would take you a long time to read.

After everyone wipes away their tears (remember we still get to see them at home tow more times), we do have a game to play and that opponent is Florida State, our first and only meeting with them.

The Seminoles are 16-10 and 6-5 in the ACC to put them in fifth place. The only common non-conference opponent was LSU and they lost by 12. In the ACC, they have lost to Virginia (twice), Georgia Tech, Duke and North Carolina.

Florida State averages 70.1 ppg, while allowing 64.5. 97 is the most they have given up all year and have only allowed more than 80 four times. They outrebound opponents 39.5 to 38.2. They shoot .434 from the floor and .351 from 3, while other teams shoot .391 and .312 from behind the arc.

Due to suspensions and injuries, Florida State has a limited roster and plays a four-guard line up. In fact, they have two healthy forwards over 6' and one of them only plays under 16 minutes per game. Tanae Davis-Cain is a 5'11 guard who leads the team in scoring at 15.9 points per game. She's more of a slasher as she has taken 135 more shots inside the arc, but still shoots 36.7% from 3-point land. Davis-Cain only grabs 4.4 rebounds per game. Second on the team in scoring is Mara Freshour, a 6'1 guard, at 11.9 ppg. She shoots a little better from 3 at .404 but will take shots from whereever. She rebounds a little better than Davis-Cain at 4.7. Their main post player is Jacinta Monroe, a 6'4 athletic forward, and she averages 11.0 ppg. She leads the team in rebounding (6.3) and blocks (68). She shoots 60.7% from the floor (only 1 three all year), but 57.6% from the free throw line. Shante Williams is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.2. Unlike the other two guards, she is more of the slasher than a three-point shooter. Williams is their defensive leader with a team high 46 steals. Their fifth starter is either Courtney Ward or Christian Hunnicutt. Both are freshmen and decoys in the offense as neither one scores that much. Ward at 6.2 and Hunnicutt at 3.7. Both will shoot the three if left open so we can't ignore them. Anyone they bring off the bench can shoot the 3 except for Cayla Moore, who is their other post player.

The keys to win the game..
1. Check emotions at the bench before the game begins. I know the players will be emotional, but they have to remember that they have a game to play. Crying can take place after the game.
2. Rebounding the basketball. With FSU only having one post player, we should dominate the boards.
3. Containing penetration. I have a feeling we will play zone to try and prevent the penetration and because of match up issues. We can't leave FSU open for three.
4. Take care of the ball and keep our foot on the throttle. One thing that was great about the Duke game was that we never let them back in the game. Everytime Duke tried to get close we made a run.
5. Feed the post. with one post player, let's get her in foul trouble and make them use their bench.


Don't forget to stick around after the game to see Crystal's jersey put in the rafters.

Off to get my box of tissues....