FSU 83 UNLV 75 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
FSU improves its record to 3-1 apparently erasing any memory of Friday night's debacle and evens up the series 1-1 (the last meeting won by the Rebels.101-69 in 1990) The 'Noles never trailed in the game coming out strong grabbing a quick 7-0 lead upping the margin to thirteen, 23-10 half way through the first period. UNLV mounted a 7-0 run to trail by just four 39-35 with four seconds left. Jamir Watkins made a highlight shot (among his many highlights tonight) by launching the ball just a few feet over the time line banking it in at the buzzer for the 42-35 half time lead. The second half saw FSU push the lead back to fourteen at 55-41. A 9-0 UNLV run closed the gap to 59-52 and the Rebels seemed on the verge of maybe overtaking the Seminoles. Despite not exactly running the offense Leonard Hamilton would like, the 'Noles managed to make enough baskets to hold off UNLV. A 12-3 run put the 'Noles up with a seemingly insurmountable lead, 79-63, with 2;50 remaining. Despite some sloppy play in the final 1:30 and the 'Noles connecting on 7 of its final 8 shots, the lead proved to be too large for UNLV and FSU returned to the win column.
Key in the win was much better ball movement and movement without the ball. The Seminoles were much of the game passing the ball side to side. When they didn't, the offense struggled. Fortunately the 'Noles did more passing than not reflected in the 16 assists.
And speaking of assists. By the time 5:19 had rolled off the clock, Watkins had already dished out four assists finishing with a career high eight. And when he wasn't handing off to a teammate in scoring position, he was adding some scoring himself with a game high 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting. Obviously Watkins was the POTG.
Also in double figures was Cameron Corhen with 12 and the Green brothers (actually they aren't) with 16 for Darin and 10 for De'Ante. UNLV clearly did not play the same smothering defense on Darin that the gatros did on Friday night.
Clearly FSU liked the nets tonight at the Ocean Center in Daytona or the UNLV defense was porous, but definitely one of the two. The Seminoles blistered the nets at a 63% clip, was 5-12 (42%) from the arc, and 78% (14-18) from the stripe.
Rebounding. With both teams making just about everything they put up, there were not a whole lot of rebounds. But FSU won the battle of the boards 27-24 so we'll mention it.
Plays of the game: Going to start with the defensive effort where Baba MIller blocked the shot and forced UNLV into a shot clock violation. Jalen Warley with the knock away steal passing the ball up the court to Cam'Ron Fletcher for the easy slam, 21-10. Warley again with the steal of the inbound pass for the layup plus the foul, 50-37. Watkins spotting the open gap for the power drive slam dunk, 65-58. Offense to defense again with Corhen's steal out to Watkins and the slam part of a 12-3 run. Watkins' assist #5 with the fast break alley oop to Fletcher for the slam, 23-10.
The Bad
The stretch where the FSU defense just could not stop the Rebs who connected on six straight shots and 8 of 10.
Warley with a cross court high lob that must have looked better in his mind before he threw it. Easily picked off it went the other way for a basket.
Minutes distributed. Hate to see several players notably Darin in the 30 minute plus range especially with a game less than 24 hours away.
Assisted by all that driving to the rim, UNLV shot 57% from the floor. Had they made a few more threes (just 2-10) and FTs (15-24), this could have been a different game what with the errors FSU made in the final minute.
The UNLV no basket that was later called goal tending and then even later reversed to no basket. Are we sure refs or do you need another review?
The Ugly
Points in the paint 54 of them. Unfortunately for UNLV. Hamilton commented in his post game interview that FSU has a reputation of forcing teams out of their offensive system and make adjustments. And that is what the Rebels did in putting their head down and just driving to the rim full speed. And the FSU defense obliged. Possession after possession UNLV had a direct path to the basket with little or no defensive interference. Case in point, Dedan Thomas just dribbling down a wide open gap eventually challenged way too late for the layup, 9-6. It was a recurring theme all game long. That has to be fixed.
Apparently once was not enough as Fletcher gambled for the steal of the entry pass and missed allowing Kalib Boone to have a wide open slam dunk. Not just once, but twice on almost the identical same play.
Up Next
Same location, FSU will play for the Sunshine Slam title starting at 4:00 tomorrow. It will either be against 18th ranked Colorado or Richmond. Currently the Spiders are giving the Buffs a bit of test leading Colorado 42-40 with ten minutes to play. The game will be aired on the CBSSN.
The Good
FSU improves its record to 3-1 apparently erasing any memory of Friday night's debacle and evens up the series 1-1 (the last meeting won by the Rebels.101-69 in 1990) The 'Noles never trailed in the game coming out strong grabbing a quick 7-0 lead upping the margin to thirteen, 23-10 half way through the first period. UNLV mounted a 7-0 run to trail by just four 39-35 with four seconds left. Jamir Watkins made a highlight shot (among his many highlights tonight) by launching the ball just a few feet over the time line banking it in at the buzzer for the 42-35 half time lead. The second half saw FSU push the lead back to fourteen at 55-41. A 9-0 UNLV run closed the gap to 59-52 and the Rebels seemed on the verge of maybe overtaking the Seminoles. Despite not exactly running the offense Leonard Hamilton would like, the 'Noles managed to make enough baskets to hold off UNLV. A 12-3 run put the 'Noles up with a seemingly insurmountable lead, 79-63, with 2;50 remaining. Despite some sloppy play in the final 1:30 and the 'Noles connecting on 7 of its final 8 shots, the lead proved to be too large for UNLV and FSU returned to the win column.
Key in the win was much better ball movement and movement without the ball. The Seminoles were much of the game passing the ball side to side. When they didn't, the offense struggled. Fortunately the 'Noles did more passing than not reflected in the 16 assists.
And speaking of assists. By the time 5:19 had rolled off the clock, Watkins had already dished out four assists finishing with a career high eight. And when he wasn't handing off to a teammate in scoring position, he was adding some scoring himself with a game high 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting. Obviously Watkins was the POTG.
Also in double figures was Cameron Corhen with 12 and the Green brothers (actually they aren't) with 16 for Darin and 10 for De'Ante. UNLV clearly did not play the same smothering defense on Darin that the gatros did on Friday night.
Clearly FSU liked the nets tonight at the Ocean Center in Daytona or the UNLV defense was porous, but definitely one of the two. The Seminoles blistered the nets at a 63% clip, was 5-12 (42%) from the arc, and 78% (14-18) from the stripe.
Rebounding. With both teams making just about everything they put up, there were not a whole lot of rebounds. But FSU won the battle of the boards 27-24 so we'll mention it.
Plays of the game: Going to start with the defensive effort where Baba MIller blocked the shot and forced UNLV into a shot clock violation. Jalen Warley with the knock away steal passing the ball up the court to Cam'Ron Fletcher for the easy slam, 21-10. Warley again with the steal of the inbound pass for the layup plus the foul, 50-37. Watkins spotting the open gap for the power drive slam dunk, 65-58. Offense to defense again with Corhen's steal out to Watkins and the slam part of a 12-3 run. Watkins' assist #5 with the fast break alley oop to Fletcher for the slam, 23-10.
The Bad
The stretch where the FSU defense just could not stop the Rebs who connected on six straight shots and 8 of 10.
Warley with a cross court high lob that must have looked better in his mind before he threw it. Easily picked off it went the other way for a basket.
Minutes distributed. Hate to see several players notably Darin in the 30 minute plus range especially with a game less than 24 hours away.
Assisted by all that driving to the rim, UNLV shot 57% from the floor. Had they made a few more threes (just 2-10) and FTs (15-24), this could have been a different game what with the errors FSU made in the final minute.
The UNLV no basket that was later called goal tending and then even later reversed to no basket. Are we sure refs or do you need another review?
The Ugly
Points in the paint 54 of them. Unfortunately for UNLV. Hamilton commented in his post game interview that FSU has a reputation of forcing teams out of their offensive system and make adjustments. And that is what the Rebels did in putting their head down and just driving to the rim full speed. And the FSU defense obliged. Possession after possession UNLV had a direct path to the basket with little or no defensive interference. Case in point, Dedan Thomas just dribbling down a wide open gap eventually challenged way too late for the layup, 9-6. It was a recurring theme all game long. That has to be fixed.
Apparently once was not enough as Fletcher gambled for the steal of the entry pass and missed allowing Kalib Boone to have a wide open slam dunk. Not just once, but twice on almost the identical same play.
Up Next
Same location, FSU will play for the Sunshine Slam title starting at 4:00 tomorrow. It will either be against 18th ranked Colorado or Richmond. Currently the Spiders are giving the Buffs a bit of test leading Colorado 42-40 with ten minutes to play. The game will be aired on the CBSSN.
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