FSU 63 Clemson 74 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
Baba Miller who had a nice game offensively (changed some shots on defense too) with 12 points on 5 of 8 from the floor including 2 of 3 from the arc. Miller added 6 boards as well.
Jamir Watkins leading the Seminoles with 18 points and 8 rebounds.
Primo Spears who made it back to the floor after missing one game and was essentially the bench scoring 16 points. Jaylen Gainey was the only other reserve to score with just two points.
Leonard Hamilton switching up his defenses in particular to a matchup zone that brought the Seminoles to within five, 58-53, with 6:05 to play. FSU had trailed by as many as sixteen, 53-37, before Hamilton began changing up his defense that help send the 'Noles on a 9-0 run. Clemson has a number of games this season where the Tigers have given away leads. Unfortunately it was not to be in this game as the margin proved to be too much for FSU to overcome.
Plays of the game: Spears with the steal going coast to coast for the fast break lay up, 26-30. Miller with a spin move into the lane for the slam dunk, 30-38. Jalen Warley with the alley oop to Jaylen Gainey and the slam dunk, 35-45. Watkins drive in for the lay up off the glass, 57-63.
The Bad
After being swept in the season series, FSU falls to 14-13 overall, 8-8 ACC. Coming into the game, FSU had lost to Clemson three straight games. Make that four straight. The 'Noles have not won at LIttlejohn (not to be confused with Robin Hood) since early 2019 and have beaten the Tigers just twice in the last nine games.
FSU led 9-8 with 14:16 remaining in the first half. It was the last lead the 'Noles would have.
Chandler Jackson could not follow up on his performance against Boston College shooting Oh for five.
Clemson's FT prowess. The Tigers who are known as a physical team shot 24-30 (80%) from the charity stripe including Joseph Girard (game high 24 pts) who was 10-10 and now has converted 50 straight freebies. FSU was 11-15 (73%) and unable to draw fouls especially in the first 12 minutes of the game.
With two fouls on PJ Hall early in the first half, a lot of Clemson's defense in the paint was on the bench. So what did FSU do? They launched seven three pointers instead of attacking the rim. OK, I know that Clemson had nine blocked shots in the game and Hall is not the only eraser back there. But just to jack up threes (btw, FSU made just one of those attempts) is just not smart basketball.
The Ugly
The beginning of the game was a mess with FSU committing four straight turnovers. And when they were not turning the ball over, they were missing shots. The offset was Clemson had as many miscues albeit not consecutive and the Seminoles found themselves behind by only five points.
If you are looking for a good example of game management, this would NOT be it. Miller gets the defensive rebound with 34 second left in the half. Spears brings the ball up. You would think leaving as little time on the clock as possible would be a high priority. Apparently not for Spears as he jacked up a jumper with 13 seconds on the clock. With more than enough time left, Chase Hunter gets left unguarded and promptly nails a three pointer at the buzzer giving the Tigers a 38-28 lead to the locker room.
And speaking of Chase Hunter, the Red Sea did not part as wide as the Seminole defense did for Hunter as he drove easily to the rim for the slam dunk to give CU a 60-53 lead.
Here's a surprise, the 'Noles shot 4-19 (21%) from the arc. They almost never shoot that poorly from back there.
Primo with a beautiful cross court pass that was snagged by ............. Brad Brownell. Somehow I do not think that was the intended target.
And just when you wanted and needed Primo to take the shot, he turned down the lay up and kicked it out to Chauncey Wiggins. BTW, Wiggins is not a member of the FSU team.
Apparently Watkins and Hall were having a bit of a back and forth all game long as evidenced by the scrum late in the game when Hall elbowed Watkins and Watkins reciprocated by pushing Hall in the back. Both picked up technical fouls. What Hall won't be picking up is an Academy Award for that acting job he did after Jamir pushed him.
Up Next
FSU returns home to take on NC State on Tuesday at 9 PM (don't these schedule makers know people go to work the next day??) The game will be broadcast on The Deuce. The Wolfpack (17-10, 9-7) are 3-3 over their last six games most recently beating Boston College earlier today 81-70. NC State is led by D.J. Horne with 17.3 ppg and is 44% from behind the arc.
The Good
Baba Miller who had a nice game offensively (changed some shots on defense too) with 12 points on 5 of 8 from the floor including 2 of 3 from the arc. Miller added 6 boards as well.
Jamir Watkins leading the Seminoles with 18 points and 8 rebounds.
Primo Spears who made it back to the floor after missing one game and was essentially the bench scoring 16 points. Jaylen Gainey was the only other reserve to score with just two points.
Leonard Hamilton switching up his defenses in particular to a matchup zone that brought the Seminoles to within five, 58-53, with 6:05 to play. FSU had trailed by as many as sixteen, 53-37, before Hamilton began changing up his defense that help send the 'Noles on a 9-0 run. Clemson has a number of games this season where the Tigers have given away leads. Unfortunately it was not to be in this game as the margin proved to be too much for FSU to overcome.
Plays of the game: Spears with the steal going coast to coast for the fast break lay up, 26-30. Miller with a spin move into the lane for the slam dunk, 30-38. Jalen Warley with the alley oop to Jaylen Gainey and the slam dunk, 35-45. Watkins drive in for the lay up off the glass, 57-63.
The Bad
After being swept in the season series, FSU falls to 14-13 overall, 8-8 ACC. Coming into the game, FSU had lost to Clemson three straight games. Make that four straight. The 'Noles have not won at LIttlejohn (not to be confused with Robin Hood) since early 2019 and have beaten the Tigers just twice in the last nine games.
FSU led 9-8 with 14:16 remaining in the first half. It was the last lead the 'Noles would have.
Chandler Jackson could not follow up on his performance against Boston College shooting Oh for five.
Clemson's FT prowess. The Tigers who are known as a physical team shot 24-30 (80%) from the charity stripe including Joseph Girard (game high 24 pts) who was 10-10 and now has converted 50 straight freebies. FSU was 11-15 (73%) and unable to draw fouls especially in the first 12 minutes of the game.
With two fouls on PJ Hall early in the first half, a lot of Clemson's defense in the paint was on the bench. So what did FSU do? They launched seven three pointers instead of attacking the rim. OK, I know that Clemson had nine blocked shots in the game and Hall is not the only eraser back there. But just to jack up threes (btw, FSU made just one of those attempts) is just not smart basketball.
The Ugly
The beginning of the game was a mess with FSU committing four straight turnovers. And when they were not turning the ball over, they were missing shots. The offset was Clemson had as many miscues albeit not consecutive and the Seminoles found themselves behind by only five points.
If you are looking for a good example of game management, this would NOT be it. Miller gets the defensive rebound with 34 second left in the half. Spears brings the ball up. You would think leaving as little time on the clock as possible would be a high priority. Apparently not for Spears as he jacked up a jumper with 13 seconds on the clock. With more than enough time left, Chase Hunter gets left unguarded and promptly nails a three pointer at the buzzer giving the Tigers a 38-28 lead to the locker room.
And speaking of Chase Hunter, the Red Sea did not part as wide as the Seminole defense did for Hunter as he drove easily to the rim for the slam dunk to give CU a 60-53 lead.
Here's a surprise, the 'Noles shot 4-19 (21%) from the arc. They almost never shoot that poorly from back there.
Primo with a beautiful cross court pass that was snagged by ............. Brad Brownell. Somehow I do not think that was the intended target.
And just when you wanted and needed Primo to take the shot, he turned down the lay up and kicked it out to Chauncey Wiggins. BTW, Wiggins is not a member of the FSU team.
Apparently Watkins and Hall were having a bit of a back and forth all game long as evidenced by the scrum late in the game when Hall elbowed Watkins and Watkins reciprocated by pushing Hall in the back. Both picked up technical fouls. What Hall won't be picking up is an Academy Award for that acting job he did after Jamir pushed him.
Up Next
FSU returns home to take on NC State on Tuesday at 9 PM (don't these schedule makers know people go to work the next day??) The game will be broadcast on The Deuce. The Wolfpack (17-10, 9-7) are 3-3 over their last six games most recently beating Boston College earlier today 81-70. NC State is led by D.J. Horne with 17.3 ppg and is 44% from behind the arc.
