TV: ESPN/2/U
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Noles by 8 I think … hard place to play… hope for better. They will be at full strength - a thing we haven’t faced much… maybe we start Ugo or Chance? Not a chance… Maybe we will be leading at the first media timeout?
Go Hoos - unfunkify!!!
Edit -
Sometimes a loss is a good thing for the larger goals of a team.
My favorite loss in Hoo history was to FSU in 2019 - that’s when I really thought we had a chance that year.
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A post was merged into an existing topic: 
Virginia vs Syracuse, Saturday, 7 February 2026, 1200, ESPN/2/U
they start 4 guards. and they shoot 30% from three. So how are they going to score against our big lineups? Or get rebounds? They might only score 8 pts not win by 8 
(honestly i really have no idea if we will win but the matchup looks favorable)
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If they hit 15 3s like they did yesterday and we pull another 4-24 performance.
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I am not sure what your fascination with FSU is. They blew an 18-pt.lead to NOTRE DAME, and very nearly lost. Why? Because they made a bunch of 3s, then suddenly couldn’t buy one, which is how they always play.
Also, we have played multiple sold out arenas versus good teams, and won. So, I am unclear how playing a bad team in a venue 25% filled is a “hard place to play.”
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Sort of like an empty Conte Forum
Long travel + arena with no juice
Sometimes easier to play in a louder place
(I don’t 100% buy that theory, but that’s the theory)
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This game scares me. FSU is not good but they match up well vs us with their crafty aggressive guards and solid athletes in the front court.
That and yeah like @haney said weird vibes in a half filled arena is Tallahassee.
Hoping this is a reverse jinx and we win by like 30
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Should be able to hurt them inside with De Ridder bully-ball and our general offensive rebounding-hungry approach. They have pretty bad rim protection and defensive rebounding.
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What did TB always say? Common, but he really emphasized it. Never be afraid of an opponent; respect all of them, but never be scared.
This game doesn’t scare me. I respect that they may give us their best game, but we’re better.
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Wow, I guess day-drinking starts early on Super Bowl Sunday! 
Seriously though, I agree that it’s a tough place to play and a potential trap game. Haney’s theory may have some merit.
The key is likely stopping Wiggins. He’s had three big games in their last three—all wins. He’s their most prolific 3pt shooter and their best free throw shooter. As a team, they’re not great from deep, but they chuck a ton of threes. It just takes a couple of guys getting hot and they could cause us problems.
On the flips side, they give up a lot of points, don’t have great rim protection, and this is no longer CTB vs Leonard Hamilton. I predict we clamp down on D and take care of business: Hoos 82-69.
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Any way to look at TDR’s recent advanced metrics over last 3-5 games? My gut says he’s been a fair bit less effective than early and mid season. Just been looking off.
30/59 FG
2/13 3 Pt FG
76.4% FT
17.6 points
7.6 rebounds
2.4 turnovers
2 assists
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Like a few others, he has been struggling. I think opposing coaches are scheming us and making us uncomfortable and we need to change tactics a little.
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I’d say he’s still been excellent. Huge usage rating, drawing a ton of FTs, getting offensive boards, shooting 60% from 2. It’s just that the 3s haven’t fallen.
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For TDR I think
It’s as simple as don’t settle for any threes in the first half … get paint touches rinse and repeat… kick out if doubled or stymied - also the others need to actually move once he has it.
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I too would rather TDR be aggressive on the inside early on and let the outside stuff come later. Malik seems to be the weapon of choice for early punches, but I’d rather him dial it back with the out of control drives.
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We win if refs allow any semblance of physicality on defense but I’m afraid they won’t because we’ve been getting jobbed against these bad teams on the road and because of how few fouls were called in the UNC Duke game. ACC will call it tighter this week
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Would only quibble a little by saying he should hunt his points in the paint but take open threes in the flow of the offense.
This has been something obvious to my non-expert eyes during most of our scoring droughts of late. Perhaps @Cuts_from_The_Corner has some insights on this (full disclosure: Honey-do list and tax season has limited me to reading only two of the most recent Cuts).
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