Baseline Breakdown: FSU survives against Winthrop

Winthrop played without their leading scorer, Nych Smith, due to an ankle injury, but that did not stop the Eagles from giving Florida State all they could handle. A three point game with 5:06 remaining, the Seminoles tightened up on defense and pulled away for an 11 point victory.

FSU struggled with their dribble-drive defense throughout the game, but especially so in the first half. The Eagles had made 10 layups by the time the third media timeout came with 7:49 left in the first half and finished with 20. Winthrop’s smaller guards were able to get by the ‘Noles, and the help defense did not consistently rotate in time. PJ Savoy particularly struggled with keeping his man in front of him,…