FSU 75 LSU 85 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
Malique Ewin with a team high 17 points (7-14 from the floor) AND 17 rebounds , 11 of those on the offensive end. Malique was able to work his way to the rim resulting in numerous point blank shots aka slam dunks. LSU really had no answer for him other than to send him to the FT line.
Jamir Watkins. Coming into the game Watkins scored in double digits in 28 of his last 30 games. Make that 29 of his last 31 as he poured in 15 (along with 7 boards). Most were in the second half. Unfortunately he did not get enough help in scoring.
Chandler Jackson and Jerry Deng who had 12 and 11 points respectively. Jackson was also 50% from the floor (5-10) and Deng was 3-5 from the arc. Back to back threes by Deng made the score 74-68 with plenty of time remaining (2:27).
A close contest really throughout the game, but especially in the first half where FSU led by as many as seven, 30-23 and 33-26, taking a 35-32 led at the intermission. The Seminoles appeared to be playing well enough to get an important Quad I win in the NET rankings. In the second period, the 'Noles pulled within four points, 54-50. Even in the final minutes FSU was in range and maybe could have pulled out the win if they could have gotten a couple of defensive stops. FYI, FSU was 67th and LSU 50th coming into the game in the NET rankings. So obviously a W on the road would have been a big plus in FSU's possible NCAA tournament resume.
Plays of the game: The Seminole defensive switching defensive very well as the Tigers moved the ball around the floor but could not get in position for a clear shot and was stopped on every penetration attempt. It resulted in a shot clock violation, 13-15. Justin Thomas with the Euro step as the Tiger D parted like the Red Sea for the easy lay up, Ewin finding Deng on the back door cut to the rim and the lay up, 62-56. Thomas and the running floater, 66-59.
The Bad
Despite staying close enough, the second half was not a display of FSU's best effort. Just minutes into the final period, LSU ran off a 10-0 run taking a lead they would not relinquish. After the Tigers had run off 8 straight points, Leonard Hamilton had to call a timeout just 1:54 into the period. The 'Noles committed two turnovers in that span. So obviously Hamilton had to settle the team down.
LSU adjustments. FSU's defense did a good job on defense in the first period holding the Tigers to 37% from the floor and even better at the arc, 2-8, 25%) According to Hamilton LSU made the simple adjustment of backing up just a step. That made close outs a little late getting to the shooter who now had better looks at the basket. That resulted in 6-13 threes in the final twenty minutes. That opened up the interior offense giving LSU easier routes to the rim. That added up to 57% shooting in the second half for the Tigers.
FSUs offense. Not a good job at all for the Seminoles in sharing the ball (just 10 assists). All too often FSU took shots after just one pass (Hamilton would prefer Norman Dale's philosophy of at least four) and sometimes with no pass as Hamilton noted after the game. There was just no flow to the Seminole offense.
FT shooting. Another less than stellar performance from the charity stripe connecting on just 13-22 (59%). Notable, for all those trips to the line, Ewin was just 3-8. It is easy to see why FSU is dead last in the ACC in FT shooting.
For all those offensive rebounds FSU collected which I am sure pleased Hamilton, FSU did not cash in on them scoring just 14 second chance points.
What it came down to was LSU was able to make baskets. FSU was not. It is somewhat amazing to me that the offense struggled a lot and yet the Seminoles were in range. But the Tigers outscored the 'Noles 11-5 over that last 2:27.
FSU defense. I did not get the final number of deflections, but it was far under what Hamilton wants from his team. This was just not a team as active and aggressive as we have seen in prior games. Switching was slow. That is reflected in the number of steals FSU had, just 5, from one of the country's best teams in that category. It was LSU actually that played FSU's usual defensive game recording 9 steals. And not an especially good team at taking care of the ball averaging 14 turnovers per game, the Seminole defense forced only 11 miscues.
The referee calling a foul on the team in "red". Pardon me being nit picky, but it is garnet, not red.
The Ugly
The third foul called on Jackson. Hey ref!!! He was diving for a loose ball. So was the LSU player that lost control of the ball. No way was that Jackson taking his legs out. What a completely bogus call that was.
But Dequan Davis gets a bloody nose thanks to a stray elbow and no call whatsoever. Thank goodness Hamilton did not pick of a "T" while lobbying to the refs to make the call. I mean Davis was standing right there clearly with a towel over his nose.
Pardon me while I take a pause here as the refs go to the table for yet another review of a play. Ten times they did that!!! If they can't keep up with the live action and make calls on the spot, get some refs that can. Man, these constant reviews just kill the flow of games.
Just when a turnover was the last thing FSU needed, Watkins with a telegraphed bounce pass that was picked off by Cam Carter resulting in a fast break slam dunk and a 78-70 LSU lead.
1-9 as in the ACC won just one of the ten games played last night in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Several were blowouts. Miami's basketball team managed to impersonate their football team choking away a late lead. Not much of a challenge so far by the ACC if you ask me. The SEC has already won the dadgum thing as there are only six games left to play.
Up Next
After its first true road trip, FSU stays on the road taking on NC State on Saturday at 4:00 PM and televised on The U (the TV channel, not a certain school in south east Florida). NCS started the season 5-0, But when they had to face real teams, the Pack lost two straight losing to #13 Purdue and BYU. If you want an early look at them, they take on Texas (6-1) tonight at 9:15 PM. The Pack IMO are not the same team that won the ACCT last season and made it to the Final Four as well.
The Good
Malique Ewin with a team high 17 points (7-14 from the floor) AND 17 rebounds , 11 of those on the offensive end. Malique was able to work his way to the rim resulting in numerous point blank shots aka slam dunks. LSU really had no answer for him other than to send him to the FT line.
Jamir Watkins. Coming into the game Watkins scored in double digits in 28 of his last 30 games. Make that 29 of his last 31 as he poured in 15 (along with 7 boards). Most were in the second half. Unfortunately he did not get enough help in scoring.
Chandler Jackson and Jerry Deng who had 12 and 11 points respectively. Jackson was also 50% from the floor (5-10) and Deng was 3-5 from the arc. Back to back threes by Deng made the score 74-68 with plenty of time remaining (2:27).
A close contest really throughout the game, but especially in the first half where FSU led by as many as seven, 30-23 and 33-26, taking a 35-32 led at the intermission. The Seminoles appeared to be playing well enough to get an important Quad I win in the NET rankings. In the second period, the 'Noles pulled within four points, 54-50. Even in the final minutes FSU was in range and maybe could have pulled out the win if they could have gotten a couple of defensive stops. FYI, FSU was 67th and LSU 50th coming into the game in the NET rankings. So obviously a W on the road would have been a big plus in FSU's possible NCAA tournament resume.
Plays of the game: The Seminole defensive switching defensive very well as the Tigers moved the ball around the floor but could not get in position for a clear shot and was stopped on every penetration attempt. It resulted in a shot clock violation, 13-15. Justin Thomas with the Euro step as the Tiger D parted like the Red Sea for the easy lay up, Ewin finding Deng on the back door cut to the rim and the lay up, 62-56. Thomas and the running floater, 66-59.
The Bad
Despite staying close enough, the second half was not a display of FSU's best effort. Just minutes into the final period, LSU ran off a 10-0 run taking a lead they would not relinquish. After the Tigers had run off 8 straight points, Leonard Hamilton had to call a timeout just 1:54 into the period. The 'Noles committed two turnovers in that span. So obviously Hamilton had to settle the team down.
LSU adjustments. FSU's defense did a good job on defense in the first period holding the Tigers to 37% from the floor and even better at the arc, 2-8, 25%) According to Hamilton LSU made the simple adjustment of backing up just a step. That made close outs a little late getting to the shooter who now had better looks at the basket. That resulted in 6-13 threes in the final twenty minutes. That opened up the interior offense giving LSU easier routes to the rim. That added up to 57% shooting in the second half for the Tigers.
FSUs offense. Not a good job at all for the Seminoles in sharing the ball (just 10 assists). All too often FSU took shots after just one pass (Hamilton would prefer Norman Dale's philosophy of at least four) and sometimes with no pass as Hamilton noted after the game. There was just no flow to the Seminole offense.
FT shooting. Another less than stellar performance from the charity stripe connecting on just 13-22 (59%). Notable, for all those trips to the line, Ewin was just 3-8. It is easy to see why FSU is dead last in the ACC in FT shooting.
For all those offensive rebounds FSU collected which I am sure pleased Hamilton, FSU did not cash in on them scoring just 14 second chance points.
What it came down to was LSU was able to make baskets. FSU was not. It is somewhat amazing to me that the offense struggled a lot and yet the Seminoles were in range. But the Tigers outscored the 'Noles 11-5 over that last 2:27.
FSU defense. I did not get the final number of deflections, but it was far under what Hamilton wants from his team. This was just not a team as active and aggressive as we have seen in prior games. Switching was slow. That is reflected in the number of steals FSU had, just 5, from one of the country's best teams in that category. It was LSU actually that played FSU's usual defensive game recording 9 steals. And not an especially good team at taking care of the ball averaging 14 turnovers per game, the Seminole defense forced only 11 miscues.
The referee calling a foul on the team in "red". Pardon me being nit picky, but it is garnet, not red.
The Ugly
The third foul called on Jackson. Hey ref!!! He was diving for a loose ball. So was the LSU player that lost control of the ball. No way was that Jackson taking his legs out. What a completely bogus call that was.
But Dequan Davis gets a bloody nose thanks to a stray elbow and no call whatsoever. Thank goodness Hamilton did not pick of a "T" while lobbying to the refs to make the call. I mean Davis was standing right there clearly with a towel over his nose.
Pardon me while I take a pause here as the refs go to the table for yet another review of a play. Ten times they did that!!! If they can't keep up with the live action and make calls on the spot, get some refs that can. Man, these constant reviews just kill the flow of games.
Just when a turnover was the last thing FSU needed, Watkins with a telegraphed bounce pass that was picked off by Cam Carter resulting in a fast break slam dunk and a 78-70 LSU lead.
1-9 as in the ACC won just one of the ten games played last night in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Several were blowouts. Miami's basketball team managed to impersonate their football team choking away a late lead. Not much of a challenge so far by the ACC if you ask me. The SEC has already won the dadgum thing as there are only six games left to play.
Up Next
After its first true road trip, FSU stays on the road taking on NC State on Saturday at 4:00 PM and televised on The U (the TV channel, not a certain school in south east Florida). NCS started the season 5-0, But when they had to face real teams, the Pack lost two straight losing to #13 Purdue and BYU. If you want an early look at them, they take on Texas (6-1) tonight at 9:15 PM. The Pack IMO are not the same team that won the ACCT last season and made it to the Final Four as well.
