FSU 67 ND 60 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
Ending a four game losing streak, FSU improves to 14-9 overall and 5-7 ACC overtaking the Irish for 11th place in the conference standings. Not exactly a crisply played game (18 turnovers for FSU, 16 for Notre Dame), FSU made more plays down the stretch while Notre Dame missed several point blank shots. An active defense in the paint by the Seminoles might have had a little to do with that. And the 'Noles were able to play tough around the rim without sending ND to the stripe. That was key as it is my opinion that it was FTs that won this game for FSU. The Seminoles were 16 of 19 from the stripe while the Irish were a poor 6 of 13. That offset the differential in the three point category (more on that later).
An energetic response to the debacle at Boston College. It looked a little shaky there for a moment when ND held a 17-7 lead early on. FSU answered with a 22-2 run over the span of nearly nine minutes. OK, ND made a 9-0 run of its own to trail by just one, 29-28, at the break. That happens. Runs by each team are a part of basketball. So that the Irish made a push was not concerning to me. FSU was still playing hard.
And the 'Noles answered. Or specifically Jamir Watkins who scored on three straight three pointers giving FSU a 43-34 lead with 15:18 to play. Of course ND again made a run of its own actually taking a brief one point lead, 47-46, before FSU took it back seconds later. ND never led again. But they did not go away either. And you expect that when playing conference foes. Again, FSU answered the charge mostly with their defense. The focus all game was putting pressure on Marcus Burton. With not much success stopping him for the majority of the game, the Seminoles were finally able to wear him down enough and get the ball out of his hands forcing other Irish players to beat them. Didn't happen.
Players of the game: Easy choices once again as it usually is for FSU. Watkins with 21 pts, 8 boards, and 3 assists. Malique Ewin who gave ND post players fits with his variety of offensive skills recording a double double 18 pts and 10 rebounds. We will give a nod to AJ Swinton with 9 who was 5-6 in charity shots. He got the start due to Taylor Bol Bowen being out with the head injury, Also out was Jerry Deng with the ankle (where is that game Operation where you take out the wrenched ankle when you need it?). So FSU was playing with a shorter bench and roles being adjusted. FSU successfully handled that.
Plays of the game: Ewin showing his ability to put it on the floor from above the key using the screen along the lane and the open lay up, 7-12. Ewin returns the favor setting a nice screen for Christian Nitu's lay up, 11-17. The FSU defense not allowing any points by ND for 7:09 while FSU was on a 22-2 run. Swinton cutting in front of the pass to above the key and going all alone to the other end for the slam, 27-19. Watkins' pass through traffic that unfortunately Ewin was unable to handle. But it was a great pass. Watkins showing more of his defensive abilities in drawing two charges. You don't get those called a whole lot these days what with the rules changes. A near ND turnover with the ball in the backcourt, FSU was short handed on defense with just four. Chandler Jackson's deflection OB ended that Irish advantage. Ewin feeling the contact flips the ball up and in plus the foul, 52-47. Ewin's twisting reverse lay up beating the ND zone plus the foul again, 63-57, and just 49 seconds left. FSU finishes off ND breaking the press with the ball eventually finding Justin Thomas for the wide open slam dunk, 67-60.
If I am announcer, I am glad I only had to pronounce Nikita Konstantynovsky's name once for his one lone rebound in the game.
The Bad
Watkins with 5 turnovers in the game. One that stands out was the very weak pass to the post that was easily tapped away. We will cut him some slack though as he had a huge defensive assignment in defending Marcus Burton.
And speaking of Marcus Burton, the prediction by the color analyst that FSU's length would hold down Burton. (Insert buzzer sound here.) Nope, did not happen as he scored 25 points (five above his average) on 45% shooting. His most impressive play was his crossover between two defenders in weaving his way to a lay up from the right.
And speaking of Burton again, the defense leaving him all alone above the key for the totally uncontested three to make it 29-27 was a huge breakdown by FSU. Somebody really messed up on that one as he never should have been roaming the floor all alone at any time during the game.
Memo to Dequan Davis: Skip passes over the top to the other side of the floor are often picked off when there is no velocity on the ball. As you found out as your pass was intercepted. Dequan did make up for it though as on that ND possession, Davis blocked the shot and the Irish got nothing out of the theft.
The zone defense that caused a nearly five minute scoring drought. Davis' jumper ended the drought, 58-55. Notre Dame using the zone for extended minutes was something FSU had not seen a lot of this season. So credit ND for making a little tougher on the FSU offense.
The Ugly
But they shoot well in practice Part 37. At the half ......... OH!!! and 7 from three point land (or desert as often is the case for the Seminoles). Had it not been for Watkins three straight in the second period, it would have been zippo (not a Marx Brother) for the game as FSU finished 3-13. ND conversely was 8 of 22 thus making FT conversions by the 'Noles very important.
Notre Dame exploiting the Seminoles' weakness on the boards. In particular the offensive ones where ND collected 16 of them to FSU's just 6. Had ND converted more second chance points (17-12), the ending possibly could have been different.
Up Next
FSU gets a week off from games and will not return until next Wednesday when they travel to Wake Forest for a 7 PM tip. The game will be broadcast on the Duece (not to be confused with Duce Robinson). When we last saw the Demon Deacons, (16-6, 8-3) they were squeaking by Pitt 76-74 and are at Stanford tonight with tip at 11 PM EST. I am sure we will all be staying up to watch that one. Of significance is Wake's 11-1 home record with the one home loss to some team named Duke.
The Good
Ending a four game losing streak, FSU improves to 14-9 overall and 5-7 ACC overtaking the Irish for 11th place in the conference standings. Not exactly a crisply played game (18 turnovers for FSU, 16 for Notre Dame), FSU made more plays down the stretch while Notre Dame missed several point blank shots. An active defense in the paint by the Seminoles might have had a little to do with that. And the 'Noles were able to play tough around the rim without sending ND to the stripe. That was key as it is my opinion that it was FTs that won this game for FSU. The Seminoles were 16 of 19 from the stripe while the Irish were a poor 6 of 13. That offset the differential in the three point category (more on that later).
An energetic response to the debacle at Boston College. It looked a little shaky there for a moment when ND held a 17-7 lead early on. FSU answered with a 22-2 run over the span of nearly nine minutes. OK, ND made a 9-0 run of its own to trail by just one, 29-28, at the break. That happens. Runs by each team are a part of basketball. So that the Irish made a push was not concerning to me. FSU was still playing hard.
And the 'Noles answered. Or specifically Jamir Watkins who scored on three straight three pointers giving FSU a 43-34 lead with 15:18 to play. Of course ND again made a run of its own actually taking a brief one point lead, 47-46, before FSU took it back seconds later. ND never led again. But they did not go away either. And you expect that when playing conference foes. Again, FSU answered the charge mostly with their defense. The focus all game was putting pressure on Marcus Burton. With not much success stopping him for the majority of the game, the Seminoles were finally able to wear him down enough and get the ball out of his hands forcing other Irish players to beat them. Didn't happen.
Players of the game: Easy choices once again as it usually is for FSU. Watkins with 21 pts, 8 boards, and 3 assists. Malique Ewin who gave ND post players fits with his variety of offensive skills recording a double double 18 pts and 10 rebounds. We will give a nod to AJ Swinton with 9 who was 5-6 in charity shots. He got the start due to Taylor Bol Bowen being out with the head injury, Also out was Jerry Deng with the ankle (where is that game Operation where you take out the wrenched ankle when you need it?). So FSU was playing with a shorter bench and roles being adjusted. FSU successfully handled that.
Plays of the game: Ewin showing his ability to put it on the floor from above the key using the screen along the lane and the open lay up, 7-12. Ewin returns the favor setting a nice screen for Christian Nitu's lay up, 11-17. The FSU defense not allowing any points by ND for 7:09 while FSU was on a 22-2 run. Swinton cutting in front of the pass to above the key and going all alone to the other end for the slam, 27-19. Watkins' pass through traffic that unfortunately Ewin was unable to handle. But it was a great pass. Watkins showing more of his defensive abilities in drawing two charges. You don't get those called a whole lot these days what with the rules changes. A near ND turnover with the ball in the backcourt, FSU was short handed on defense with just four. Chandler Jackson's deflection OB ended that Irish advantage. Ewin feeling the contact flips the ball up and in plus the foul, 52-47. Ewin's twisting reverse lay up beating the ND zone plus the foul again, 63-57, and just 49 seconds left. FSU finishes off ND breaking the press with the ball eventually finding Justin Thomas for the wide open slam dunk, 67-60.
If I am announcer, I am glad I only had to pronounce Nikita Konstantynovsky's name once for his one lone rebound in the game.
The Bad
Watkins with 5 turnovers in the game. One that stands out was the very weak pass to the post that was easily tapped away. We will cut him some slack though as he had a huge defensive assignment in defending Marcus Burton.
And speaking of Marcus Burton, the prediction by the color analyst that FSU's length would hold down Burton. (Insert buzzer sound here.) Nope, did not happen as he scored 25 points (five above his average) on 45% shooting. His most impressive play was his crossover between two defenders in weaving his way to a lay up from the right.
And speaking of Burton again, the defense leaving him all alone above the key for the totally uncontested three to make it 29-27 was a huge breakdown by FSU. Somebody really messed up on that one as he never should have been roaming the floor all alone at any time during the game.
Memo to Dequan Davis: Skip passes over the top to the other side of the floor are often picked off when there is no velocity on the ball. As you found out as your pass was intercepted. Dequan did make up for it though as on that ND possession, Davis blocked the shot and the Irish got nothing out of the theft.
The zone defense that caused a nearly five minute scoring drought. Davis' jumper ended the drought, 58-55. Notre Dame using the zone for extended minutes was something FSU had not seen a lot of this season. So credit ND for making a little tougher on the FSU offense.
The Ugly
But they shoot well in practice Part 37. At the half ......... OH!!! and 7 from three point land (or desert as often is the case for the Seminoles). Had it not been for Watkins three straight in the second period, it would have been zippo (not a Marx Brother) for the game as FSU finished 3-13. ND conversely was 8 of 22 thus making FT conversions by the 'Noles very important.
Notre Dame exploiting the Seminoles' weakness on the boards. In particular the offensive ones where ND collected 16 of them to FSU's just 6. Had ND converted more second chance points (17-12), the ending possibly could have been different.
Up Next
FSU gets a week off from games and will not return until next Wednesday when they travel to Wake Forest for a 7 PM tip. The game will be broadcast on the Duece (not to be confused with Duce Robinson). When we last saw the Demon Deacons, (16-6, 8-3) they were squeaking by Pitt 76-74 and are at Stanford tonight with tip at 11 PM EST. I am sure we will all be staying up to watch that one. Of significance is Wake's 11-1 home record with the one home loss to some team named Duke.
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