FSU 79 Hofstra 61 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly


The Good

FSU rebounds from the loss to the gatros and improves to 4-1 starting the season with that record for the second consecutive year. The Seminoles used its length, depth, and defense to earn the win over what is likely another strong team under Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton. The former Hofstra star has led the program to multiple 20 win seasons in now his fourth season. So this was not a push over team that the 'Noles defeated. FSU never trailed in the game and had just one tie showing improvement in several areas in need of attention. Areas such as rebounding (31-27), three point shooting (9-26, 35%), and FT shooting (18-23, 78%). Coupled with its defense, FSU won the game by drawing far more fouls than Hofstra who was just 5-7 from ter stripe.

After building a 32-23 half time lead, Hofstra made a push closing the score to trail by just two points, 39-37. FSU responded with a 10-0 run with 12:46 to play. All created via a couple of steals and aggressive play on the offensive end drawing fouls. FSU controlled the game the rest of the way.

As has been mentioned, defense. Notably the usual active hands for Florida State defenders creating 20 turnovers resulting in 23 points.

Fouling has been an issue for FSU early in the season. It started out to look like that would continue in this game with Malique Ewin picking up two quick fouls making this way to the bench and a unnecessary foul by Jamir Watkins. But after that the Seminoles were very controlled despite a tight and collapsing defense much of the game.

Three players in double figures led by Watkins' 17 who was a perfect 5-5 from the line followed by Ewin with 13 most of which in the second half adding 6 boards as well, and Taylor Bol Bowen with 10.

Plays of the game: Bol Bowen staying with the ball that was nearly stolen regaining control and floating the ball in, 4-0. Boston Holt finding Ewin wide open under the rim, 8-0. Watkins fakes the three and drives along the baseline to draw the foul. AJ Swinton going high on the back door alley oop for the slam. 14-8. Bol Bowen answers Hofstra's game tying three with a wide open three, 17-14. Holt with the driving penetration kicking the ball out to Jerry Deng, 23-16. Holt again finding a lane to drive and kicking it out this time to Watkins wide open behind the arc, 35-25. Back to back baskets by Ewin with the second driving in from the left finished off with a nice spin move for the lay up. 39-33. Justin Thomas' hustle back to deflect the ball to Ewin who dribbles quickly up court delivering to Chandler Jackson open on the right plus the foul on the lay in, 45-37. Dequan Davis deflects the ball to Watkins for another open shot, 47-37. FSU defense causing a five second call on the inbound pass. The reverse slam dunk by Bol Bowen on the lob from Jackson, 71-58. Holt at the buzzer from right of the key, 76-58. Watkins with the steal driving the distance for the lay up and FSU's largest lead, 79-58. Enter the Green Vipers.


The Bad

It sure looked like here we go again when Ewin picked up his second foul with 15:26 to play. As the schedule gets tougher, FSU will need a complete game from him without spending a lot of time on the bench due to foul trouble..

Watkins forcing his offensive play early with just 4 points late in the first half. That was highlighted by Watkins taking on two defenders trying to do what I have no clue. He has the ball picked and compounds the mistake by fouling.

As improved as FSU was shooting threes, there were a ton of wide open ops that the Seminoles just did not knock down. But they are headed in the right direction.

As good as the defense played most of the game, there were too many times the defender was late on the close out. Thankfully Hofstra was not on fire from behind the arc overall (8-24, 33%). But they were 6-10 in the second half.

I thought FSU's defense collapsed around the rim when the ball got inside could have been better. Hofstra managed 26 points in the paint (FSU had 34) resulting in shooting 48% from the floor.


The Ugly

Ewin having the ball taken right out of hands by Silas Sunday.

Immediately, I mean the very next play, after the FSU defense caused a five second call, the 'Noles picked up one themselves.

Tough seeing those empty seats on TV. I know I have mentioned it before, but really that is so distracting to see that many unoccupied seats. I could count the number of people behind BOTH benches.

Believe me I would have preferred to watch the game live rather play that God awful gig I played last night. I don't often say that because its work, But it was miserable what with a PA speaker right behind my head and a singer that could not sing in tune all evening. Think multiple pieces of chalk on multiple blackboards at the same time. It was that painful.


Up Next

FSU travels to Uncasville, Ct. to take on Temple. Tip is at 5 PM on Friday, Nov 22nd. It will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Owls are 3-1 with their last game a 72-69 loss to Boston College. Temple is led in scoring by Jamal Mashburn Jr (23.5 ppg). Yes, he is the son of former Kentucky and NBA player Jamal Mashburn.

We just wrapped up watching FSU's final practice availability of the week before Saturday's game vs. Charleston Southern. Here are the updates from the day's work:

• The offense started pretty well during the first 11-on-11 period, a one-minute drill. Luke Kromenhoek led a great drive down the field with limited time, getting off quick passes, scrambling decisively and doing well to consistently get the clock stopped and avoid negative plays. Behind a pair of catches by Landen Thomas, one by BJ Gibson and one by Amaree Williams (with one second left on the clock), he set the stage for Ryan Fitzgerald to make a 47-yard field goal that gave FSU's offense points out of a challenging situation.
• Outside of that nice start, however, it wasn't the best day for FSU's offense. There were moments of success like a leaping catch by Lawayne McCoy in the back corner of the end zone in 1-on-1s, a diving catch by Williams for a touchdown in goal-line work and a few deep catches from Elijah Moore on nice throws in 7-on-7 pass-skelly work. On the whole, though, the offense never really got going again after that strong start to the day's work.
• In the second 11-on-11 period, a few NFL hopefuls made some flashy plays with scouts from a handful of professional teams watching. Darrell Jackson had a "sack" on the first play of this period, Pat Payton had a great effort play to force a fumble on a screen pass on the second play of the period and then Payton batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage on the third play of the period. Byron Turner Jr. also had a "sack" later in this period of good-on-good work.
• Edwin Joseph continues to demonstrate good coverage and ball skills on a consistent basis in practice. He had a pair of pass breakups in 1-on-1s, putting himself in great position and denying the catch by knocking the ball out of the air. Kevin Knowles II had an interception on the first play of pass-skelly work and Grady Kelly added a batted pass of his own in red-zone situational work and Demarco Ward had a PBU on a pass over the middle in pass-skelly work.
• Earl Little Jr., who continues to grow more comfortable working at safety, made an impressively physical play during goal-line work. On a toss play to Lawrance Toafili, he stopped the running back, who had a head of steam charging towards the goal line, with an impressive stone-wall tackle to deny him a touchdown on the play.

Mallory has told me that they are in the preliminary process of setting up an official visit to Florida State for one of the final two weekends.

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Story Link: Florida State offers three-star West Virginia commit

The Florida State football program continues to struggle on the high school recruiting front. The Seminoles have lost two commitments, QB Tramell Jones and OL Daniel Pierre Louis, to Florida in less than seven days and the challenges on the recruiting front continue to mount for HC Mike Norvell and his transitionary staff.

Max Redmon-DB

On Tuesday night, FSU defensive back commit Max Redmon announced he would be taking an official visit to Mississippi State this weekend. This is surprising for one reason. Out of the 12 commitments that FSU currently has for its 2025 recruiting class, no one single prospect has been on FSU's campus more during his recruiting process than Redmon. In fact, yesterday on our recruiting pod, just minutes before Redmon made in known that he would be taking a trip to Starkville, both Fish and I said we believed that out of the prospects committed to sign with FSU that Redmon was the least likely to decommit. Redmon has been committed to FSU since July.

Solomon Thomas-OG

Thomas remains committed to FSU as of this post. I did speak with a source familiar with his recruitment by Florida and they believe there is a chance that former FSU offensive line coach Alex Atkins could be joining the Gators staff in an analyst after the season is over. I have not been able to confirm this via second source, so for now it is more speculative than it is certain. However, the same source was the person who told me that both Tramell Jones and Daniel Pierre Louis would be flipping to Florida before it hit the rumor mill. Atkins was the lead recruiter for Thomas, so his joining the Gators staff would certainly benefit them in helping land Thomas who is also being heavily courted by both LSU and South Carolina.

Byron Louis-RB

I spoke with one of my Rivals counterparts yesterday who says that things might get interesting with Byron Louis over the last three weeks of this recruiting cycle. I spoke another source this morning that indicated he believes that Louis will take an official visit to Florida this weekend. The first source I spoke with believes that Georgia could get back involved with Louis before it is all said and done. The Bulldogs currently already have two RBs committed for this recruiting cycle so it would seem unlikely at this point that he would join the UGA class as the third running back. The source familiar with his Florida recruitment believes the Gators have a good shot at flipping Louis if they do indeed get him on campus for an OV this weekend.


Carter Smith-QB

Smith did take his official visit to Wisconsin this past weekend. The Osceola recruiting team all have FutureCast in for Smith to end up in Tallahassee and nothing has changed in that regard since his visit. In fact, Fish said yesterday on our recruiting pod that he has since Smith's visit to Wisconsin that he is still expected to end up signing with the Seminoles.

Kevin Wynn-DT

Wynn is another FSU commit to keep an eye on. There has been a lot of conversation about Wynn decommitting and flipping to South Carolina. Nick Carlisle said on our podcast yesterday that the Gamecocks are the team to look out for and he believes he will flip to the Gamecocks. One other recruiting service has also predicted the same flip. He was reportedly on the South Carolina campus last weekend for an unofficial visit.