FSU 67 ND 58 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
Florida State earned its first road win of the season (1-2) and improves its overall record to 10-6 overall. It was its fourth straight conference win against just one loss.. The ten wins exceeds the nine total wins FSU had in all of last season. The fourth consecutive win matches the four game winning streak FSU had from Jan 8, 2022 to Jan 18, 2022. Coming into the game, FSU was 2-4 at Notre Dame. Make that 3-4.
Once again FSU wins via its defense. Credit the Irish defense in holding the Seminoles to just 67 points. They are very good at controlling tempo holding opponent's offense below its scoring average. Today was no exception. But despite shooting just 39%, the 'Noles's defense executed very well in holding the Irish to just 58 and 42% from the floor. The league leader in steals, FSU grabbed nine and recorded 7 blocked shots led by Baba Miller with three. While there was no updated total on deflections, the Seminoles had active hands in disrupting ND's passing. The Irish were only able to garner 7 assists because of FSU shutting off passing lanes.
A game of numerous runs by each team, FSU was very good at answering a run by the Irish. After a 10-0 run to start the second period, ND made a push with an 8-2 run closing the gap to 43-37. FSU immediately responded with an 8-0 run to lead 51-37 with 10:57 left. An 8-0 run a little over halfway in the period where FSU was scoreless for four minutes through the first period gave ND a 24-20 lead. FSU answered with a 9-0 run at the 3:04 mark to lead 29-24. The 'Noles never trailed again. The Seminole defense was a big factor during that stretch holding ND to no points for over five minutes.
ND takes a lot of threes. And they miss a lot of threes (327th in 3 point %). In the first half it didn't look like the Irish would miss many as ND was 6-12 from the arc at intermission. The second half was a completely different story as ND was 3-14. It would have been worse had it not been for back to back threes by Braeden Shrewsberry to close the score to just three, 61-58.
FT shooting. As the season has progressed, the Seminoles have greatly improved their shooting from the stripe. The 'Noles were 13-15 that included sinking 4 of 4 in the last thirty-three seconds (2 each by Miller and Jamir Watkins) Over this four game winning streak FSU is a combined 68-91 (75%). Currently through all sixteen games, FSU is 69%.
On the flip side ND was awful from the line (which is a good thing) connecting on just 3 of 11 attempts. That's 27% for those scoring at home.
Primo Spears leading the Seminoles with 13 points. Watkins with 12 and Darin Green and Jalen Warley both with 10.
Plays of the game: With ND making a run to trail just 61-58, Spears' jumper with 58 seconds left to lead 63-58 forced ND into rushed threes that they missed and into intentionally fouling. It was Spears second FG in less than a minute. Miller's emphatic blocked shot of J.R. Konieczny. Warley, beaten off the dribble, blocks from behind Shrewsberry's shot attempt in the lane, 29-24. Taylor Bol Bowen's shot off the glass giving FSU a 33-29 halftime lead. Miller's blocked shot that starts a break finished off by Darin Green's open three from the left corner during that 10-0 run to start the second half. Spears with the steal dribbling quickly up the court and dishing off to Warley for the lay in, 48-37. Immediately after that, Chandler Jackson's deflection right underneath the basket to prevent the offensive put back by ND.
The Bad
One of those games I guess, but FSU missed many, many layups. Even Leonard Hamilton commented after the game the numerous close in shots the team missed. That eventually morphed into settling for three point jumpers. Not wise especially since the Seminoles were 4-14 from the arc. And that's where defense comes in and often saves the day.
Appreciate the ability to make them, but ND kept making impossible shots no matter how good the defense was.
Naismith knew what he was doing when he created the game. Thank God the sport is played indoors as temps were at 28 degrees and a wind chill at zeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrooooooo. Oh, and snow piled 20 feet high (a slight exaggeration). Could have been worse I guess. Could have been tomorrow where the high is expected to be 3 (yes, you can count the high on one hand) and a windchill (like it isn't cold enough already) of -6.
The Ugly
The trailer coming back back from commercial to the radio broadcast where the voice kept saying "and now we return Notre Dame, Indiana". Ummm, I know there's a South Bend somewhere around there.
Three pointers. Already mentioned. Bears repeating. FSU 1 of 7 in the first half. That's 14%. Said another way, that's downright ugly.
Bol Bowen with the wide open three point shot from above the key. If I am mentioning it here, you know the outcome of that shot. That would be 2 of 14 on the season. Said another way, that's wasted possessions.
Shrewsberry's back to back threes to make the score 61-58. Color analyst Jacob Ridenour commented, "no one was within 5 feet of him". Noooooooooo, it was more like 10 feet. One of the few (thankfully) defensive breakdowns by FSU in the game.
Also from Ridenour after Warley was hammered on a layup attempt and no whistle, "the referee is missing a good game". Don't they always in every game?
Up Next
At Miami (11-4, 2-2) Wednesday January 17th at 7 PM aired on the ACCN. Not including the game vs VT currently being played (30-29 in favor of VT), Miami is on a two game losing streak. Former FSU player Matthew Cleveland is averaging 16.1 ppg (essentially tied for 2nd on the team) and 5.7 rpg.
The Good
Florida State earned its first road win of the season (1-2) and improves its overall record to 10-6 overall. It was its fourth straight conference win against just one loss.. The ten wins exceeds the nine total wins FSU had in all of last season. The fourth consecutive win matches the four game winning streak FSU had from Jan 8, 2022 to Jan 18, 2022. Coming into the game, FSU was 2-4 at Notre Dame. Make that 3-4.
Once again FSU wins via its defense. Credit the Irish defense in holding the Seminoles to just 67 points. They are very good at controlling tempo holding opponent's offense below its scoring average. Today was no exception. But despite shooting just 39%, the 'Noles's defense executed very well in holding the Irish to just 58 and 42% from the floor. The league leader in steals, FSU grabbed nine and recorded 7 blocked shots led by Baba Miller with three. While there was no updated total on deflections, the Seminoles had active hands in disrupting ND's passing. The Irish were only able to garner 7 assists because of FSU shutting off passing lanes.
A game of numerous runs by each team, FSU was very good at answering a run by the Irish. After a 10-0 run to start the second period, ND made a push with an 8-2 run closing the gap to 43-37. FSU immediately responded with an 8-0 run to lead 51-37 with 10:57 left. An 8-0 run a little over halfway in the period where FSU was scoreless for four minutes through the first period gave ND a 24-20 lead. FSU answered with a 9-0 run at the 3:04 mark to lead 29-24. The 'Noles never trailed again. The Seminole defense was a big factor during that stretch holding ND to no points for over five minutes.
ND takes a lot of threes. And they miss a lot of threes (327th in 3 point %). In the first half it didn't look like the Irish would miss many as ND was 6-12 from the arc at intermission. The second half was a completely different story as ND was 3-14. It would have been worse had it not been for back to back threes by Braeden Shrewsberry to close the score to just three, 61-58.
FT shooting. As the season has progressed, the Seminoles have greatly improved their shooting from the stripe. The 'Noles were 13-15 that included sinking 4 of 4 in the last thirty-three seconds (2 each by Miller and Jamir Watkins) Over this four game winning streak FSU is a combined 68-91 (75%). Currently through all sixteen games, FSU is 69%.
On the flip side ND was awful from the line (which is a good thing) connecting on just 3 of 11 attempts. That's 27% for those scoring at home.
Primo Spears leading the Seminoles with 13 points. Watkins with 12 and Darin Green and Jalen Warley both with 10.
Plays of the game: With ND making a run to trail just 61-58, Spears' jumper with 58 seconds left to lead 63-58 forced ND into rushed threes that they missed and into intentionally fouling. It was Spears second FG in less than a minute. Miller's emphatic blocked shot of J.R. Konieczny. Warley, beaten off the dribble, blocks from behind Shrewsberry's shot attempt in the lane, 29-24. Taylor Bol Bowen's shot off the glass giving FSU a 33-29 halftime lead. Miller's blocked shot that starts a break finished off by Darin Green's open three from the left corner during that 10-0 run to start the second half. Spears with the steal dribbling quickly up the court and dishing off to Warley for the lay in, 48-37. Immediately after that, Chandler Jackson's deflection right underneath the basket to prevent the offensive put back by ND.
The Bad
One of those games I guess, but FSU missed many, many layups. Even Leonard Hamilton commented after the game the numerous close in shots the team missed. That eventually morphed into settling for three point jumpers. Not wise especially since the Seminoles were 4-14 from the arc. And that's where defense comes in and often saves the day.
Appreciate the ability to make them, but ND kept making impossible shots no matter how good the defense was.
Naismith knew what he was doing when he created the game. Thank God the sport is played indoors as temps were at 28 degrees and a wind chill at zeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrooooooo. Oh, and snow piled 20 feet high (a slight exaggeration). Could have been worse I guess. Could have been tomorrow where the high is expected to be 3 (yes, you can count the high on one hand) and a windchill (like it isn't cold enough already) of -6.
The Ugly
The trailer coming back back from commercial to the radio broadcast where the voice kept saying "and now we return Notre Dame, Indiana". Ummm, I know there's a South Bend somewhere around there.
Three pointers. Already mentioned. Bears repeating. FSU 1 of 7 in the first half. That's 14%. Said another way, that's downright ugly.
Bol Bowen with the wide open three point shot from above the key. If I am mentioning it here, you know the outcome of that shot. That would be 2 of 14 on the season. Said another way, that's wasted possessions.
Shrewsberry's back to back threes to make the score 61-58. Color analyst Jacob Ridenour commented, "no one was within 5 feet of him". Noooooooooo, it was more like 10 feet. One of the few (thankfully) defensive breakdowns by FSU in the game.
Also from Ridenour after Warley was hammered on a layup attempt and no whistle, "the referee is missing a good game". Don't they always in every game?
Up Next
At Miami (11-4, 2-2) Wednesday January 17th at 7 PM aired on the ACCN. Not including the game vs VT currently being played (30-29 in favor of VT), Miami is on a two game losing streak. Former FSU player Matthew Cleveland is averaging 16.1 ppg (essentially tied for 2nd on the team) and 5.7 rpg.
