FSU 75 VT 83 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
Jamir Watkins and 26 points. He just about could not miss shooting 7-9 including 3-3 from the three point line and 9-11 from the FT line. He added 6 rebounds as well. And did all of that while dealing with foul trouble.
FSU actually shot the ball well for the most part connecting on 53% of its shots. And something not often seen from this squad, the Seminoles shot 8-18 (44%) from the arc. Dominated the paint as well outscoring VT 30-16.
Plays of the game: Primo Spears with the alley oop pass to Taylor Bol Bowen for the slam tying the game at 22 apiece. Watkins' fake forcing Lynn Kidd to step back giving Watkins a clear three point shot, 32-29. Spears' 3 from the right corner. The amazing thing about that basket is how did Watkins find PJ through all that traffic in the lane, 35-32. Spears circling around and down the lane for the lay up that tied the game at the half. Watkins stealing the inbound baseball pass connecting on the totally wide open slam dunk, 46-49.
The Bad
With the loss, its fourth out of its last five games, FSU's record is now 13-11 overall, 7-6 ACC. Coming into the game, the 'Noles were 4-2 on the road in league play. Make that 4-3. The loss also ends any chance at achieving 21 wins and likely means the Seminoles are playing for an NIT berth. The first half was one of back and forth where the two teams traded the lead eventually ending in a 39-39 tie. A quick 10-2 run by VT to start the 2nd period gave them a working margin they did not relinquish the rest of the game. FSU just could not overtake the Hokies missing several opportunities. 50/50 balls as well seemed to go in favor of VT. Even though FSU was down by just a handful of points, the game had that feel of FSU being down by more and really having to work hard to overcome the deficit.
Once again the 'Noles perimeter defense was exploited. The Hokies average 8.2 three pointers per game. Tonight they shot 11-23 (48%).
FTs. FSU got its share of them, 29 in fact compared to VT's 31 attempts. Unfortunately the 'Noles missed ten. VT missed four.
Turnovers. Usually FSU it is the Seminoles that capitalize off the other team's miscues. Tonight Virginia Tech scored 23 points off the 'Noles' 13 turnovers.
FSU showed its desperation when the 'Noles began intentional fouling with 1:35 remaining and down just seven, 73-66.
A number of poor shot selections and decisions out there tonight i.e. Cameron Corhen to the left of the lane with a defender all over him and then forced an off balance falling away heave at the basket. Or Watkins reaching around to poke the ball away but instead picking up his 4th foul. Which is going to happen 99% of the the time when you reach around like that.
The Ugly (in no particular order)
Jaylen Gainey's FT shooting form. Holy cow, I never noticed how ugly it is. He has an up and then backwards kind of motion after letting go of the ball instead of a follow through. No wonder his average is a miserable 48%.
The two lengthy stretches of zero FGs, one in each half and both lasting around 4:40.
Rebounding way in favor of VT, 35-22.
Tyler Nickel taking the ball through an opening the width of the Holland Tunnel for the uncontested lay up. Not one Seminoles thought of maybe stepping in his way to the rim.
Representative of the missed ops by FSU was reflected in Jalen Warley stealing the ball, going coast to coast but missing the left handed lay up. But wait, it gets better. Fouled on the play, Warley clanged both FTs off the rim. But wait, it gets even better. FSU managed to get the offensive rebound making a play along the baseline towards the basket. Instead of a FG, the 'Noles lost the ball OB.
Spears trying to do too much once again with too much dribbling. Doing a shake and bake, he instead dribbles the ball off his leg and OB.
Up Next
It gets even better. #9 Duke (19-5, 10-3) comes to Tallahassee for a 2 PM tip on Saturday and broadcast on ESPN. The Blue Devils are in second place alone in the ACC after UVa dropped its game tonight with Pitt. Duke is on a three game winning streak after losing to UNC dispatching WF 77-69. And it really wasn't that close of a game. Or it didn't really have that feel of a close game.
The Good
Jamir Watkins and 26 points. He just about could not miss shooting 7-9 including 3-3 from the three point line and 9-11 from the FT line. He added 6 rebounds as well. And did all of that while dealing with foul trouble.
FSU actually shot the ball well for the most part connecting on 53% of its shots. And something not often seen from this squad, the Seminoles shot 8-18 (44%) from the arc. Dominated the paint as well outscoring VT 30-16.
Plays of the game: Primo Spears with the alley oop pass to Taylor Bol Bowen for the slam tying the game at 22 apiece. Watkins' fake forcing Lynn Kidd to step back giving Watkins a clear three point shot, 32-29. Spears' 3 from the right corner. The amazing thing about that basket is how did Watkins find PJ through all that traffic in the lane, 35-32. Spears circling around and down the lane for the lay up that tied the game at the half. Watkins stealing the inbound baseball pass connecting on the totally wide open slam dunk, 46-49.
The Bad
With the loss, its fourth out of its last five games, FSU's record is now 13-11 overall, 7-6 ACC. Coming into the game, the 'Noles were 4-2 on the road in league play. Make that 4-3. The loss also ends any chance at achieving 21 wins and likely means the Seminoles are playing for an NIT berth. The first half was one of back and forth where the two teams traded the lead eventually ending in a 39-39 tie. A quick 10-2 run by VT to start the 2nd period gave them a working margin they did not relinquish the rest of the game. FSU just could not overtake the Hokies missing several opportunities. 50/50 balls as well seemed to go in favor of VT. Even though FSU was down by just a handful of points, the game had that feel of FSU being down by more and really having to work hard to overcome the deficit.
Once again the 'Noles perimeter defense was exploited. The Hokies average 8.2 three pointers per game. Tonight they shot 11-23 (48%).
FTs. FSU got its share of them, 29 in fact compared to VT's 31 attempts. Unfortunately the 'Noles missed ten. VT missed four.
Turnovers. Usually FSU it is the Seminoles that capitalize off the other team's miscues. Tonight Virginia Tech scored 23 points off the 'Noles' 13 turnovers.
FSU showed its desperation when the 'Noles began intentional fouling with 1:35 remaining and down just seven, 73-66.
A number of poor shot selections and decisions out there tonight i.e. Cameron Corhen to the left of the lane with a defender all over him and then forced an off balance falling away heave at the basket. Or Watkins reaching around to poke the ball away but instead picking up his 4th foul. Which is going to happen 99% of the the time when you reach around like that.
The Ugly (in no particular order)
Jaylen Gainey's FT shooting form. Holy cow, I never noticed how ugly it is. He has an up and then backwards kind of motion after letting go of the ball instead of a follow through. No wonder his average is a miserable 48%.
The two lengthy stretches of zero FGs, one in each half and both lasting around 4:40.
Rebounding way in favor of VT, 35-22.
Tyler Nickel taking the ball through an opening the width of the Holland Tunnel for the uncontested lay up. Not one Seminoles thought of maybe stepping in his way to the rim.
Representative of the missed ops by FSU was reflected in Jalen Warley stealing the ball, going coast to coast but missing the left handed lay up. But wait, it gets better. Fouled on the play, Warley clanged both FTs off the rim. But wait, it gets even better. FSU managed to get the offensive rebound making a play along the baseline towards the basket. Instead of a FG, the 'Noles lost the ball OB.
Spears trying to do too much once again with too much dribbling. Doing a shake and bake, he instead dribbles the ball off his leg and OB.
Up Next
It gets even better. #9 Duke (19-5, 10-3) comes to Tallahassee for a 2 PM tip on Saturday and broadcast on ESPN. The Blue Devils are in second place alone in the ACC after UVa dropped its game tonight with Pitt. Duke is on a three game winning streak after losing to UNC dispatching WF 77-69. And it really wasn't that close of a game. Or it didn't really have that feel of a close game.
