State is definitely playing faster this year. IMO they are a good team. If Scott Wood has open looks in transition, he can shoot the 3 ball fairly well. The biggest question for me with State is can they get it inside. In previous games they have had a bit of difficulty with the zone. They move a good deal better than they did in the Lowe/Sendek eras, and rebound better. Keys to the game:
Prevent Wood from getting open looks. Outside of him, State has difficulty behind the arc. He also gets into foul trouble often.
Contain CJ Leslie. He's a pretty athletic player, gets up for blocks, dunks, etc.
Minimize Turnovers. State's a solid team and does fairly well in transition.