FSU 76 GT 85 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
Well, at least FSU led in the game. (This is one of those games where you look for something, anything that was a positive.) A Primo Spears layup gave the 'Noles a 37-36 lead. Nine seconds later GT took the lead back from a Nathan George three pointer. But hey, FSU took another lead shortly after with a Spears lay up, 41-39. For a total of 6 seconds when game high scorer Kyle Sturdivant nailed a three pointer.
Jamir Watkins with his 15th consecutive game in double figures and his 24th this season.
Three others (Baba Miller, Cam Corhen, and Spears) also were double figures. Other than Corhen, many of those points came when it was pretty clear GT was going to win the game.
Despite less than stellar play, especially on defense, the Seminoles were down by just three points at the half. You had hope that the second half see better play from the 'Noles. They were certainly in the game at that point.
Some of the better plays for FSU: Watkins with the steal early in the game at the time line and races to the rim for the one handed slam dunk, 6-11. Watkins again driving around the lane from the FT line and the lay up, 12-17. Corhen with the blocked shot that quickly led to a Darin Green three, 20-21. Miller's reverse lay up to tie the game at 39 apiece. Spears' steal in the left corner taking it the distance for the lay up, 41-39. Watkins still out there fighting when he dove to the floor and wrestled the ball away. On his back, he found Spears racing to the lane for the lay up, 83-71. Unfortunately there was only 1:42 left in the game. Miles Kelly with the crisp pass to the right wing in front of the GT bench. UNFORTUNATELY, his teammate at that moment started to cut to the basket. DOH!!!
The Bad
FSU drops to 15-14, 9-9 and gives GT its first back to back conference win of the season. It also continues a five year steak of losing on the road to the Yellow Jackets.
Leonard Hamilton summed the game up in one brief sentence. "We did not have our usual five minute dip, we started out dipping."
Perhaps this should be in The Ugly part of this diatribe, but Hamilton having to say the coaching staff needs to find a way to motivate the players is very troubling. The Seminoles were just one game out from securing the coveted double bye in the ACC tournament. A winning record for the season was on the line. Post season play as well even if it is the NIT. Apparently none of that was motivation enough because the team poorly. Less than poorly IMO.
Coming into the game, FSU needed to win the rebound battle. FSU 33; GT 55. Consider the execution of that game plan point as an epic failure. As Hamilton said post game, he could not remember being outrebounded like that in any game in his years as a head coach.
For FSU, basically it was a first half where defense was optional as Tech shot 53% from the floor. Still FSU was not that bad offensively shooting 46%. The second half saw the FSU offense select the optional choice. Forget the late "flurry" that made it seem more respectable than it was. Late in the second half, the Seminoles had a total of five FGs. Come to think of it, maybe this should be in The Ugly as well.
It was mentioned in the pregame show that Stan Jones was concerned with the early start and how the team would play. His concerns were warranted.
The Ugly
The beginning of the second for both teams was a demonstration of the many ways how NOT to make a basket. Both teams racing up and down the floor missing shot after shot, many of them point blank lay ups. This was not FSU getting its act together on defense because the optional defense showed itself later on in the period. No, this was GT showing themselves as one of the worst shooting teams in the country. As for FSU, its the consistently inconsistent offense we have seen all season long.
Florida State would make a nice play looking like it was about to make a push only to see GT come back in a matter of seconds to score. It would happen over and over. There's that optional defense again.
Optional offense. With 11:24 to play, FSU was 3 of 15 from the floor.
Some of The Ugly plays of the game: Miller with the point blank lay up that did not go down, 12-17. Watkins dribbling the ball off his leg and OB, 12-17 (a lot of bad things happened around that score). Spears attempted alley oop that was off target. Six seconds later GT scored, 29-33. Taylor Bol Bowen missed the FT. GT got the rebound and with no one back on defense, a lay up made it 33-35. Tyzhan Claude with a totally uncontested drive down the lane, 55-64. Jalen Warley fouling 90 feet from the rim?!?!?! Watkins alley oop clanging off the front of the rim. Spears sending an alley oop over Miller's head. WAY over his head.
Got to get this one in. A drive and kick out to the shooter stationed outside the arc is a common play. But really, putting Bol Bowen out there to take that shot? That's the play?? He is now 4 of 28. That is 14% for those of you keeping score at home.
Up Next
To Pittsburgh with a 9 PM tip and on The Deuce. The 18-10, 9-8 Panthers play Boston College later today. F Blake Hinson leads Pitt at 18.5 ppg.
The Good
Well, at least FSU led in the game. (This is one of those games where you look for something, anything that was a positive.) A Primo Spears layup gave the 'Noles a 37-36 lead. Nine seconds later GT took the lead back from a Nathan George three pointer. But hey, FSU took another lead shortly after with a Spears lay up, 41-39. For a total of 6 seconds when game high scorer Kyle Sturdivant nailed a three pointer.
Jamir Watkins with his 15th consecutive game in double figures and his 24th this season.
Three others (Baba Miller, Cam Corhen, and Spears) also were double figures. Other than Corhen, many of those points came when it was pretty clear GT was going to win the game.
Despite less than stellar play, especially on defense, the Seminoles were down by just three points at the half. You had hope that the second half see better play from the 'Noles. They were certainly in the game at that point.
Some of the better plays for FSU: Watkins with the steal early in the game at the time line and races to the rim for the one handed slam dunk, 6-11. Watkins again driving around the lane from the FT line and the lay up, 12-17. Corhen with the blocked shot that quickly led to a Darin Green three, 20-21. Miller's reverse lay up to tie the game at 39 apiece. Spears' steal in the left corner taking it the distance for the lay up, 41-39. Watkins still out there fighting when he dove to the floor and wrestled the ball away. On his back, he found Spears racing to the lane for the lay up, 83-71. Unfortunately there was only 1:42 left in the game. Miles Kelly with the crisp pass to the right wing in front of the GT bench. UNFORTUNATELY, his teammate at that moment started to cut to the basket. DOH!!!
The Bad
FSU drops to 15-14, 9-9 and gives GT its first back to back conference win of the season. It also continues a five year steak of losing on the road to the Yellow Jackets.
Leonard Hamilton summed the game up in one brief sentence. "We did not have our usual five minute dip, we started out dipping."
Perhaps this should be in The Ugly part of this diatribe, but Hamilton having to say the coaching staff needs to find a way to motivate the players is very troubling. The Seminoles were just one game out from securing the coveted double bye in the ACC tournament. A winning record for the season was on the line. Post season play as well even if it is the NIT. Apparently none of that was motivation enough because the team poorly. Less than poorly IMO.
Coming into the game, FSU needed to win the rebound battle. FSU 33; GT 55. Consider the execution of that game plan point as an epic failure. As Hamilton said post game, he could not remember being outrebounded like that in any game in his years as a head coach.
For FSU, basically it was a first half where defense was optional as Tech shot 53% from the floor. Still FSU was not that bad offensively shooting 46%. The second half saw the FSU offense select the optional choice. Forget the late "flurry" that made it seem more respectable than it was. Late in the second half, the Seminoles had a total of five FGs. Come to think of it, maybe this should be in The Ugly as well.
It was mentioned in the pregame show that Stan Jones was concerned with the early start and how the team would play. His concerns were warranted.
The Ugly
The beginning of the second for both teams was a demonstration of the many ways how NOT to make a basket. Both teams racing up and down the floor missing shot after shot, many of them point blank lay ups. This was not FSU getting its act together on defense because the optional defense showed itself later on in the period. No, this was GT showing themselves as one of the worst shooting teams in the country. As for FSU, its the consistently inconsistent offense we have seen all season long.
Florida State would make a nice play looking like it was about to make a push only to see GT come back in a matter of seconds to score. It would happen over and over. There's that optional defense again.
Optional offense. With 11:24 to play, FSU was 3 of 15 from the floor.
Some of The Ugly plays of the game: Miller with the point blank lay up that did not go down, 12-17. Watkins dribbling the ball off his leg and OB, 12-17 (a lot of bad things happened around that score). Spears attempted alley oop that was off target. Six seconds later GT scored, 29-33. Taylor Bol Bowen missed the FT. GT got the rebound and with no one back on defense, a lay up made it 33-35. Tyzhan Claude with a totally uncontested drive down the lane, 55-64. Jalen Warley fouling 90 feet from the rim?!?!?! Watkins alley oop clanging off the front of the rim. Spears sending an alley oop over Miller's head. WAY over his head.
Got to get this one in. A drive and kick out to the shooter stationed outside the arc is a common play. But really, putting Bol Bowen out there to take that shot? That's the play?? He is now 4 of 28. That is 14% for those of you keeping score at home.
Up Next
To Pittsburgh with a 9 PM tip and on The Deuce. The 18-10, 9-8 Panthers play Boston College later today. F Blake Hinson leads Pitt at 18.5 ppg.
