Florida State, having suffered a loss to LSU in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, is now back on the road this weekend. They are set to face last year's ACC Tournament champion and Final Four participant NC State in Raleigh for their first conference game of the season. This matchup holds significant importance as both teams have their strengths and challenges.

Florida State vs. NC State - A Battle of Rivals

NC State's Season So Far

NC State is in its eighth season under Kevin Keatts. Last season, they made an incredible run through the ACC Tournament and into the Final Four, which was one of the more remarkable feats in recent memory. However, this year, after starting the season 5-0, they have dropped their last three games. Their first five opponents had an average KenPom rating of 271, and the three subsequent games were against tougher competition like Purdue, BYU, and Texas. Against Texas on Wednesday, they put up a good fight but faced some questionable calls. Michael O’Connell, one of the three contributors from last year's team, entered the Texas game with just four turnovers in seven games but had four turnovers against Texas alone. He is an experienced guard who usually keeps the ball steady. Jayden Taylor leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 PPG while shooting 55.1% on two-pointers but just 25.7% from three. Marcus Hill starts next to O’Connell in the backcourt and was a 20 PPG scorer at Bowling Green last season. His shots have cut in half from last season, but his efficiency inside the arc has jumped to 57.6%. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield transferred in from Louisville to take DJ Burns’ spot and has been performing well with 10.6 PPG and 6.1 RPG. He is not a strong rim protector, so Florida State should have opportunities at the rim. Ben Middlebrooks, the nephew of former FSU quarterback Danny Kanell, started his career at Clemson and provides solid depth. Dontrez Styles, who started his career at UNC and then transferred to Georgetown and had a breakout season, is now back with the Wolfpack. He had an excellent game against Texas on Wednesday, scoring 17 points with three three-pointers. NC State may only have these six main players, and Breon Pass plays 10-12 minutes to provide some depth. The Wolfpack wants to play fast and get out in transition but has been slowed down in their last three games.

Florida State's Performance

Florida State is now 0-2 against power conference opponents after losing to LSU in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Despite this, they finished with the 6th best point differential out of 14 ACC teams, showing their potential. In the LSU game, LSU dominated in the second half, shooting 16/28 from the floor and 10/15 from two-point range. Florida State's interior defense needs to improve against NC State. They also need to force more turnovers as LSU turned it over just four times in the second half. On the bright side, Malique Ewin is continuing to develop as a premier player, with 17 points and 17 rebounds, including 11 offensive rebounds. Jamir Watkins, however, didn't have a great performance on Tuesday, scoring 15 points on 6/19 shooting with four fouls and three turnovers. He needs to bounce back in this conference game.

Keys to the Game

Crash the Glass: NC State is a poor rebounding team with a 33.9% offensive rebound rate, one of the worst in the country. Florida State had 22 offensive rebounds in their previous game for a 44% rate. They need to take advantage of this size advantage and get close to that rate again.Transition Defense: NC State wants to run, averaging 72.2 possessions per game in their first five wins but only 61 possessions in their three losses. Florida State needs to be able to crash the offensive glass and get back in transition quickly. Their offense also needs to beat NC State's defense down the floor.Jamir Watkins: Watkins hasn't been as efficient as usual in the last few games. For Florida State to win road games in the ACC, he needs to be at his best and prove his worth as a potential first-round draft pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

Game Prediction

NC State is favored by 4.5 points with an over/under of 145.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. This is expected to be a fun matchup. Florida State has a history of beating Kevin Keatts' teams, but NC State will be desperate after losing three straight games. I think the Wolfpack will start hot and potentially have a big lead before Florida State comes back and wins by a close margin. Florida State 76, NC State 72.Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.Stick with NoleGameday for more FREE coverage of Florida State Basketball throughout the 2024-25 season. Follow NoleGameday on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.• BREAKING: Florida State Flips Elite Running Back From Georgia Bulldogs• Florida State Loses Top Commitment On Early Signing Day – Again• Florida State Hires New Defensive Line Coach Away From Nebraska• Florida State Announces First Signees of #Tribe25