Where does FSU finish in the final rankings? I would say something like this:

1) UM/UW Winner
2) UM/UW Loser
3) Uga
4) FSU
5) UT
6) Bama

Thoughts?

GO NOLES!!!

FSU 77 VT 74 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly


The Good

With the come from behind and hold them off at the end win, FSU improves to 8-6 overall, 2-1 ACC. Virginia Tech came into the game losing 11 of its last 12 games in Tallahassee. Make that 12 of their last 13. But it wasn't easy. FSU trailed by as much as nine, 41-32, with 15:53 to play. A 14-0 run by the Seminoles erased that lead with the 'Noles eventually stretching out the margin to ten, 73-63. It was hold on for dear life after that. With FSU leading by seven and 1:30 left to play, VT ate into the lead while the 'Noles had multiple chances to close out the win from the FT line. Instead FSU was 1-4 at the stripe with Primo Spears missing both FTs and just 13 seconds remaining. FSU led 74-72 at that point. On the ensuing possession Baba Miller picked up his fifth foul against a driving Sean Padulla who was probably trying for the lay up plus the foul. Fortunately he did not make the basket. But Padulla sank both to tie the game with 5.6 seconds on the clock. VT, forced to foul, put the 'Noles at the line. FSU made 3 or 4 with Taylor Bol Bowen purposely missing his second FT in order to run off the final 1.2 seconds.

Faced with the adversity of possibly blowing its third lead of the season (UGA and UNC being the two this season), Leonard Hamilton commented in the post game that he saw confidence in his players. Even though there were mistakes made late in the game on the defensive end, he felt there was no panic in his squad despite the late push by VT.

Tech coming into the game was 5-0 when connecting on 10 or more three point shots. Tonight the Hokies made 11 from the arc. Make that 5-1 on the season.

Better offensive continuity. In the first half the 'Noles on offense looked like they were pressing and trying to do too much. That was reflected in just two assists in the first 20 minutes. That changed in the second period as the 'Noles were playing their pace but doing so more controlled and fluid with their passes often to cutters to the basket. The result was nearly 50 points in the paint and the Seminoles logging 13 assists in that period.

Not to overlook the defense. OK, VT was blistering the nets from inside and out. The Hokies shot 49% from the floor and 11-23 (47%) from the arc. Padulla and Hunter Cattoor combined for 45 points. You expect that from them. They are good shooters. Maybe not that many points as both were well over their season averages. But clearly a big part of the defensive game plan was to stop their leading scorer C Lynn Kidd (16 ppg, 68% avg). Mission accomplished. The trade off saw the Seminole defense shut down passing lanes to the post limiting Kidd to just 1-5 and two points. Key in that was Baba Miller. Although he fouled out late in the game, Miller grabbed 10 boards, dished out 3 assists, scored 8 points, and nabbed 3 steals while doing the bulk of work in the post.

FSU leads ACC in steals at 9.23 per game. The defense was excellent once again in that area logging eight thefts.

The bench coming thru once again with 39 points to just 14 for VT. Reserves Spears, Cameron Corhen, and Justin Gainey each with 11. Starter Darin Green added 10 points.

Plays of the game: Darin Green with multiple threes from the 22 foot plus range. Jalen Warley with the one handed put back tomahawk slam dunk, 27-30. The half court defense on the last VT possession before intermission forcing an off balance low percentage jumper. Trailing 41-32, the 7-0 run punctuated by Corhen's fast break slam dunk. Kidd's back to back turnovers. Miller's missed FT resulting in several ORBs eventually leading to Warley swooping into the lane and the lay up followed by Watkins' slam dunk off a Miller assist giving FSU its first lead since the first half, 50-48. Miller's twisting while falling away from the basket floater during a 14-0 Seminole run. A falling Spears hoists the shot high off the glass plus the foul for a 71-63 lead. Watkins and his coast to coast dribble drive lay up for FSU's largest lead, 73-63.


The Bad

If you have watched ACC basketball for any length of time, you know the name Jamie Luckie. FSU had the misfortune of having him referee in tonight's game. And he did not disappoint. Perhaps the most egregious of his calls was on Warley, his 4th. Padulla twists his ankle and falls to the court. Meanwhile Warley takes a swipe at the ball. Replay showed it was a clean swipe. Oh contraire said Mr. Luckie. Foul on Warley. Or maybe it was Watkins' reverse pivot that our man Luck called carrying the ball. It came at a crucial moment in the final seconds of the game. Fortunately it did not cost FSU in the end.

Memo to Jalen Warley: Please stop fouling three point shooters. Second game in a row you've done that now.

The 10-0 VT run giving the Hokies a 25-17 lead.


The Ugly

From 14:06 to the 8:41 mark of the first with no FGs by the 'Noles.

Padulla lighting up the Seminoles for 26 points. When he went to the bench well into the second period, that prompted radio color analyst Adrian Crawford to comment, "Thank God". That rather summed up how badly the sharp shooter was ripping the Seminole defense.

At one point midway thru the first half, both teams combined for a stellar 0 of 11 from the floor.

FSU three point shooting. In the first half the 'Noles shot an abysmal 1 of 8. It did improve in the second half ......... to 2 of 7. Thankfully FSU shot 54% from inside the arc.

Well, at least there were more fans in the seats than the previous two games. Moving in the right direction I suppose.


Up Next

Florida State finishes its seven game home stand hosting Wake Forest on Tuesday with tip off at 7 PM. The Demon Deacons, 11-3, 3-0, earlier today beat the Miami Hurricanes in overtime, 86-82. Head coach Steve Forbes has pieced together another quality team that boasts four double digit scorers led by Hunter (what is it with all these Hunters ... was there a fire sale on that name 20 some odd years ago?) Solis is tied for fifth in scoring in the ACC at 18.38 ppg. The game will be shown on the ACCN.

The highs and lows of life seem to come in waves, sometimes the swells are huge and spread out, sometimes they are just choppy, rapid fire one after the other

I know this post is probably not welcome by all

I hope it is!

Anyways to those that have been beat up by life’s situations lately, I hope this helps

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After a step in the right direction earlier this week, the Florida State men's basketball team looks to continue its positive momentum Saturday at the Tucker Civic Center. The Seminoles (7-6, 1-1) host the Virginia Tech Hokies (9-4, 1-1) Saturday at 4 p.m. on ACC Network as they look to win their second ACC game of the week and get above .500 in conference play after beating Georgia Tech 82-71 Wednesday night.

Sophomore guard Chandler Jackson broke out in that win over the Yellow Jackets earlier this week, putting up a career-high 14 points. However, it was also as cohesive a team effort as the Seminoles have put on display all season, with all 12 players who saw minutes getting in the scoring column.

FSU leads the all-time series over VT 36-24, but the Hokies have won the last two matchups in the series. The last time these teams faced off in Tallahassee, VT players Hunter Cattoor and Sean Pedulla, both projected starters for Saturday's game, combined to make 15 three-pointers in an 85-74 win, the Hokies' first win at FSU since 1990.

POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUP FOR FLORIDA STATE
F #2 Jamir Watkins (13.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg; First career game against Virginia Tech)
F #5 De’Ante Green (6.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg; 3 pts and 3 rebs against Virginia Tech, March 4, 2023)
F #11 Baba Miller (7.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg; 5 pts and 4 rebs against Virginia Tech, March 4, 2023)
G #1 Jalen Warley (6.8 ppg, 2.4 apg; 7 pts and 6 asts against Virginia Tech, January 29, 2022)
G #22 Darin Green Jr.(12.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg; 10 pts and 3 asts against Virginia Tech, March 4 ,2023)

POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUP FOR VIRGINIA TECH
F #0 Hunter Cattoor (14.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg; 27 pts and 4 rebs against Florida State, January 29, 2022)
F #3 Sean Pedulla (13.0 ppg, 4.2 apg; 25 pts and 2 rebs against Florida State, March 4, 2023)
G #23 Tyler Nickel (8.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg; First career game against Florida State)
G #4 Mekhi Long (4.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg; First career game against Florida State)
G #15 Lynn Kidd (15.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg; 2 pts and 2 rebs against Florida State, March 4, 2023)

As always, the Osceola will be on site at the Tucker Civic Center, providing live updates before and during Saturday's ACC clash.

Ta'Niya Latson scored 30 points, while Makayla Timpson had 13 points and nine rebounds but FSU didn't have enough and lost to No. 3 NC State 88-80 in overtime.

River Baldwin, who began her career at FSU, had 21 points on 10 of 14 shooting and added eight rebounds. The Wolfpack improved to 14-0.

The Seminoles (11-4, 2-1 ACC) shot 38.2 percent from the floor but were only 7 of 32 (21.9 percent) from 3-point range.

Up next

FSU plays at Clemson on Sunday at 4 p.m. (ACC Network)

FSU soccer standout Onyi Echegini has been named this year's MAC Hermann Trophy winner. It's the third time in the last four years that the award, given annually to the best collegiate women's soccer player in the country, has been given to a Seminole.

Is not FSU vs UF. It’s FOX vs ESPN. I know FSU does very little for eyeballs for the SEC, but the Big wants into Florida, does the SEC fight to keep the Big out of Florida ?

Add another defensive end transfer target to the list of prospects who visited Florida State this week.

Michigan State defensive end transfer Zion Young was on FSU’s campus Friday afternoon for a visit which will not carry on into Saturday.

Originally a three-star recruit out of Atlanta Westlake High in the 2022 class, Young is also rated a three-star transfer prospect by Rivals, the No. 188 overall portal prospect in this cycle.

He appeared in 20 games over two seasons at MSU, recording 47 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

FSU is also expected to host Oregon State defensive end transfer Sione Lolohea and West Virginia DE transfer Tomiwa Durojaiye this weekend as it looks to add at least one more edge-rusher through the portal.

Another name to keep an eye on as the portal window comes to a close and classes are set to being next week is that of Alabama wide receiver Malik Benson. There is believed to mutual interest between the 6-1 and 195-pound wide receiver and the Seminoles.

Benson had 13 catches this season for 162 yards. He signed with Hutchinson JUCO out of Lansing (Kan.) High.

We will confirm a visit as soon as we can, but it is very possible that he ends up on campus this weekend or next week.

Would be concerning if he decided to go play close to his brother. He’s got a live arm.

Congratulations Joe! You deserved it!!! Thank You for all you've done for our wonderful university! Be blessed in Italy!!

Former FSU quarterback Jordan Travis will begin his NFL Draft process with interviews later this month at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas.

Charlotte transfer LB Nikhai Hill-Green has concluded his official visit with FSU and like
Thompson did not want to talk about his visit.

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GO NOLES!!!

How do we as a society allow the University of Michigan to participate in the playoffs considering the coach was suspended the first and last 3 games of the regular season for cheating. What message does this send to the kids participating in the sport.

I don't need to hear about due process and that the case has to be further investigated and then go to a hearing. The fact of the matter is there is enough reasonable suspicion/ probable cause to warrant Michigan not getting in.

I was torn last night as I obviously didn't want to see Bama win as I feel as though they took our spot. I didn't want to see Michigan win,,,,,,,well because its Michigan and they cheated.

Go Washington. Beat the cheating wolverines!!!!!

has received any real interest from any other teams yet?

Syracuse transfer LB Stefon Thompson just exited the Moore Center and said he is headed to Nebraska for an official visit. He declined to commit on his visit with FSU.

The NCAA and ESPN announced on Thursday a $920 million, eight-year agreement that will give the network exclusive rights to 40 championships, including the Division I women’s basketball tournament, an event growing in popularity that the association has been accused of undervaluing in the past.

NCAA President Charlie Baker told The Associated Press the deal has an average annual value of $115 million, an increase of more than 300% per year on what the previous 14-year deal with ESPN was paying the association.

“Yes, it’s a bundle, but it’s a bigger bundle and it’s a bigger bundle that will be much better,” Baker said.

The deal covers 21 women’s and 19 men’s sports, adding tennis, track and field, men’s gymnastics, the women’s Division II and III volleyball and basketball championships and the men’s DII and DIII basketball championships.

Read more in link below.

NCAA and ESPN Deal

A second member of FSU's 2023 signing class has entered the transfer portal, this time freshman wide receiver Goldie Lawrence.

Among the new laws in Florida as of January 1 is the “Move Over” law which means motorists can no longer just sit in the left lane cruising along at 70 mph (if that).
It’s not really awful on the Interstates unless one truck is trying to pass another doing 70 and they’re trying to pass going 71, but is more common on local highways and is a royal pain.
We’ll see how effective it is.

For me it will be to successfully and consistantly pronounce Uiagalelei and Kromenhoek.

By far.

DJ comes in at 11th

Now I don’t do the whole bash kids thing bc that’s not who I am. I respect whatever decision you made and why you made it. But for you to say “You’re glad you’re not over there on that team now bc there would have been problems!!”
That just amazes me how these kids troll a team that was once your dream school so you say!! That put a sour taste in my mouth. And if I was Coach I would hang that 63-3 in the locker room the entire season and express the disrespect that everyone had for you to turn it into something to fuel their fire to make them want to drag anyone that they come in contact with.
Just curious to what some of you think about that??